How to find the sum of finite geometric series?

popadaliikp

popadaliikp

Answered question

2023-02-11

How to find the sum of finite geometric series?

Answer & Explanation

Vaughn Bryan

Vaughn Bryan

Beginner2023-02-12Added 7 answers

Take into account a finite geometric series that n + 1 terms a + a r + a r 2 + + a r n . Call this sum S n . Note that r S n = a r + a r 2 + a r 3 + + a r n + 1 so that r S n - S n = a r n + 1 - a .
Solving this equation for S n gives S n = a ( r n + 1 - 1 ) r - 1 when r 1 . The number a is often referred to as the ""first term"" and the number r is often referred to as the ""common ratio"". The number n is the highest power of r in the sum and the sum itself has n + 1 terms.
If r = 1 , then S n = a + a + a + + a = ( n + 1 ) a

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