+0  
 
+1
980
2
avatar+1446 

The sum of the first n terms in the infinite geometric sequence {1/4, 1/8, 1/16, ...} is 255/512. Find n.

 

👍 👍 

 Jan 16, 2018
 #1
avatar+128089 
+1

The common ratio, r,  can be determined  as  the ratio of the terms

 

an+1  / an    so we have....  (1/8)  / (1/4)   =  4/8  =  1/2

 

And we have that

 

255/512  =  1/4  [  1 -  (1/2)^n ] /  [  1  - 1/2  ]

 

255/512 =   1/4   [ 1 - (1/2)^n ]  /  (1/2)

 

255/512  =  (1/2)  [ 1 - (1/2)^n ]     multiply both sdes by  2

 

255* 2 / 512   =  1 - (1/2)^n  rearrange  as

 

(1/2)^n  =  1  -  510/512

 

(1/2)^n   =  [ 512  - 510 ] / 512    =  2 / 512  =   1/256

 

Take the log of both sides

 

log (1/2)^n  =  log (1/256)     and we can write

 

n  =  log (1/256) / log (1/2)

 

n  =   8    ⇒  8 terms

 

 

cool cool cool

 Jan 16, 2018
 #2
avatar+1446 
+2

Thanks so much!

AnonymousConfusedGuy  Jan 16, 2018

0 Online Users