Chapter 15: Problem 64
Use the formula for \(S_{n}\) to find the sum of the terms of each geometric sequence. $$\sum_{i=1}^{5} 2\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{i}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The sum of the first 5 terms of the geometric series \(\sum_{i=1}^{5} 2\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{i}\) is \(S_5 = \frac{726}{243}\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the geometric series and the common ratio
We are given the geometric series:
$$\sum_{i=1}^{5} 2\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{i}$$
From the expression, we can see that the first term of the series, a, is 2 and the common ratio, r, is \(\frac{1}{3}\).
02
Recall the formula for the sum of a geometric series
The formula for the sum of the first n terms of a geometric series with the first term a and common ratio r is as follows:
$$S_n = \frac{a\left(1-r^n\right)}{1-r}$$
In this exercise, we are asked to find the sum of the first 5 terms, so n = 5.
03
Substitute the values into the formula
Now, we will substitute the values of a, r, and n into the formula for the sum of the geometric series:
$$S_5 = \frac{2\left(1-\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{5}\right)}{1-\frac{1}{3}}$$
04
Simplify the expression
Simplify the expression to find the sum of the series:
$$S_5 = \frac{2\left(1-\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{5}\right)}{\frac{2}{3}} \cdot \frac{3}{2}$$
$$S_5 = 3\left(1-\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{5}\right)$$
$$S_5 = 3\left(1-\frac{1}{243}\right)$$
05
Calculate the sum
Finally, calculate the sum of the first 5 terms of the geometric series:
$$S_5 = 3\left(\frac{242}{243}\right)$$
$$S_5 = \frac{726}{243}$$
So, the sum of the first 5 terms of the given geometric series is \(\frac{726}{243}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Sum of Geometric Series
In the world of sequences and series, a geometric series is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by a constant, called the common ratio. To find the sum of a geometric series, we use a special formula. This formula is very powerful as it allows us to sum terms without manually adding each one. For the sum of the first \( n \) terms of a geometric series with the first term \( a \) and common ratio \( r \), the formula is:
- \( S_n = \frac{a(1 - r^n)}{1 - r} \)
Common Ratio
The common ratio is the backbone of a geometric sequence. It's the number you consistently multiply by to get from one term to the next. Imagine it like the secret ingredient in a recipe that transforms each ingredient to the next stage. In our series \( \sum_{i=1}^{5} 2\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{i} \), the common ratio is \( \frac{1}{3} \). This means, starting from the first term, each subsequent term is a third of the previous one. Understanding the common ratio allows you to predict how any term will shift in a series even before performing any calculations.
Geometric Sequence
Geometric sequences are like building blocks. They start with a single term and build upon it using a repetitive process. Each term in a geometric sequence is the result of multiplying the prior term by a specific number, known as the common ratio. For example, in our series, the first term is 2, then the next term is \( 2 \times \frac{1}{3} \), and so on.
- The sequence would appear as: 2, \( \frac{2}{3} \), \( \frac{2}{9} \), \( \frac{2}{27} \), \( \frac{2}{81} \).
Series Formula
To really grasp the beauty of geometric series, knowing how to use the series formula is essential. Once you have identified your first term \( a \) and common ratio \( r \), you plug these into the series formula. For our given series, this involves calculating:
- First, solving for \( r^n \): \( \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^5 \).
- Then, using the formula: \( S_5 = \frac{2(1 - \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^5)}{1-\frac{1}{3}} \).
- Simplify your result: \( S_5 = \frac{726}{243} \).