silemus.

42Sum of a geometric series

Find the sum ∑n=1∞2(−12)n−1\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} 2\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{n-1}. Give the answer to 3 decimal places.

This is an infinite geometric series with first term a = 2 and ratio r = −1/2. Since |r| < 1 it converges to a/(1−r) = 2/(3/2) = 4/3 ≈ 1.333.

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