Chapter 5CBSE Class 10 Maths100% Free

Arithmetic ProgressionsCBSE Class 10 Maths Important Questions

13 hand-picked CBSE Class 10 Maths important questions for Arithmetic Progressions, each with a full model answer — the formats and topics most likely to appear in your board exam.

13
Questions
6
Question types
32
Total marks
₹0
With answers

Arithmetic ProgressionsCBSE Class 10 Maths Important Questions

Spot the Pattern, Then the Sum

Your Personal AI Tutor

Teaches Class 8–10 CBSE/ICSE Maths & Science by asking the right questions — not handing over answers.

Start your Freemium plan
Quick answer

This set covers CBSE board-important questions on Arithmetic Progressions: finding the nnnth term an=a+(n1)da_n = a + (n-1)da_n = a + (n-1)d, the sum Sn=n2[2a+(n1)d]S_n = \dfrac{n}{2}[2a + (n-1)d]S_n = n/2[2a + (n-1)d], and their applications in real-life word problems and proofs.

About Arithmetic Progressions

Arithmetic Progressions is a high-scoring chapter from the Algebra unit, contributing regularly across MCQ, short-answer, long-answer and case-study sections of the CBSE board paper. The questions below are modelled on genuine previous-year and sample papers (2019-2024), emphasising the nnnth term, the sum of nnn terms, condition-for-AP problems, and word/case problems.

General form and common difference of an AP$n$th (general) term: $a_n = a + (n-1)d$Sum of first $n$ terms: $S_n = \dfrac{n}{2}[2a + (n-1)d]$Condition for three terms to be in APWord problems and real-life applications of AP

Key concepts & formulas

nth Term (General Term)

For an AP with first term aaa and common difference ddd, the nnnth term is an=a+(n1)da_n = a + (n-1)da_n = a + (n-1)d. The common difference is d=anan1d = a_n - a_{n-1}d = a_n - a_n-1, which is constant for every consecutive pair.

Sum of First n Terms

Sn=n2[2a+(n1)d]=n2(a+l)S_n = \dfrac{n}{2}[2a + (n-1)d] = \dfrac{n}{2}(a + l)S_n = n/2[2a + (n-1)d] = n/2(a + l), where lll is the last term. Also, the nnnth term can be recovered as an=SnSn1a_n = S_n - S_{n-1}a_n = S_n - S_n-1.

Condition for an AP

A list of numbers is an AP if and only if the difference of consecutive terms is constant. In particular, three numbers a,b,ca, b, ca, b, c are in AP if and only if 2b=a+c2b = a + c2b = a + c.

Free download

Get all 13 Arithmetic Progressions questions as a PDF

The full question bank with model answers — perfect for offline revision and last-minute practice.

Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime

Important questions with answers

Try each on paper first, then reveal the model answer to check your method.

Question typeCountMarks
MCQ41
Assertion–Reason11
Very Short22
Short Answer33
Long Answer25
Case-based14

Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)

Q1MCQEasy1 mark

If the nnnth term of an AP is an=74na_n = 7 - 4na_n = 7 - 4n, then its common difference is:

  1. (a)

    444

  2. (b)

    4-4-4

  3. (c)

    333

  4. (d)

    777

Show model answer

Answer: (b) 4-4-4.

Here a1=74=3a_1 = 7 - 4 = 3a_1 = 7 - 4 = 3 and a2=78=1a_2 = 7 - 8 = -1a_2 = 7 - 8 = -1, so d=a2a1=13=4d = a_2 - a_1 = -1 - 3 = -4d = a_2 - a_1 = -1 - 3 = -4. (The coefficient of nnn always gives ddd.)

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →
Q2MCQEasy1 mark

The 111111th term of the AP 5, 52, 0, 52, -5,\ -\dfrac{5}{2},\ 0,\ \dfrac{5}{2},\ \dots-5, -5/2, 0, 5/2, is:

  1. (a)

    20-20-20

  2. (b)

    202020

  3. (c)

    30-30-30

  4. (d)

    303030

Show model answer

Answer: (b) 202020.

Here a=5a = -5a = -5 and d=52d = \dfrac{5}{2}d = 5/2. So a11=a+10d=5+10×52=5+25=20a_{11} = a + 10d = -5 + 10 \times \dfrac{5}{2} = -5 + 25 = 20a_11 = a + 10d = -5 + 10 × 5/2 = -5 + 25 = 20.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →
Q3MCQModerate1 mark

If 2x, x+10, 3x+22x,\ x + 10,\ 3x + 22x, x + 10, 3x + 2 are three consecutive terms of an AP, then the value of xxx is:

  1. (a)

    444

  2. (b)

    666

  3. (c)

    888

  4. (d)

    101010

Show model answer

Answer: (b) 666.

