Let the Arithmetic Progression (A.P.) have $2n$ terms (since the number of terms is even).
Let the first term be $a_1$ and the common difference be $d$.
The terms are $a_1, a_2, ..., a_{2n}$.
We are given:
1. Sum of odd terms: $S_{odd} = a_1 + a_3 + ... + a_{2n-1} = 24$.
2. Sum of even terms: $S_{even} = a_2 + a_4 + ... + a_{2n} = 30$.
3. Difference between the last and first term: $a_{2n} - a_1 = \frac{21}{2}$.
Deriving Number of Terms
The difference between the sum of even terms and the sum of odd terms can be expressed as:
$S_{even} - S_{odd} = (a_2 - a_1) + (a_4 - a_3) + ... + (a_{2n} - a_{2n-1})$
Each pair $(a_{2k} - a_{2k-1})$ is equal to the common difference $d$. Since there are $n$ such pairs, we have:
$S_{even} - S_{odd} = n \times d$
$30 - 24 = nd$
$6 = nd \quad (*)$
Also, the definition of the last term gives:
$a_{2n} = a_1 + (2n-1)d$
$a_{2n} - a_1 = (2n-1)d$
$\frac{21}{2} = (2n-1)d \quad (**)$
Now we have a system of two equations with two unknowns ($n$ and $d$):
1. $nd = 6 \implies d = \frac{6}{n}$
2. $(2n-1)d = \frac{21}{2}$
Substitute $d$ from the first equation into the second:
$(2n-1) \left(\frac{6}{n}\right) = \frac{21}{2}$
$\frac{12n - 6}{n} = \frac{21}{2}$
$2(12n - 6) = 21n$
$24n - 12 = 21n$
$3n = 12$
$n = 4$
The total number of terms in the A.P. is $2n = 2 \times 4 = 8$.
Calculating First Term and Common Difference
Using $n=4$ in equation $(*)$:
$4d = 6$
$d = \frac{6}{4} = \frac{3}{2}$
The sum of all terms is $S_{2n} = S_{odd} + S_{even} = 24 + 30 = 54$.
The sum formula is $S_{2n} = \frac{2n}{2}(a_1 + a_{2n}) = n(a_1 + a_{2n})$.
$54 = 4(a_1 + a_{2n})$
$a_1 + a_{2n} = \frac{54}{4} = \frac{27}{2}$
We have:
$a_1 + a_{2n} = \frac{27}{2}$
$a_{2n} - a_1 = \frac{21}{2}$
Adding these two equations:
$2a_{2n} = \frac{27}{2} + \frac{21}{2} = \frac{48}{2} = 24 \implies a_{2n} = 12$.
Subtracting the second from the first:
$2a_1 = \frac{27}{2} - \frac{21}{2} = \frac{6}{2} = 3 \implies a_1 = \frac{3}{2}$.
Identifying Integer Terms
The A.P. has $a_1 = \frac{3}{2}$ and $d = \frac{3}{2}$. The number of terms is 8.
The terms are:
$a_1 = \frac{3}{2}$
$a_2 = \frac{3}{2} + \frac{3}{2} = \frac{6}{2} = 3$
$a_3 = 3 + \frac{3}{2} = \frac{9}{2}$
$a_4 = \frac{9}{2} + \frac{3}{2} = \frac{12}{2} = 6$
$a_5 = 6 + \frac{3}{2} = \frac{15}{2}$
$a_6 = \frac{15}{2} + \frac{3}{2} = \frac{18}{2} = 9$
$a_7 = 9 + \frac{3}{2} = \frac{21}{2}$
$a_8 = \frac{21}{2} + \frac{3}{2} = \frac{24}{2} = 12$
The terms of the A.P. are: $\frac{3}{2}, 3, \frac{9}{2}, 6, \frac{15}{2}, 9, \frac{21}{2}, 12$.
The integer terms are $3, 6, 9, 12$.
There are 4 integer terms.