Question with Summing a Series (Non-Geometric)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around summing a series that is not geometric, specifically the series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\left(\frac{2}{n^{2}+8n+15}\right)\). The original poster attempts to manipulate the series into a form that reveals its behavior as \(n\) approaches infinity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster expresses confusion about which terms cancel in the series and attempts to identify the remaining terms after cancellation. They also question the correctness of their variable increments and the limits involved.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide guidance on how to approach the cancellation of terms by suggesting that the original poster write out the first twelve terms. Others clarify the conditions under which certain terms cancel, indicating a productive exchange of ideas without reaching a consensus on the final outcome.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions previous work in a document and acknowledges their developing skills in LaTeX, indicating a learning context. There is also a reference to uncertainty regarding the cancellation of terms, which suggests a need for further exploration of the series behavior.

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Homework Statement


[tex]\stackrel{infinity}{n=1}\sum\left(\frac{2}{n^{2}+8n+15}\right)[/tex]


Homework Equations


Partial Sums
Knowledge of Series

The Attempt at a Solution


Please see the attached word document for previous work up until this part. Also, please excuse the improper LaTeX usage [I'm getting better]!

To summarize:
[tex]\stackrel{infinity}{n=1}\sum\left(\frac{2}{n^{2}+8n+15}\right)[/tex]
= [tex]\stackrel{infinity}{n=1}\sum\left(\frac{1}{n+3}-\frac{1}{n+5}\right)[/tex]

Now, when I string out the sum I start to have concept issues that neither my book, my lecture notes, nor web searches have been able to explain:
[tex]\left(\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{6}\right)+\left(\frac{1}{5}-\frac{1}{7}\right)+\left(\frac{1}{6}-\frac{1}{8}\right) + ... + \left(\frac{1}{n}-\frac{1}{n+2}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{n+1}-\frac{1}{n+3}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{n+2}-\frac{1}{n+4}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{n+3}-\frac{1}{n+5}\right)[/tex]

I think the variable increments are correct at the end, this is one of my questions...

However, another - important - question is which variable increments cancel?

I understand that only:
[tex]\left(\frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{5}\right) + ...[/tex]

Will remain since those particular terms are lower than the subtracting part of the sum, however, I'm unsure about where to start with canceling variable terms.

Here is my 'guess' on which variable terms will remain:
[tex]... + \left(-\frac{1}{n+4}-\frac{1}{n+5}\right)[/tex]
This was done under the assumption that the positive part of the sum will never reach these particular terms.

From there take the limit of the Series:

[tex]lim_{n->infinity} \left(\frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{5} -\frac{1}{n+4}-\frac{1}{n+5}\right)[/tex]

[tex]lim_{n->infinity} \left(\frac{5}{20} + \frac{4}{20} - 0 - 0 \right)[/tex]

[tex]lim_{n->infinity} \left(\frac{9}{20} \right)[/tex]




NastyAccident
 

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If you're unsure which terms cancel, write out the first twelve terms and see which ones cancel
 
Yes, you stopped one term too soon! What is the term immediately after [itex]\left(\frac{1}{6}- \frac{1}{8}\right)[/itex]? So you see now what cancels? When isn+ 3= m+ 5?
 
Ahh, thanks! So, pretty much anything that n+3=n+5 will cancel (on both the beginning and end).

Got it now! Thanks for clearing that blip up.
NastyAccident
 

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