5.4.4 Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions

5.4.4 Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions

(G) Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions

S \infty = \frac{a}{1 - r}, - 1 < r < 1

a = first term

r = common ratio

S∞ = sum to infinity

Example:

Find the sum to infinity of each of the following geometric progressions.

(a) 8, 4, 2, …

(b)

\frac{2}{3}, \frac{2}{9}, \frac{2}{27}, …..

(c) 3, 1, ⅓, ….

Solution:

(a)

8, 4, 2, ….

a = 2, r = 4/8 = ½
S∞ = 8 + 4 + 2 + 0.5 + 0.25 + 0.125 + 0.0625 + 0.03125 + …..

S \infty = \frac{a}{1 - r} = \frac{2}{1 - \frac{1}{2}} = 4

(b)

\begin{array}{l} \frac{2}{3}, \frac{2}{9}, \frac{2}{27}, ..... \\ a = \frac{2}{3}, r = \frac{2 / 9}{2 / 3} = \frac{1}{3} \\ S \infty = \frac{a}{1 - r} \\ S \infty = \frac{\frac{2}{3}}{1 - \frac{1}{3}} = 1 \end{array}

(c)

\begin{array}{l} 3, 1, \frac{1}{3}, ..... \\ a = 3, r = \frac{1}{3} \\ S \infty = \frac{a}{1 - r} \\ S \infty = \frac{3}{1 - \frac{1}{3}} = \frac{3}{2 / 3} = \frac{9}{2} \end{array}

(H) Recurring Decimal

Example of recurring decimal:

\begin{array}{l} \frac{2}{9} = 0.2222222222222..... \\ \frac{8}{33} = 0.242424242424..... \\ \frac{41}{333} = 0.123123123123..... \end{array}

Recurring decimal can be changed to fraction using the sum to infinity formula:

S \infty = \frac{a}{1 - r}

Example (Change recurring decimal to fraction)

Express each of the following recurring decimals as a fraction in its lowest terms.

(a) 0.8888 ...

(b) 0.171717...

(c) 0.513513513 ….

Solution:

(a)

0.8888 = 0.8 + 0.08 + 0.008 +0.0008 + ….. (recurring decimal)

\begin{array}{l} G P, a = 0.8, r = \frac{0.08}{0.8} = 0.1 \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{a}{1 - r} \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{0.8}{1 - 0.1} \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{0.8}{0.9} \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{8}{9} \to \begin{array}{l} check using calculator \\ \frac{8}{9} = 0.888888.... \end{array} \end{array}

(b)

0.17171717 …..

= 0.17 + 0.0017 + 0.000017 + 0.00000017 + …..

\begin{array}{l} G P, a = 0.17, r = \frac{0.0017}{0.17} = 0.01 \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{a}{1 - r} \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{0.17}{1 - 0.01} = \frac{0.17}{0.99} = \frac{17}{99} \to \begin{array}{l} remember to check the \\ answer using calculator \end{array} \end{array}

(c)

0.513513513…..

= 0.513 + 0.000513 + 0.000000513 + …..

\begin{array}{l} G P, a = 0.513, r = \frac{0.00513}{0.513} = 0.001 \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{a}{1 - r} \\ S_{\infty} = \frac{0.513}{1 - 0.001} = \frac{0.513}{0.999} = \frac{513}{999} = \frac{19}{37} \end{array}