# Thread: Divide a line in to multiple section of increasing length according to a ratio

1. ## Divide a line in to multiple section of increasing length according to a ratio

hi,

I want to divide a line segment which is of a fixed length, in to multiple section, where each successive section is greater than preceding section in length by a particular factor 'a' where 'a > 1'.
There is a also a minimum and maximum limit on the length of the sections.

for example if I have a line segment of length 10, and I want to divide it in to sections
where minimum section length is 1 and maximum section length is 3.

so my question is that is there any way using which I can determine the number of sections 'n' which can probably give a close result to divide a the line with minimum length approximately equal to 1 and maximum length 3, and each section other than the first one is greater than the previous section by a factor a.

2. Hello gourish

Welcome to Math Help Forum!
Originally Posted by gourish
hi,

I want to divide a line segment which is of a fixed length, in to multiple section, where each successive section is greater than preceding section in length by a particular factor 'a' where 'a > 1'.
There is a also a minimum and maximum limit on the length of the sections.

for example if I have a line segment of length 10, and I want to divide it in to sections
where minimum section length is 1 and maximum section length is 3.

so my question is that is there any way using which I can determine the number of sections 'n' which can probably give a close result to divide a the line with minimum length approximately equal to 1 and maximum length 3, and each section other than the first one is greater than the previous section by a factor a.
There's no way to get exactly the answers you need - unless you just happen to be lucky.

If the minimum section is of length $\displaystyle p$, the maximum $\displaystyle q$, the common ratio between consecutive sections $\displaystyle a$, the total length $\displaystyle S$ and the number of sections is $\displaystyle n$, then the lengths form a geometric progression. This gives:
$\displaystyle q = pa^{n-1}$
and
$\displaystyle S = \frac{p(a^n-1)}{a-1}$

Since $\displaystyle n$ has to be an integer, a solution to this pair of simultaneous equations is unlikely to be possible. A spreadsheet will give you some approximate answers. In the case you quote, $\displaystyle p=1,\; S=10$ we get:
When $\displaystyle n = 5$ and $\displaystyle a=1.352$, $\displaystyle q\approx3.345$
and
When $\displaystyle n = 6$ and $\displaystyle a=1.203$, $\displaystyle q\approx2.517$