# Geometric Sum

Moridin

## Homework Statement

Calculate the following sum:

$$\sum_{k=1}^{10} 3 \cdot 2^{k}$$

## The Attempt at a Solution

$$\sum_{k=1}^{10} 3 \cdot 2^{k} = 3 \cdot \sum_{k=1}^{10} 2^{k} = 3 \cdot (2^{10} - 1)$$

Although it seems that I am missing something.

Staff Emeritus
$$\sum_{k=1}^{10} 3 \cdot 2^{k} = 3 \cdot \sum_{k=1}^{10} 2^{k} = 3 \cdot (2^{10} - 1)$$

Although it seems that I am missing something.
Very close but no cigar. How can $\sum_{k=1}^{10} 2^{k} = 2^{10} - 1$? You are missing something from the right-hand side.

Moridin
Right, if you divide a term in the sum by the previous term, you get 2, not 1? So a factor of 2 is missing.

Homework Helper
Do you know $$x^n - y^n = (x-y)(x^{n-1} + x^{n-1}y + ... + y^{n-1} )$$ ?

For (x,y) = (2,1) that forms into what you need. Look at the expansion of what you have, 2^10 - 1, and see how that falls different to the sum you want on the RHS, then change it accordingly =]

spideyunlimit
**Edited by user.

Last edited:
Homework Helper

spideyunlimit
ok sorry buddy!

@author of thread... look up summation of a GP

Homework Helper

## Homework Statement

Calculate the following sum:

$$\sum_{k=1}^{10} 3 \cdot 2^{k}$$

## The Attempt at a Solution

$$\sum_{k=1}^{10} 3 \cdot 2^{k} = 3 \cdot \sum_{k=1}^{10} 2^{k} = 3 \cdot (2^{10} - 1)$$

Although it seems that I am missing something.
The formula you are trying to remember is
$$\sum_{k=0}^n a r^k= a\frac{1-r^{n+1}}{1- r}[/itex] For r= 2, so that 1-r= 1-2= -1, that becomes [tex]\sum_{k=0}^n a 2^k= a (2^{n+1}- 1)$$

There are two important differences between that and the formula you are using.

Moridin
Let's see.

The general formula is

$$\sum_{k=0}^n a r^k= a\frac{1-r^{n+1}}{1- r}$$

Now the terms in the sum

$$\sum_{k=1}^{10} 3 \cdot 2^{k} = 6 + 12 + 24 + ... + 3072$$

This means that

n = 9 (10-1)
r = 2 (taking the n:th term/(n-1):th term)
a = 6 (the starting term)

So

$$\sum_{k=1}^{10} 3 \cdot 2^{k} = 6\frac{1-2^{9+1}}{1-2} = 6\frac{1-2^{10}}{1- 2} = 6(2^{10} - 1)$$

Why is n = 9 here? Is that just the number of terms that have an exponent >= 2?

spideyunlimit
Someone above told me not to give out the answer.. and btw your answer is correct.. and yes n = 10 not 9 . There are 10 terms of the GP.