Chapter 10: Problem 33
Determine whether each infinite geometric series converges or diverges. If it converges, find its sum. $$ \sum_{j=0}^{\infty}\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{j} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The series converges with a sum of \( \frac{2}{3} \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the First Term (a)
The series given is \( \sum_{j=0}^{\infty} \left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{j} \). The first term \( a \) is when \( j = 0 \), which is \( \left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{0} = 1 \).
02
Determine the Common Ratio (r)
The common ratio \( r \) is obtained by dividing the second term of the series by the first term. Here, the first term is 1 (\( \left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)^0 \)) and the second term is \( -\frac{1}{2} \). Thus, \( r = -\frac{1}{2} \).
03
Check the Condition for Convergence
An infinite geometric series will converge if the absolute value of the common ratio \( |r| < 1 \). Here, \( r = -\frac{1}{2} \), so \( |r| = \frac{1}{2} < 1 \). Therefore, the series converges.
04
Calculate the Sum of the Convergent Series
The sum \( S \) of an infinite convergent geometric series is calculated using the formula \( S = \frac{a}{1-r} \). Substituting the values, \( a = 1 \) and \( r = -\frac{1}{2} \), we get \( S = \frac{1}{1 - (-\frac{1}{2})} = \frac{1}{1 + \frac{1}{2}} = \frac{1}{\frac{3}{2}} = \frac{2}{3} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Infinite Series
An infinite series is a sum of infinitely many terms. It occurs when we try to add up all the terms of an infinite sequence. The series is represented by the sigma symbol \[ \sum_{j=0}^{\infty} a_j \]where \( a_j \) denotes the terms in the sequence. In an infinite geometric series, specifically, the terms can be expressed in the form of \( ar^j \).
- This is where \( a \) represents the first term.
- The \( r \) stands for the common ratio between successive terms.
Common Ratio
The common ratio \( r \) is a crucial factor in determining the behavior of a geometric series. It is obtained by dividing any term in the sequence by its preceding term.For instance, if we consider a geometric sequence:
- First term \( a = 1 \)
- Second term \( = -\frac{1}{2} \)
Sum of Series
Finding the sum of an infinite geometric series when it converges is straightforward with the right formula. If the series converges, the sum \( S \) is given by:\[ S = \frac{a}{1 - r} \]Let's understand this using the series example:
- First term \( a = 1 \)
- Common ratio \( r = -\frac{1}{2} \)
Geometric Sequence
A geometric sequence is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by a fixed, non-zero number known as the common ratio \( r \).In our case, the geometric sequence is:
- First term (\( a = 1 \))
- Second term \( (-\frac{1}{2}) \) times the first
- Third term \( (-\frac{1}{2})^2 \) and so on...
- Notice how each term is the previous term times \(-\frac{1}{2}\).
- This makes the common ratio \( r = -\frac{1}{2} \).