Till $$10$$^th minute number of counted notes $$ = 1500$$

$$3000 = {n \over 2}\left[ {2 \times 148 + \left( {n - 1} \right)\left( { - 2} \right)} \right]$$

$$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,$$ $$ = n\left[ {148 - n + 1} \right]$$

$$ \Rightarrow $$$${n^2} - 149n + 3000 = 0$$

$$ \Rightarrow n = 125,24$$

But $$n=125$$ is not possible

$$\therefore$$ total time $$ = 24 + 10 = 34$$ minutes.

We have

$$S = 1 + {2 \over 3} + {6 \over {{3^2}}} + {{10} \over {{3^3}}} + {{14} \over {{3^4}}} + ........\infty \,\,\,\,\,...\left( 1 \right)$$

Multiplying both sides by $${1 \over 3}$$ we get

$${1 \over 3}S = {1 \over 3} + {2 \over {{3^2}}} + {6 \over {{3^3}}} + {{10} \over {{3^4}}} + .......\,\,\,\,\,...\left( 2 \right)$$

Subtracting eqn. $$(2)$$ from eqn. $$(1)$$ we get

$${2 \over 3}S = 1 + {1 \over 3} + {4 \over {{3^2}}} + {4 \over {{3^3}}} + {4 \over {{3^4}}} + .....\infty $$

$$ \Rightarrow {2 \over 3}S = {4 \over 3} + {4 \over {{3^2}}} + {4 \over {{3^3}}} + {4 \over {{3^4}}} + .....\infty $$

$$ \Rightarrow {2 \over 3}S = {{{4 \over 3}} \over {1 - {1 \over 3}}} = {4 \over 3} \times {3 \over 2}$$

$$ \Rightarrow S - 3$$

As per question,

$$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,a + ar = 12\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,...\left( 1 \right)$$

$$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,a{r^2} + a{r^3} = 48\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,...\left( 2 \right)$$

$$ \Rightarrow {{a{r^2}\left( {1 + r} \right)} \over {a\left( {1 + r} \right)}} = {{48} \over {12}}$$

$$ \Rightarrow {r^2} = 4, \Rightarrow r = - 2$$

(As terms are $$=+ve$$ and $$-ve$$ alternately)

$$ \Rightarrow a = - 12$$

Let the series $$a,ar,$$ $$a{r^2},........$$ are in geometric progression.

given, $$a = ar + a{r^2}$$

$$ \Rightarrow 1 = r + {r^2}$$

$$ \Rightarrow {r^2} + r - 1 = 0$$

$$ \Rightarrow r = {{ - 1 \mp \sqrt {1 - 4 \times - 1} } \over 2}$$

$$ \Rightarrow r = {{ - 1 \pm \sqrt 5 } \over 2}$$

$$ \Rightarrow r = {{\sqrt 5 - 1} \over 2}$$

[ As terms of $$G.P.$$ are positive

$$\therefore$$ $$r$$ should be positive]