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Calculus 2 determine whether the 2/5 + 4/25 + 8/626+.... is series is convergent or divergent if convergent find it sum

User Blueyed
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1 Answer

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Explanation:

sum of (2^n / 5^n), with n from 1 to infinity.

an = (2^n / 5^n)

an+1 = (2^(n+1) / 5^(n+1)) = an × 2/5

so, we can use the Ratio Test (d'Alembert's criterion) to prove that this series is convergent :

r = lim | (an+1 / an) |, n going to infinity.

if r < 1, then the series is convergent.

an+1/an = (2^(n+1) / 5^(n+1)) / (2^n / 5^n) = 2/5.

therefore

r = lim | (an+1 / an) | = 2/5, n going to infinity.

2/5 < 1, therefore the series is convergent.

the sum of an infinite geometric series (like this one) is

a1/(1 - r)

our a1 = 2/5.

and NOT 2⁰/5⁰ = 1 !

and r is also 2/5.

so we have

sum of the series = 2/5 / (1 - 2/5) = 2/5 / 3/5 =

= (2×5) / (5×3) = 2/3