32 ♦ Chapter 1 - Sequence and Series

1.5

Consider the infinite geometric sequence: 1, 1 , 1 , 1 , 1 , f , ` 1 j .

n-1

2 4 8 16 2
As the terms of the infinite geometric get closer and closer to some real number, the sequence is said to be
convergent and will converge to a real number.

` 2 j = 8.8 # 10 - 16, ` 2 j = 7.88 # 10 - 31, ` 2 j = 6.22 # 10 - 61 . As n gets larger, ` 2 j gets closer to 0.

1 50 1 100 1 200 1 n

` j = 0 . This is read: as n approaches an infinitely large number, ` 2 j approaches zero.

That is lim 1 n 1 n
n"3 2

Consider the infinite geometric sequence: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, f , 2 n - 1 .

This sequence does not converge to some number. A sequence that does not converge is said to be divergent.

Geometric sequences that have r values between - 1 1 r 1 1 will converge, and ones that have r values
r 2 1 or r 1- 1 will diverge.

Deriving the Sum Formula for Infinite Geometric Series

n
a ^1 - r nh
In a geometric series with first term a, and common ratio r: S n = a - ar = .
1-r 1-r
If - 1 1 r 1 1 , usually written r 1 1 , it follows r n approaches zero as n " 3.

a^1 - r nh a^1 - 0h
Therefore S n = = = a .
1-r 1-r 1-r

The Sum of an Infinite Geometric Sequence

The sum of the terms of an infinite geometric sequence is given by:

S 3 = a , r 1 1 or - 1 1 r 1 1
1-r

Example 1 Find the sum of the infinite geometric series 2 - 4 + 8 - g

5 25 125

-4
►Solution: r= 25
2 =- 2 , - 2 1 1 , therefore it is a finite sum.
5
5 5
2 2
S3 = a = 5 5
= 2
1 - ^- 25 h
= 7
1-r 5
7

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 Section 1.5 - Infinite Geometric Series ♦ 33

A good way of understanding the importance of the condition - 1 1 r 1 1 for an infinite geometric sequence
to have a finite sum is to look at the following two examples:

S
6 44447 444 48
i) S = 1 + 1
2 + 1
4 + g = 1 + 21 ^1 + 21 + 41 + g h " S = 1 + 1
2 S " S- 1
2 S=1 " S=2

This is correct because - 1 1 r 1 1 .

S
6 44447 444 8
ii) S = 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + g = 1 + 2 ^1 + 2 + 4 + g h " S = 1 + 2S " S - 2S = 1 " S =- 1

This answer makes no sense because r = 2 , which does not satisfy the condition - 1 1 r 1 1 .

Summation Form of an Infinite Geometric Series

3
An infinite geometric series with first term a and common ratio r, r 1 1, is denoted by / ar i-1

i=1

/ 8 ` - 21 j
3 k-1
Example 2 Find the sum of
k=2

a = 8`- 1 j =- 4 , r =- 1
2-1
►Solution:
2 2

S3 = a
1-r
-4
1 - ^- 21 h
=

=- 8
3

Example 3 Initially a pendulum swings through an arc of 25 cm. On each successive swing friction lessens
the length of the pendulum swing by 5%. When the pendulum stops, what total length will the
pendulum have swung?

►Solution: If the length of the swing is lessened by 5%, then the swing is 95% of the original arc.

S3 = a
1-r
= 25
1 - 0.95
= 25
0.05
= 500 cm

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34 ♦ Chapter 1 - Sequence and Series

Example 4 A ball is dropped from 12 ft and rebounds two-thirds the distance from which it fell. Find the
total distance the ball travelled.

►Solution: This problem can be solved starting from S 1 , S 2 , or S 3 .

S2
If choosing S 1 as the starting point, the first up and
12 ft down motion is 24 ft. But since the 12 ft travelled
from S 1 to S 2 is not part of the total distance
travelled, it must be subtracted.
S1 S3

S1 = a S2 = a S3 = a
1-r 1-r 1-r
= 24 2 - 12 = 12 +28 = 16 2 + 12
1- 3 1- 3 1- 3
= 60 ft = 60 ft = 60 ft

Note: The horizontal distance travelled in the diagram is only shown to illustrate the upward
and downward paths of the ball. In the problem, the ball only travels vertically.

Example 5 Write the repeating decimal 0.24 as a fraction.