For an AP the middle term is the average of its neighbours: 2(x+10)=2x+(3x+2)2x+20=5x+23x=18x=62(x + 10) = 2x + (3x + 2) \Rightarrow 2x + 20 = 5x + 2 \Rightarrow 3x = 18 \Rightarrow x = 62(x + 10) = 2x + (3x + 2) 2x + 20 = 5x + 2 3x = 18 x = 6.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →
Q4MCQModerate1 mark

How many two-digit numbers are divisible by 333?

  1. (a)

    292929

  2. (b)

    303030

  3. (c)

    313131

  4. (d)

    333333

Show model answer

Answer: (b) 303030.

The numbers are 12,15,18,,9912, 15, 18, \dots, 9912, 15, 18, , 99, an AP with a=12a = 12a = 12, d=3d = 3d = 3 and an=99a_n = 99a_n = 99. Then 99=12+(n1)3n1=29n=3099 = 12 + (n-1)3 \Rightarrow n - 1 = 29 \Rightarrow n = 3099 = 12 + (n-1)3 n - 1 = 29 n = 30.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →

Want every Arithmetic Progressions question solved live, at your pace?

Practise free with the AI tutor →

Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)

Q5Assertion–ReasonModerate1 mark

Assertion (A): The sum of the first 202020 positive integers is 210210210.

Reason (R): The sum of the first nnn positive integers is given by Sn=n(n+1)2S_n = \dfrac{n(n+1)}{2}S_n = n(n+1)/2.

  1. (a)

    Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. (b)

    Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. (c)

    A is true but R is false

  4. (d)

    A is false but R is true

Show model answer

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Using Sn=n(n+1)2S_n = \dfrac{n(n+1)}{2}S_n = n(n+1)/2 with n=20n = 20n = 20 gives S20=20×212=210S_{20} = \dfrac{20 \times 21}{2} = 210S_20 = 20 × 21/2 = 210, so R directly proves A.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →

Very short answer questions (2 marks)

Q6Very ShortEasy2 marks

How many terms of the AP 27,24,21,27, 24, 21, \dots27, 24, 21, must be taken so that their sum is zero?

Show model answer

Here a=27a = 27a = 27, d=3d = -3d = -3. Using Sn=n2[2a+(n1)d]=0S_n = \dfrac{n}{2}[2a + (n-1)d] = 0S_n = n/2[2a + (n-1)d] = 0:

n2[54+(n1)(3)]=0543(n1)=057=3nn=19\dfrac{n}{2}[54 + (n-1)(-3)] = 0 \Rightarrow 54 - 3(n-1) = 0 \Rightarrow 57 = 3n \Rightarrow n = 19n/2[54 + (n-1)(-3)] = 0 54 - 3(n-1) = 0 57 = 3n n = 19.

So 19 terms must be taken.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →
Q7Very ShortEasy2 marks

Which term of the AP 3,8,13,18,3, 8, 13, 18, \dots3, 8, 13, 18, is equal to 787878?

Show model answer

Here a=3a = 3a = 3, d=5d = 5d = 5 and an=78a_n = 78a_n = 78.

78=3+(n1)575=5(n1)n1=15n=1678 = 3 + (n-1)5 \Rightarrow 75 = 5(n-1) \Rightarrow n - 1 = 15 \Rightarrow n = 1678 = 3 + (n-1)5 75 = 5(n-1) n - 1 = 15 n = 16.

Hence 787878 is the 16th term.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →

Short answer questions (3 marks)

Q8Short AnswerModerate3 marks

In an AP, the sum of the first 777 terms is 494949 and the sum of the first 171717 terms is 289289289. Find the sum of its first nnn terms, and hence the sum of its first 202020 terms. (CBSE 2024)

Show model answer

S7=72[2a+6d]=49a+3d=7S_7 = \dfrac{7}{2}[2a + 6d] = 49 \Rightarrow a + 3d = 7S_7 = 7/2[2a + 6d] = 49 a + 3d = 7 ...(i)

S17=172[2a+16d]=289a+8d=17S_{17} = \dfrac{17}{2}[2a + 16d] = 289 \Rightarrow a + 8d = 17S_17 = 17/2[2a + 16d] = 289 a + 8d = 17 ...(ii)

Subtracting (i) from (ii): 5d=10d=25d = 10 \Rightarrow d = 25d = 10 d = 2, so a=76=1a = 7 - 6 = 1a = 7 - 6 = 1.

Sn=n2[2(1)+(n1)2]=n2(2n)=n2S_n = \dfrac{n}{2}[2(1) + (n-1)2] = \dfrac{n}{2}(2n) = n^2S_n = n/2[2(1) + (n-1)2] = n/2(2n) = n^2.

