Arithmetic-Geometric Series

Algebra Level 2

What is the value of S if: S = 1 2 + 2 4 + 3 8 + 4 16 + 5 32 + 6 64 + S=\frac { 1 }{ 2 } +\frac { 2 }{ 4 } +\frac { 3 }{ 8 } +\frac { 4 }{ 16 } +\frac { 5 }{ 32 } +\frac { 6 }{ 64 } +\dots

or S = n = 1 n 2 n S=\sum _{ n=1 }^{ \infty }{ \frac { n }{ { 2 }^{ n } } }


The answer is 2.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

2 solutions

Ivander Jonathan
Jan 9, 2015

note that sums to infinity is a 1 r \frac{a}{1-r} , where a is the first number of the series and that r is the ratio (exponent).

S = 1 2 + 2 4 + 3 8 + 4 16 . . . S=\frac{1}{2}+\frac{2}{4}+\frac{3}{8}+\frac{4}{16}... S = k = 1 ( 1 2 ) k + k = 1 ( 1 2 ) k + 1 + k = 1 ( 1 2 ) k + 2 . . . S=\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^\infty (\frac{1}{2})^k+\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^\infty (\frac{1}{2})^{k+1}+\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^\infty (\frac{1}{2})^{k+2}... S = 1 + 1 2 + 2 4 + 3 8 + . . . S=1+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{2}{4}+\frac{3}{8}+... S = k = 1 ( 1 / 2 ) k 1 S=\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^\infty (1/2)^{k-1} S = 2 S=2

Jonathan Gray
Jan 12, 2015

Problem needs more terms. Could be interpreted as n = 0 5 n 2 4 n + 1 + n = 0 2 5 n 2 4 n + 2 + n = 0 3 5 n 2 4 n + 3 + n = 0 4 5 n 2 4 n + 4 = 26 11 \sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{5^n}{2^{4n+1}}+\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{2\cdot5^n}{2^{4n+2}}+\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{3\cdot5^n}{2^{4n+3}}+\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{4\cdot5^n}{2^{4n+4}}=\frac{26}{11}

Thank you for your concern. I edited the problem already.

John Errol Obia - 6 years, 5 months ago

Log in to reply

That's not quite right for when n = 6 n=6 , the term would be 6 2 6 = 6 64 10 64 . \frac{6}{2^6}=\frac{6}{64}\neq\frac{10}{64}. Your new series does converge to the same value, but much of the intrigue of the problem is lost by stating it in its new closed form. I hope I do not come across as mean-spirited -- I enjoyed the problem and would others to, as well.

Jonathan Gray - 6 years, 5 months ago

Log in to reply

Oh well, I overlooked that typo :)) Thanks for noticing.

John Errol Obia - 6 years, 5 months ago

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...