►Solution: 0.2 4 = 2 + 4 + 4 + 4 +g
10 1100
4444444 2 4 4 000
1000 10 4 4 4 44 3
1
r = 10
S3 = a
1-r
4
= 2 + 100 1
10 1 - 10

= 11
45

Solve for x: / ^tan x h k - 1 = 1, 0c # x 1 45c

3
Example 6
k=1

►Solution: ^tan x h 0 + ^tan x h1 + ^tan x h 2 + g = 1 → a = 1, r = tan x

Since tan x 1 1 for 0c # x 1 45c

S3 = a
1-r
1= 1
1 - tan x
tan x = 0
x = 0c, 180c (Reject 180°)

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 Section 1.5 - Infinite Geometric Series ♦ 35

1.5 Exercise Set

1. Determine if the infinite geometric series converges or diverges. State the common ratio.

a) 16 + 4 + 1 + g b) 3 + 3 + 3 +g
16 8 4

c) 1 + 1 + 1 2 + g d) 3 - 3 + 3 - g
1.01 ^1.01 h 2 4

e) 1 + 1 + 1 +g f) 1 + 1 + 1 +g
2 4 8

2. Find the sum of the infinite geometric series, if it exists.

a) 1 - 1 + 1 - 1 + g b) 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + g
2 4 8 3 9

c) 1.2 + 0.012 + 0.00012 + g d) 1 + 3 + 9 + 27 + g

2 4 8

e) 27 - 9 + 6 - 4 + g f) -6 + 3 - 3 + 3 -g
2 2 4

g) 2 - 2 + 2 2 - 4 +g h) ^1.05 h- 1 + ^1.05 h- 2 + ^1.05 h- 3 + g

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36 ♦ Chapter 1 - Sequence and Series

3. Find the sum of each infinite geometric series.

/ 3 ` 21 j / 4 ` - 31 j
3 i 3 k-1
a) b)
i=1 k=1

3 3
c) /3$4 1-x
d) /5$2 -k

x=2 k=2

/ ^- 1h ` 23 j / ` 43 j
3 i+1 3 1-k
e) i
f)
i=1 k=3

/ 5` - 53 j
3 3
/ 36
n-1
g) h) n-1
n=1 n=3

/ 5` 81 j / 10` - 25 j
3 k 3 k-1
i) j)
k=0 k=3

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 Section 1.5 - Infinite Geometric Series ♦ 37

4. Find the rational number represented by the repeating decimal.

a) 0. 38 b) 0.38

c) 1. 432 d) 1.432

5. Solve for x.

/ ^2xh
3 3
a) /x k
= 2
5
b) i-1
= 2
5
k=1 i=1

/ ^cos xh / 15x^ x h
3 3
c) j
= 2, 0c # x 1 360c d) 2 n-1
=4
j=0 n=1

6. Rewrite each series using the new index.

3 3
a) /5 2 n -n
=/ b) /2 3i - 1
=/
n=2 j=5 i=0 j=4

3 3
c) /3 1-k
=/ d) /4 2 - 3x
=/
k=1 k=3 x=5 x=1

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38 ♦ Chapter 1 - Sequence and Series

7. For what value will the infinite geometric series, 8. Determine the value of x, x ! 0 , so that the infinite
1 + ^1 + x h + ^1 + x h 2 + g , x ! 1 , have a finite geometric series, 1 + 31 x + 91 x 2 + g , has a finite
sum? sum.

9. Why is it impossible to have an infinite geometric 10. The first term in an infinite geometric series is 3.
series with the first term 9 and a sum of 4? Find all possible values of the common ratio r,
which will give a sum greater than 4.

11. Find the sum of an infinite geometric series if the 12. A weather balloon rises 100 m the first minute,
first term is 2, and each term is 4 times the sum of and each minute after the first it rises 4% less than
all the terms that follow it. the previous minute. What is the maximum height
reached by the balloon?

13. If a rectangle has dimensions 2 # 4 , and each side 14. A 6.25 cm nail is driven 2 cm into a board on the
is halved endlessly, what is the total area of all the first hit, and 23 of the preceding distance on each
rectangles formed if the process is continued of the next hits. How many hits are required to
without end? hammer the nail into the board?

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 Section 1.5 - Infinite Geometric Series ♦ 39

15. A clock pendulum swings through an arc of 30 cm. 16. Seventy two grams of fertilizer is given to a
Each successive swing is 10% less. How far will dogwood tree the first year, 60 grams the second
the pendulum swing altogether before coming to a year, 50 grams the third year, and so on. Find the
complete stop? total amount of fertilizer received by the dogwood
tree.

17. The side of a square is 16 cm. The midpoint of the 18. A side of an equilateral triangle is 10 cm. The
sides of the square are joined to form another midpoints of the side are joined to form a second
inscribed square. This process is continued forever. inscribed equilateral triangle inside the first triangle,
Find the sum of the perimeters of all the squares. and the process is continued forever. Find the sum
of the perimeter of the original triangle and all of
the subsequent inscribed triangles that are formed.

19. A ball dropped from 10 m above ground rebounds 20. A ball dropped from a height of 120 m rebounds
4 of the distance from where it fell. 80% of the distance of the height it previously fell.
3

a) Find the total vertical distance the ball travels a) Determine the total vertical distance traveled
before coming to a rest. when the ball hits the ground the 8th time.

b) Find the total vertical distance the ball travels b) Determine the maximum height reached after
after 10 bounces. hitting the ground the 8th time.

c) What is the total distance traveled after the c) Determine the total vertical distance that the
10th bounce? ball travels before coming to a rest.

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