What should be added to each of the numbers 13,17 and 22 so that, the resulting numbers are in continued proportion?
3
Let the required number to be added is x.
∴ 13+x,17+x and 22+x are in continued proportion.
⇒13+x17+x=17+x22+x
⇒(13+x)(22+x)=(17+x)2 [Cross multiplication]
⇒286+35x+x2=289+34x+x2
⇒35x−34x=289−286
⇒x=3
∴ The number to be added is 3.