Question on finite and geometric series

[Luceian K]

1. 1. Find the exact(no approximations)sum for the finite series

S sub n= (2 + 2 + 2(2+...+64

i used the parentheses to represent a radical sign

2. Show that the sum of the first 10 terms of the geometric series

1 + 1/3 + 1/9 + 1/27+...

is twice the sum of the first 10 terms of the series

1 - 1/3 + 1/9 - 1/27+...




2. no relevant equations to solve this.


3. I attempted to solve this by dividing n/2(a sub 1 +a sub n). n would equal 64 and a sub one would equal radical 2 so 64/2 (radical 2 +64).

This is as far as I have been able to get and am not sure if it is the correct way to solve these two problems. I would appreciate if someone could show me step by step how to go about these since my pre-calc book does horribly at it.

 

[HallsofIvy]

1. 1. Find the exact(no approximations)sum for the finite series

S sub n= (2 + 2 + 2(2+...+64

i used the parentheses to represent a radical sign

So that is n= \sqrt{2+ 2+ 2\sqrt{2+ ...+ 64}}?
What does the "..." represent?

2. Show that the sum of the first 10 terms of the geometric series

1 + 1/3 + 1/9 + 1/27+...

is twice the sum of the first 10 terms of the series

1 - 1/3 + 1/9 - 1/27+...




2. no relevant equations to solve this.

I would think that
\sum_{i=0}^n r^i= \frac{1- r^{n+1}}{1- r}
would be a very relevant equation!

3. I attempted to solve this by dividing n/2(a sub 1 +a sub n). n would equal 64 and a sub one would equal radical 2 so 64/2 (radical 2 +64).

This is as far as I have been able to get and am not sure if it is the correct way to solve these two problems. I would appreciate if someone could show me step by step how to go about these since my pre-calc book does horribly at it.

 

[Luceian K]

the "+...+64" is not under the radical sign. Just 2)2. and the "..." is in the question, I don't know what it stands for. I am at a complete loss with these two questions. and my math book doesn't go into enough detail with these types of equations.

 

[qntty]

1. 1. Find the exact(no approximations)sum for the finite series

S sub n= (2 + 2 + 2(2+...+64

Is this S_n= \sqrt{2} + 2 + 2\sqrt{2}+...+64 = \sum_{1\le k \le 12} 2^{k/2} ?

if so, then it's a geometric series. Do you know the closed form of the sum of a geometric series?
If not, here's how to get it

S = a + ax + ax^2 + ... + ax^n = \sum_{0 \le k \le n} ax^k

Sx = ax + ax^2 + ax^3 + ... + ax^{n+1}

S - Sx = S(1-x) = a- ax^{n+1}

so S = a\frac{1-x^{n+1}}{1-x}

 

[Luceian K]

so the equation would not be n/2(a sub 1 + a sub n)

 

[Luceian K]

So that is n= \sqrt{2+ 2+ 2\sqrt{2+ ...+ 64}}?
What does the "..." represent?


I would think that
\sum_{i=0}^n r^i= \frac{1- r^{n+1}}{1- r}
would be a very relevant equation!

for the second problem could you tell me how to find r i am unsure of how to solve for that variable

 

[qntty]

Sorry but I don't understand what you're asking. You don't have to solve for anything, just set r=\sqrt{2} (or x=\sqrt{2} in my post) because a=1 in your equation.

 

[Luceian K]

Sorry but I don't understand what you're asking. You don't have to solve for anything, just set r=\sqrt{2} (or x=\sqrt{2} in my post) because a=1 in your equation.

then i am not sure what n would be in the equation you have there.

 

[qntty]

and the "..." is in the question, I don't know what it stands for. I am at a complete loss with these two questions. and my math book doesn't go into enough detail with these types of equations.

Well I guess that's the problem. Ellipses mean that you follow the pattern that has been set until you get to 64 (in this case).

For example 2+4+8+16+...+512 is shorthand for 2+4+8+16+32+64+128+256+512.

In your problem, the patter is that the next term in the series is generated by multiplying the previous term by \sqrt{2}

 

[qntty]

then i am not sure what n would be in the equation you have there.

the final term in a geometric series can be written in the form ax^n for some number n. The equation which you have is

\sqrt{2} + (\sqrt{2})^2+ (\sqrt{2})^3+ ... + (\sqrt{2})^{12}

So n=12

 

[Luceian K]

i got 216.09545 is this correct

 

[qntty]

i got 216.09545 is this correct

Yes, that's correct. Now try the other problem.

 

[Luceian K]

thank you for your help