A certain factory had decided to sequentially reduce its annual expenditure on a specified raw material over a period of three years, starting from 2003. The proposed sequential annual reductions were respectively P%, Q% and R%; where P< Q< R< 100, and the three numbers are positive integers in geometric progression.

For example, if the annual expenditure for 2002 was 1000 units and the sequential reductions for the years 2003 to 2005 were respectively 10%, 10% and 20%, then the amount spent on the raw material during 2005 would have been 1000*.9*.9*.8 = 648 units.

Thus, the amounts spent during 2003, 2004 and 2005 were respectively $L, $M, and $N; the three numbers were positive integers in arithmetic progression.

Determine P, Q and R.

(In reply to No Subject by Dej Mar)

I believe that K Sengupta was attempting to use these numbers to explain the idea of "sequential annual reductions", not necessarily a geometric progression.  At least that is how I interpreted the italicized part of the question.

If you allow that, then Stefan's answer, I still belive, holds.

Posted by Kenny M on 2006-09-09 22:57:12