This is a simple division series. Each number is divided by 5. Rule = (1st number / 5 = 2nd number) (2nd number / 5 = 3rd number)....Now, (1000 / 5 = 200), (200 / 5 = 40), (40 / 5 = 8)...So answer is a = 8.
Let the price of a pen be 'x' and that of pencil be 'y' Then 87x + 29y = 783Multiplying eqn (i) by 30/29 we get (87x) x 30/29 + (29y) 30/29 = 783 x 30/29∴ 90x + 30y = 810