Therefore S20=202=400S_{20} = 20^2 = \mathbf{400}S_20 = 20^2 = 400.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →
Q9Short AnswerModerate3 marks

The sum of the 444th and 888th terms of an AP is 242424, and the sum of the 666th and 101010th terms is 444444. Find the first three terms of the AP.

Show model answer

a4+a8=(a+3d)+(a+7d)=2a+10d=24a+5d=12a_4 + a_8 = (a + 3d) + (a + 7d) = 2a + 10d = 24 \Rightarrow a + 5d = 12a_4 + a_8 = (a + 3d) + (a + 7d) = 2a + 10d = 24 a + 5d = 12 ...(i)

a6+a10=(a+5d)+(a+9d)=2a+14d=44a+7d=22a_6 + a_{10} = (a + 5d) + (a + 9d) = 2a + 14d = 44 \Rightarrow a + 7d = 22a_6 + a_10 = (a + 5d) + (a + 9d) = 2a + 14d = 44 a + 7d = 22 ...(ii)

Subtracting (i) from (ii): 2d=10d=52d = 10 \Rightarrow d = 52d = 10 d = 5, so a=1225=13a = 12 - 25 = -13a = 12 - 25 = -13.

The first three terms are 13, 8, 3-13,\ -8,\ -3-13, -8, -3.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →
Q10Short AnswerHOTS3 marks

Solve for xxx:  1+4+7+10++x=287\ 1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + \dots + x = 2871 + 4 + 7 + 10 + + x = 287. (CBSE)

Show model answer

The left side is an AP with a=1a = 1a = 1, d=3d = 3d = 3 and last term xxx, whose sum is 287287287.

Sn=n2[2(1)+(n1)3]=287n(3n1)=5743n2n574=0S_n = \dfrac{n}{2}[2(1) + (n-1)3] = 287 \Rightarrow n(3n - 1) = 574 \Rightarrow 3n^2 - n - 574 = 0S_n = n/2[2(1) + (n-1)3] = 287 n(3n - 1) = 574 3n^2 - n - 574 = 0.

n=1+1+68886=1+836=14n = \dfrac{1 + \sqrt{1 + 6888}}{6} = \dfrac{1 + 83}{6} = 14n = 1 + √1 + 6888/6 = 1 + 83/6 = 14 (taking the positive root).

Then x=a14=1+13×3=40x = a_{14} = 1 + 13 \times 3 = \mathbf{40}x = a_14 = 1 + 13 × 3 = 40.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →

Long answer questions (5 marks)

Q11Long AnswerModerate5 marks

200200200 logs are stacked so that there are 202020 logs in the bottom row, 191919 in the next row, 181818 in the row above it, and so on. In how many rows are the 200200200 logs placed, and how many logs are in the top row? (NCERT)

Show model answer

Here a=20a = 20a = 20, d=1d = -1d = -1 and Sn=200S_n = 200S_n = 200.

n2[2(20)+(n1)(1)]=200n(41n)=400n241n+400=0\dfrac{n}{2}[2(20) + (n-1)(-1)] = 200 \Rightarrow n(41 - n) = 400 \Rightarrow n^2 - 41n + 400 = 0n/2[2(20) + (n-1)(-1)] = 200 n(41 - n) = 400 n^2 - 41n + 400 = 0.

(n16)(n25)=0n=16(n - 16)(n - 25) = 0 \Rightarrow n = 16(n - 16)(n - 25) = 0 n = 16 or n=25n = 25n = 25.

If n=25n = 25n = 25, then a25=20+24(1)=4a_{25} = 20 + 24(-1) = -4a_25 = 20 + 24(-1) = -4, which is impossible (a row cannot hold a negative number of logs). So n=16n = 16n = 16.

Top row logs =a16=20+15(1)=5= a_{16} = 20 + 15(-1) = 5= a_16 = 20 + 15(-1) = 5.

Hence the logs are placed in 16 rows with 5 logs in the top row.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →
Q12Long AnswerHOTS5 marks

The ratio of the sum of the first mmm terms to the sum of the first nnn terms of an AP is m2:n2m^2 : n^2m^2 : n^2. Show that the ratio of its mmmth term to its nnnth term is (2m1):(2n1)(2m - 1) : (2n - 1)(2m - 1) : (2n - 1).

Show model answer

Given SmSn=m2n2\dfrac{S_m}{S_n} = \dfrac{m^2}{n^2}S_m/S_n = m^2/n^2:

m2[2a+(m1)d]n2[2a+(n1)d]=m2n22a+(m1)d2a+(n1)d=mn\dfrac{\frac{m}{2}[2a + (m-1)d]}{\frac{n}{2}[2a + (n-1)d]} = \dfrac{m^2}{n^2} \Rightarrow \dfrac{2a + (m-1)d}{2a + (n-1)d} = \dfrac{m}{n}m/2[2a + (m-1)d]n/2[2a + (n-1)d] = m^2/n^2 2a + (m-1)d/2a + (n-1)d = m/n.

