Help with this Telescoping Series

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a telescoping series represented by the sum \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{(n+1)(n+2)}\) and determining its value. The original poster expresses confusion regarding the result, which they calculated as \(\frac{1}{2}\), while their textbook states it should equal \(1\).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to rewrite the series using partial fractions and analyzes the cancellation of terms. They question the correctness of their result compared to the textbook. Other participants confirm the original poster's calculation and suggest that the discrepancy may arise from the starting index of the summation.

Discussion Status

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of a potential typo in the textbook regarding the sum's value and the starting index of the summation, which could affect the interpretation of the problem.

Je m'appelle
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Homework Statement



Show that

\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{(n+1)(n+2)} = 1

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



So as this is a telescoping series, I rewrote the general formula through partial fractions as

\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{(n+1)} - \frac{1}{(n+2)} = 1

The first few terms will be

(\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}) + (\frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{4}) + (\frac{1}{4} - \frac{1}{5}) + (\frac{1}{5} - \frac{1}{6}) + (\frac{1}{6} - \frac{1}{7}) + ... + (\frac{1}{(n+1)} - \frac{1}{(n+2)})

It can be seen then, that the first term \frac{1}{2} and the last term \frac{-1}{(n+2)} do not cancel, therefore, it turns out to be basically

\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{(n+1)} - \frac{1}{(n+2)} = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} (\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{(n+2)}) = \frac{1}{2}

What am I doing wrong here? Is this telescoping series equal to 1 or 1/2? My textbook says 1 as I pointed out in the beginning of this thread, but I came up with 1/2, so I'd like to know if I'm doing something wrong or if I'm correct and the textbook has a typo.

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
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You haven't done anything wrong - the sum doesn't equal 1.
 
Hi Je m'appelle! :wink:

Your result looks correct to me. :smile:

The given answer would be for a ∑ starting at n = 0, not n = 1. :frown:
 
statdad said:
You haven't done anything wrong - the sum doesn't equal 1.

tiny-tim said:
Hi Je m'appelle! :wink:

Your result looks correct to me. :smile:

The given answer would be for a ∑ starting at n = 0, not n = 1. :frown:

Yes, it seems then that it is a typo of either the sum being equal to 1/2 or n being equal to 0 heh instead of 1 and 1 respectively.

Thank you for your help statdad and tiny-tim :smile:
 

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