The geometric series \(a+ar+ar^2+\cdots\) has a sum of 12, and the terms involving odd powers of r have a sum of 5. What is r?
The sum of the series can be represented by :
a / ( 1 - r) = 12
a = 12 ( 1- r ) (1)
So....note that the sum of the terms with odd powers of r can be represented by :
ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + ar^7 + ..... + ar^(2n - 1) = 5 (2)
And note that the sum of the terms with even powers of r can be represented by :
a + ar^2 + ar^4 + ar^6 + ar^8 + ..... + ar^(2n) = 7 (3)
Multiply (2) by r on both sides
ar^2 + ar^4 + ar^6 + ar^8 + ..... + ar^(2n ) = 5r (4)
Subtract (4) from (3)
a = 7 - 5r (5)
Sub (5) into (1)
7 - 5r = 12(1 - r)
7 - 5r = 12 - 12r
7r = 5 → r = 5/7
Check
a = 7 - 5(5/7) = 24/7
a / ( 1 - r) =
(24/7) / ( 1- 5/7) =
(24/7) / ( 2/7) =
24 / 2 =
12
Here's another way of attacking this......
Note that the sum of the terms with odd powers of r can be represented by :
ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + ar^7 + ..... + ar^(2n - 1) = 5
So.....the common ratio between these terms is just r^2
And the sum of this series can be represented as
5 = ar / ( 1 - r^2) → (1 - r^2) = ar / 5 (1)
And note that the sum of the terms with even powers of r can be represented by :
a + ar^2 + ar^4 + ar^6 + ar^8 + ..... + ar^(2n) = 7
And the common ratio between these terms is just r^2
And the sum of this series can be represented by
7 = a / (1 - r^2) → (1 - r^2) = a / 7 (2)
Equating (1) and (2) we have that
ar / 5 = a / 7 divide both sides by a
r / 5 = 1 / 7 multiply both sides by 5
r = 5 / 7