14. Sequences & Series

46–53. Decimal expansions

Write each repeating decimal first as a geometric series and then as a fraction (a ratio of two integers).

53.0.00952̅ = 0.00952952…

Is it possible for an alternating series to converge absolutely but not conditionally?

Periodic doses

Suppose you take 200 mg of an antibiotic every 6 hr. The half-life of the drug (the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from your blood) is 6 hr. Use infinite series to find the long-term (steady-state) amount of antibiotic in your blood. You may assume the steady-state amount is finite.

9–15. Geometric sums Evaluate each geometric sum.

{Use of Tech}∑ k = 0 to 9(−3/4)ᵏ

Building a tunnel — first scenario

A crew of workers is constructing a tunnel through a mountain. Understandably, the rate of construction decreases because rocks and earth must be removed a greater distance as the tunnel gets longer. Suppose each week the crew digs 0.95 of the distance it dug the previous week. In the first week, the crew constructed 100 m of tunnel.

a.How far does the crew dig in 10 weeks? 20 weeks? N weeks?

61–66. Sequences of partial sums For the following infinite series, find the first four terms of the sequence of partial sums. Then make a conjecture about the value of the infinite series or state that the series diverges.

4 + 0.9 + 0.09 + 0.009 + ⋯  

Explain why or why not

Determine whether the following statements are true and give an explanation or counterexample.

c.If the terms of the sequence {aₙ} are positive and increasing, then the sequence of partial sums for the series∑⁽∞⁾ₖ₌₁aₖ diverges.

54–69. Telescoping series

For the following telescoping series, find a formula for the nth term of the sequence of partial sums {Sₙ}. Then evaluate limₙ→∞ Sₙ to obtain the value of the series or state that the series diverges.

65. ∑ (k = 1 to ∞) (1 / √(k + 1) – 1 / √(k + 3))

71. Evaluating an infinite series two ways

Evaluate the series

∑ (k = 1 to ∞) (4 / 3ᵏ – 4 / 3ᵏ⁺¹) two ways.

b. Use a geometric series argument with Theorem 10.8.

87. Explain why or why not

Determine whether the following statements are true and give an explanation or counterexample.

f. If the series ∑ (k = 1 to ∞) aᵏ converges and |a| < |b|, then the series ∑ (k = 1 to ∞) bᵏ converges.

Explain why or why not Determine whether the following statements are true and give an explanation or counterexample.

b. The sum ∑ (k = 3 to ∞) 1 / √(k − 2) is a p-series.

Series with Geometric Terms

In Exercises 7–14, write out the first eight terms of each series to show how the series starts. Then find the sum of the series or show that it diverges.

∑ (from n = 0 to ∞) [(1 / 2ⁿ) + ((-1)ⁿ / 5ⁿ)]

Determine whether the following statements are true and give an explanation or counterexample.

c. The terms of the sequence of partial sums of the series ∑ aₖ approach 5/2, so the infinite series converges to 5/2.

{Use of Tech} Bessel functions Bessel functions arise in the study of wave propagation in circular geometries (for example, waves on a circular drum head). They are conveniently defined as power series. One of an infinite family of Bessel functions is

J₀(x) = ∑ₖ₌₀∞ (−1)ᵏ/(2²ᵏ(k!)²) x²ᵏ

a. Write out the first four terms of J₀.

48–63. Choose your test Determine whether the following series converge or diverge using the properties and tests introduced in Sections 10.3 and 10.4.

∑ (k = 1 to ∞) 1 / ( (3k + 1)(3k + 4) )