Invariance of Geometric Mean under AM-HM Iteration
Comprehension Passage
Let denote the arithmetic, geometric, and harmonic means, respectively, of two distinct positive numbers. For , let and have arithmetic, geometric, and harmonic means as , respectively.
Which one of the following statements is correct?
Options
A
B
C
Correct
D
and
Step-by-Step Solution
Let the two initial positive numbers be and ().
Then , , and .
Notice that .
For , is the geometric mean of and :
Also, by definition of arithmetic and harmonic means of two quantities , their product is always equal to the square of their geometric mean (). Thus:
By mathematical induction:
Correct Answer: C