Cross-multiplying: n[2a+(m1)d]=m[2a+(n1)d]n[2a + (m-1)d] = m[2a + (n-1)d]n[2a + (m-1)d] = m[2a + (n-1)d]

2an+mndnd=2am+mndmd2a(nm)=d(nm)\Rightarrow 2an + mnd - nd = 2am + mnd - md \Rightarrow 2a(n - m) = d(n - m)2an + mnd - nd = 2am + mnd - md 2a(n - m) = d(n - m).

Since mnm \neq nm ≠ n, we get d=2ad = 2ad = 2a.

Now aman=a+(m1)da+(n1)d=a+(m1)(2a)a+(n1)(2a)=a(2m1)a(2n1)=2m12n1\dfrac{a_m}{a_n} = \dfrac{a + (m-1)d}{a + (n-1)d} = \dfrac{a + (m-1)(2a)}{a + (n-1)(2a)} = \dfrac{a(2m - 1)}{a(2n - 1)} = \dfrac{2m - 1}{2n - 1}a_m/a_n = a + (m-1)d/a + (n-1)d = a + (m-1)(2a)/a + (n-1)(2a) = a(2m - 1)/a(2n - 1) = 2m - 1/2n - 1.

Hence the ratio of the mmmth to the nnnth term is (2m1):(2n1)(2m - 1) : (2n - 1)(2m - 1) : (2n - 1).

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →

Case-based questions (4 marks)

Q13Case-basedHOTS4 marks

Case Study: A manufacturing company's annual production of TV sets increases uniformly by a fixed number each year, so it forms an arithmetic progression. The company produced 600060006000 sets in its 333rd year of operation and 700070007000 sets in its 777th year.

Based on this information, answer the following:

(i) Find the production in the first year.

(ii) Find the annual increase in production (the common difference).

(iii) Find the production in the 101010th year, OR find the total production during the first 777 years.

Show model answer

Let first-year production =a= a= a and annual increase =d= d= d.

Given a3=a+2d=6000a_3 = a + 2d = 6000a_3 = a + 2d = 6000 and a7=a+6d=7000a_7 = a + 6d = 7000a_7 = a + 6d = 7000.

Subtracting: 4d=1000d=2504d = 1000 \Rightarrow d = 2504d = 1000 d = 250.

(i) a=60002(250)=6000500=5500a = 6000 - 2(250) = 6000 - 500 = \mathbf{5500}a = 6000 - 2(250) = 6000 - 500 = 5500 sets.

(ii) Annual increase d=250d = \mathbf{250}d = 250 sets per year.

(iii) Production in the 101010th year =a10=5500+9(250)=5500+2250=7750= a_{10} = 5500 + 9(250) = 5500 + 2250 = \mathbf{7750}= a_10 = 5500 + 9(250) = 5500 + 2250 = 7750 sets.

OR Total in first 777 years =S7=72[2(5500)+6(250)]=72[11000+1500]=72(12500)=43750= S_7 = \dfrac{7}{2}[2(5500) + 6(250)] = \dfrac{7}{2}[11000 + 1500] = \dfrac{7}{2}(12500) = \mathbf{43750}= S_7 = 7/2[2(5500) + 6(250)] = 7/2[11000 + 1500] = 7/2(12500) = 43750 sets.

Still stuck? Ask the AI tutor to explain this step by step →

All CBSE Class 10 Maths Chapters

Related study guide

Frequently asked questions

  • Are these Arithmetic Progressions important questions free?
    Yes. All 13 CBSE Class 10 Maths important questions for Arithmetic Progressions are free, with full model answers and no login required.
  • Do these Arithmetic Progressions questions follow the latest CBSE syllabus?
    Yes — they are aligned to the NCERT 2026–27 syllabus for CBSE Class 10 Maths, so nothing here is outside the current course.
  • How should I practise the Arithmetic Progressions important questions?
    Attempt each question on paper first, then reveal the model answer to check your method — not just the final result. Re-do anything you got wrong the same day.
  • What types of questions are covered for Arithmetic Progressions?
    A full mix — multiple-choice questions, assertion–reason questions, very short answer questions, short answer questions, long answer questions, case-based questions — so every format in the CBSE paper is covered.

Stuck on Arithmetic Progressions? Let the AI tutor help

Free to start · Step-by-step Socratic help · CBSE Class 10 Maths

Practise Arithmetic Progressions free →