Q.

Assertion (A): a, b, c are in AP if and only if 2b = a + c.

Reason (R): The sum of first n odd natural numbers is n².

1 Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.  
2 Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A  
3 A is true, but R is false.  
4 A is false, but R is true.  

Ans.

(2)

Since a, b, c are in AP.

 b  a = c  b  2b = a + cAlso, sum of first n odd natural numbers= 1 + 3 + 5 + ... which are in AP with a = 1, d = 3  1 = 2 S = n/2 (2a + (n  1)d) = n/2 (2×1 + (n  1)×2) = n(1 + n  1) = n²