Sum of a series that tends to infinity

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
16 replies · 3K views
Physics lover
Messages
249
Reaction score
25
Homework Statement
The sum of series ##1+(1/1!)(1/4)+(1.3/2!)(1/4)^2+(1.3.5/3!)(1/4)^3.....## to infinity is
Relevant Equations
sum of infinite gp=##a/(1-r)##
Sum of infinite agp=##ab/(1-r)+dbr/(1-r)^2##
I tried by
##S=1+(1/1!)(1/4)+(1.3/2!)(1/4)^2+...##
##S/4=1/4+(1/1!)(1/4)^2+(1.3/2!)(1/4)^3..##
And then subtracting the two equations but i arrived at nothing What shall i do further?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
i think this method might work the sum in question looks a lot like a mclaurin series
so maybe can you think of a function whose mclaurin series takes this form
since the product on top goes like 1,3,5,7 it suggests that the exponent on the function can't be integral so it has to some kind of fractional exponent . so which function can you think of for this form
edit: the mclaurin also needs to converge
 
How does one read ## 1.3.5/3!##?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: WWGD and SammyS
Hi.
I just state the question and do some estimation
[tex]S=\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(2n-1)!}{(2n)!}(2r)^n <\sum_{n=0}^\infty (2r)^n =\frac{1}{1-2r}[/tex]
where r=1/4 and 0!=(-1)!=1

[tex]S=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-2r}}[/tex]
We can confirm it by expanding RHS by 2r.
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: chaksome and nuuskur
timetraveller123 said:
i think this method might work the sum in question looks a lot like a mclaurin series
so maybe can you think of a function whose mclaurin series takes this form
since the product on top goes like 1,3,5,7 it suggests that the exponent on the function can't be integral so it has to some kind of fractional exponent . so which function can you think of for this form
edit: the mclaurin also needs to converge
I am in high school and i can not use Mclaurin series.
 
nuuskur said:
How does one read ## 1.3.5/3!##?
It is (1.3.5)##/##3!
 
Last edited:
Physics lover said:
It is (1.2.3)///3!
what do you mean so is each term of the form ##\frac{1.2.3.4...n}{n!}## or ##\frac{1.3.5...(2n-1)}{n!}##

edit never mind you were probably just giving an example i take it as the second one
 
timetraveller123 said:
what do you mean so is each term of the form ##\frac{1.2.3.4...n}{n!}## or ##\frac{1.3.5...(2n-1)}{n!}##

edit never mind you were probably just giving an example i take it as the second one
Soory that was a typing mistake.
It's(1.3.5)/3!
 
Physics lover said:
Homework Statement: The sum of series ##1+(1/1!)(1/4)+(1.3/2!)(1/4)^2+(1.3.5/3!)(1/4)^3...## to infinity is
Homework Equations: sum of infinite gp=##a/(1-r)##
Sum of infinite agp=##ab/(1-r)+dbr/(1-r)^2##

I tried by
##S=1+(1/1!)(1/4)+(1.3/2!)(1/4)^2+...##
##S/4=1/4+(1/1!)(1/4)^2+(1.3/2!)(1/4)^3..##
And then subtracting the two equations but i arrived at nothing What shall i do further?
When you write ## 1.3 ##, I suppose that you mean ## 1## times ##3##, rather than ##13/10## .

In LaTeX, use \cdot to get ## 1 \cdot 3## , or use \times to get ## 1 \times 3## .
 
Last edited:
Consider the expansion
(1+x)n = 1 + nx + n(n-1)x2/2! ...
Try thinking of a value of n such that n(n-1)(n-2)... gives 1.3.5... in the numerator.
 
mjc123 said:
Consider the expansion
(1+x)n = 1 + nx + n(n-1)x2/2! ...
Try thinking of a value of n such that n(n-1)(n-2)... gives 1.3.5... in the numerator.
if i put n=5/2,then i would get (1## . ##3## . ##5)/8
 
Physics lover said:
if i put n=5/2,then i would get (1.. . 3.. . 5)/8
But only for that term. (Did you spot the ... ?) What might you start with that could give 1 then 1.3 then 1.3.5 then 1.3.5.7... in the numerator?
 
mjc123 said:
But only for that term. (Did you spot the ... ?) What might you start with that could give 1 then 1.3 then 1.3.5 then 1.3.5.7... in the numerator?
i think it's n=-3/2.
 
mjc123 said:
Try n = -1/2
ok so i should put n=-1/2 and x=-1/2 and that gives me the sum.Am i correct?
 
Yes. And what is (1-1/2)-1/2?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: SammyS