Final answer:
To calculate the sum of a geometric series, you can use the formula S = a * (1 - r^n) / (1 - r), where S is the sum of the series, a is the first term, r is the common ratio, and n is the number of terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sum of a Geometric Series
To calculate the sum of a geometric series, you can use the formula
S = a * (1 - r^n) / (1 - r)
, where
S
is the sum of the series,
a
is the first term,
r
is the common ratio, and
n
is the number of terms. Here are the steps to follow:
- Identify the values of a, r, and n from the given geometric series.
- Substitute the values into the formula S = a * (1 - r^n) / (1 - r).
- Simplify the expression to find the sum of the geometric series S.
Example:
Let's say we have a geometric series with a first term
a = 2
, a common ratio
r = 3
, and
n = 4
terms. Using the formula, we can find the sum
S
:
S = 2 * (1 - 3^4) / (1 - 3)
S = 2 * (1 - 81) / -2
S = 2 * (-80) / -2
S = 80