Let first term of AP is a and common difference of AP is d.
Given that \(p^{th}\) term of AP is q.
\(\therefore\) \(a+(p-1)d=q\) ............(1) (\(\because\) \(n^{th}\) term of AP is given by \(a_n\) = a + (n - 1)d)
And given that \(q^{th}\) term of AP is p.
Therefore, a+(q - 1)d = p. ..........(2) (\(\because\) \(n^{th}\) term of AP is given by a + (n - 1)d)
Now, \((p+q)^{th}\) term of given AP is
a + (p + q – 1) d = 2a+ (p + q – 1 – 1 + 1) d – a
= a + (p - 1)d + a + (q - 1)d + d – a
= p + q + d – a. (From equations (1) and (2) )
Hence, \((p+q)^{th}\) term of given AP is = p + q + d – a. .........(3)
Now subtracting equation (2) from equation (1), we get
a + (p –1)d – (a + (q − 1)d) = q – p
\(\Rightarrow\) a + (p – 1) d – a – (q – 1) d = q – p
\(\Rightarrow\) (p – 1 – q + 1)d = q – p
\(\Rightarrow\) (p– q)d = –(p – q).
\(\Rightarrow\) d = – 1.
Now, by equation (1), a + (q – 1) (–1) = p
\(\Rightarrow\) a = p + q – 1.
Now, putting the value of a & d in equation (3), we get
\((p+q)^{th}\) term is p + q + (-1) – (p + q – 1)
= p + q – 1 – p – q + 1 = 0.
Hence \((p+q)^{th}\) term of given AP is 0.