Can you determine the convergence of this sum notation series for math homework?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the convergence or divergence of a series expressed in sum notation. The series consists of terms that appear to be ratios of sums of powers of 2 and 3.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to express the series in sum notation and identify the general term. There are questions about which tests to apply for convergence, with suggestions to simplify the general term and consider geometric series properties.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively exploring the formulation of the series and discussing potential tests for convergence. Some guidance has been offered regarding the simplification of the general term and the application of various convergence tests, but no consensus has been reached on the approach.

Contextual Notes

There is an indication that participants are struggling with the initial formulation of the series and the use of summation notation. The discussion includes considerations of geometric series and the implications of limits as n approaches infinity.

chemnoob.
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Homework Statement



Determine whether series diverges of converges (conditionally or absolutely)
(1+2)/(1+3) + (1+2+4)/(1+3+9) + (1+2+4+8)/(1+3+9+27) ...

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



I'm assuming that I would have to put it into sum notation but I am struggling with that.
 
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chemnoob. said:

Homework Statement



Determine whether series diverges of converges (conditionally or absolutely)
(1+2)/(1+3) + (1+2+4)/(1+3+9) + (1+2+4+8)/(1+3+9+27) ...

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I'm assuming that I would have to put it into sum notation but I am struggling with that.
It looks to me like the general term of your series is
[tex]a_n = \frac{\sum_{i = 0}^n 2^i}{\sum_{i = 0}^n 3^i}[/tex]

Can you work with that?
 


What test should I try using?
 


Both series are geometric series, so you should be able to get a simpler expression for an. Once you do that, you could take the limit of an as n goes to infinity. If you get a nonzero value, you know the series diverges. If you get zero, then you need to use more tests, such as the ratio test, limit comparison test, etc.
 


Mark44 said:
It looks to me like the general term of your series is
[tex]a_n = \frac{\sum_{i = 0}^n 2^i}{\sum_{i = 0}^n 3^i}[/tex]

Can you work with that?

I think you are missing a sum at the beginning of all of that .. but I still don't know how you would go about solving that!
 


What I wrote is the general term of the series, not the whole series. See if you can write an without the two summations, using what you know about finite geometric series.
 

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