17/01/2024
The sum of a Geometric Series
𝒂(𝒓𝒏 −𝟏) 𝒂(𝟏−𝒓𝒏 )
𝑺𝒏 = (𝒓 ≠ 𝟏), 𝒓 > 𝟏 or 𝑺𝒏 = (𝒓 ≠ 𝟏), 𝒓 < 𝟏
𝒓−𝟏 𝟏−𝒓
Sn = sum of n terms
a = first term
n = number of terms
r = common ratio
Examples 1 : Finding the sum given the number of terms
Example 2 Finding the sum when number of terms is not
known
Find n first using Tn and substitute into formula(Sn)
Example 3 Finding n when the sum is given
Sub into Sn formula and solve for n ( Exponential Equation )
Example 4 Determining least number of terms for which
sum of series will be greater than/less than a certain
number .
Consider the geometric series 5 +10 +20+…….
Determine the least number of terms for which the sum
of the series will be greater than 5000.
b) By inspection 𝑺𝒏= 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝟓(𝟐𝒏 − 𝟏)
> 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝟐−𝟏
𝟐𝒏 − 𝟏 > 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝟐𝒏 > 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟏 by Inspection 𝟐𝟗 = 𝟓𝟏𝟐
𝟐𝟏𝟎 = 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒
For the sum to be greater than 5000 should be greater than 9.
∴least value of n=10
By Using Logs :
Example 5 : Finding sum given unknowns
Homework
Exercise 5 Page 16-17
Qa 3;4;6, Qb1,5,8
Qc 2, 4;f ;g
18/01/2023
Deriving the Sum formula of an Arithmetic Series
a)Write out the Sum of an Arithmetic Series , using the general
term notation, call it Equation (1):
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒂 + (𝒂 + 𝒅) + (𝒂 + 𝟐𝒅) + ⋯ 𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟐)𝒅] + [𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅]
(1)
b)Rewrite the Sum of n terms of an Arithmetic series , but in
reverse … call it Equation 2:
𝑺𝒏 = [𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅] + [𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟐)𝒅} + … + (𝒂 + 𝟐𝒅) + (𝒂 +
𝒅) + 𝒂 (𝟐)
Now add Equation 1 and Equation 2:
𝟐 𝑺𝒏 = [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅] + [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅] + [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅]
+ … + [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅] + [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅]
So, if there are n terms, you have n times [2a+(n-1)d] terms:
𝟐 𝑺𝒏 = 𝒏 [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅]
Solving for Sn:
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅]
𝟐
Deriving the formula, using the last term, where
𝒍 = [𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅]:
Write out the Sum of an AP, using the general term notation ,call
it Equation (1):
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒂 + (𝒂 + 𝒅) + (𝒂 + 𝟐𝒅) + … + (𝒍 – 𝒅) + 𝒍 (𝟏)
Rewrite the Sum of n terms of an AP, but in reverse … call it
Equation 2:
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒍 + (𝒍 – 𝒅) + … + (𝒂 + 𝟐𝒅) + (𝒂 + 𝒅) + 𝒂 …. (2)
Now add Equation 1 and Equation 2:
𝟐 𝑺𝒏 = (𝒂 + 𝒍) + (𝒂 + 𝒍) + (𝒂 + 𝒍) + … + (𝒂 + 𝒍) + (𝒂 + 𝒍)
So, if there are n terms, you have n times (a+l) terms:
𝟐 𝑺𝒏 = 𝒏(𝒂 + 𝒍)
Solving for Sn:
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = (𝒂 + 𝒍)
𝟐
Another Proof
Deriving the Sum formula of a Geometric Series
Write out the Sum of a GP, using the general term notation (i.e.
T1, T2, T3 … Tn) … call it Equation (1):
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒂 + 𝒂𝒓 + 𝒂𝒓𝟐 + … + 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟐 + 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏 (1)
Now multiply both sides of Equation 1 by r … call it Equation 2:
𝒓𝑺𝒏 = 𝒂𝒓 + 𝒂𝒓𝟐 + 𝒂𝒓𝟑 + … + 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏 + 𝒂𝒓𝒏 (2)
Shift each term of Equation 2 to the right
Eqn 2 - 1:
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒂 + 𝒂𝒓 + 𝒂𝒓𝟐 + … + 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟐 + 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏 (1)
𝒓𝑺𝒏 = 𝒂𝒓 + 𝒂𝒓𝟐 + 𝒂𝒓𝟑 + … + 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏 + 𝒂𝒓𝒏 (2)
𝒓𝑺𝒏 − 𝑺𝒏 = −𝒂 + 𝟎 + 𝟎 + … + 𝟎 + 𝒂𝒓𝒏
Simplify and take out a common factor:
𝒓𝑺𝒏 − 𝑺𝒏 = 𝒂𝒓𝒏 − 𝒂
𝑺𝒏 (𝒓 − 𝟏) = 𝒂(𝒓𝒏 − 𝟏)
Solving for Sn:
𝒂(𝒓𝒏 − 𝟏)
𝑺𝒏 = (𝒓 ≠ 𝟏)
𝒓−𝟏
If you do equation 1 -2 we get
𝒂(𝟏 − 𝒓𝒏 )
𝑺𝒏 = (𝒓 ≠ 𝟏)
𝟏−𝒓
18/01/2024
Example 1
Converting recurring decimals to Fractions
Determining values of x for which a series converges
Calculating r given sum to infinity
Exercise 6page 19
Q a 3,5
Qb 2,4
Qc 3,7
d ,e
23/01/2023
