Ann, Kristina, and Ulla solved the following assignment:
A sequence $(a_n )$ is for each $n\in \mathbb{N}$ given by the formula $a_n=\frac{5-3n}{7}$. Find all values of $x\in \mathbb{R}$ so that $$ a_4,~x^2+2, ~a_{11} $$ are three consecutive terms of a geometric sequence and calculate its common ratio $q$.
Ann first calculated: $$ a_4=-1,~a_{11}=-4 $$ As for her, if the numbers $a_4$, $x^2+2$, $a_{11}$ are to be consecutive terms of a geometric sequence, then $$ x^2+2=\frac{a_{11}}{a_4} $$ and so $$ x^2+2=4 $$ Then, she solved the above equation and got: $$ x=\pm \sqrt{2} $$ The three consecutive terms of the sequence are $-1$, $4$, $-4$ and the common ratio of the sequence $q=4$.
Kristina remembered that if we consider three consecutive terms in a geometric sequence $a$, $b$, $c$, then $$ \frac{b}{a}=\frac{c}{b} $$ and $$ b^2=ac $$ She calculated the outer terms: $$ a_4=-1,~a_{11}=-4 $$ and proceeded this way: $$ \begin{gather} (x^2+2)^2=4 \cr |x^2+2|=2 \cr x^2+2=\pm2 \end{gather} $$ Solving these two equations, she got three results: $$ x=0,x=2,x=-2 $$ For $x=0$, the three consecutive terms are $-1$, $2$, $-4$ and $q=-2$.
For $x=\pm 2$, the three consecutive terms are $-1$, $4$, $-4$ and $q=4$.
Ulla thought that for the middle term in a geometric sequence must hold: $$ x^2+2=\frac{a_4+a_{11}}{2} $$ She calculated: $$a_4=-1,~a_{11}=-4 $$ hence $$ \begin{gather} x^2+2=-\frac{5}{2} \cr x^2=-\frac{9}{2} \end{gather} $$ From there, she concluded that the assignment had no solution.
Which one of them proceeded correctly in solving?
Not one of them
Ann
Kristina
Ulla
Kristina’s way of solution was right, but she made a mistake in solving the equation
$$
|x^2+2|=2
$$
Because $x^2+2>0$, she should have continued
$$
x^2+2=2
$$
and so
$$
x=0
$$
The consecutive terms of the geometric sequence are $-1$, $2$, $-4$ and $q=-2$.