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Section 8.3 Partial Sums and Series (SQ3)

Subsection 8.3.1 Activities

Activity 8.3.1.

Consider the sequence {an}n=0={12n}n=0.
(a)
Find the first 5 terms of this sequence.
(b)
Compute the following:
  1. a0.
  2. a0+a1.
  3. a0+a1+a2.
  4. a0+a1+a2+a3.
  5. a0+a1+a2+a3+a4.

Activity 8.3.2.

Consider the sequence {an}n=1={1n}n=1.
(a)
Find the first 5 terms of this sequence.
(b)
Compute the following:
  1. a1.
  2. a1+a2.
  3. a1+a2+a3.
  4. a1+a2+a3+a4.
  5. a1+a2+a3+a4+a5.

Definition 8.3.3.

Given a sequence {an}n=0 define the kth partial sum for this sequence to be
Ak=i=0kai=a0+a1+a2++ak.
More generally, partial sums may be defined for any starting index. Given {an}n=N, let
Ak=i=Nkai=aN+aN+1+aN+2++ak.

Activity 8.3.5.

Consider the sequence an=23n. What is the best way to find the 100th partial sum A100?
  1. Sum the first 101 terms of the sequence {an}.
  2. Find a closed form for the partial sum sequence {An}.

Activity 8.3.6.

Expand the following polynomial products, and then reduce to as few summands as possible.
  1. (1x)(1+x+x2).
  2. (1x)(1+x+x2+x3).
  3. (1x)(1+x+x2+x3+x4).
  4. (1x)(1+x+x2++xn), where n is any nonnegative integer.

Activity 8.3.7.

Suppose S5=1+12+14+18+116+132. Without actually computing this sum, which of the following is equal to (112)S5?
  1. 12+14+18+116+132164.
  2. 1164.
  3. 1121418116132.

Activity 8.3.8.

Recall from Activity 8.3.4 that A100=2+23+232+233+234++23100=2(1+13+132+133+134++13100).
(a)
Which of the following is equal to (113)A100?
  1. 113101.
  2. 113100.
  3. 2(113101).
  4. 2(113100).
(b)
Based on your previous choice, write out an expression for A100.

Activity 8.3.9.

Suppose that {bn}n=0={(2)n}n=0={1,2,4,8,}. Let Bn=i=0nbi be the nth partial sum of {bn}.
(a)
Find simple expressions for the following:
  1. (1(2))B10.
  2. (1(2))B30.
  3. (1(2))Bn. Choose from the following:
    1. 1+(2)n.
    2. 1(2)n.
    3. 1+(2)n+1.
    4. 1(2)n+1.
    5. 12n.
(b)
Based on your previous answers, solve for the following:
  1. B10.
  2. B30.
  3. Bn. Choose from the following:
    1. 1(2)n+11(2)
    2. 1(2)n+112
    3. 1(2)n+11+(2)
    4. 1(2)n12
    5. 1(2)n1(2)

Activity 8.3.10.

Consider the following sequences:
  1. {an}n=0={(23)n}n=0.
  2. {bn}n=0={2(1)n}n=0.
  3. {cn}n=0={3(1.2)n}n=0.
(a)
Find the closed form for the nth partial sum for the geometric sequence An=i=0nai=i=0n(23)n.
  1. 35(1(23)n+1).
  2. 53(1(23)n+1).
  3. 53(1+23(23)n).
  4. 35(1+23(23)n).
  5. 1(23)n+1.
(b)
Find the closed form for the nth partial sum for the geometric sequence Bn=i=0nbi=i=0n2(1)n.
  1. 2n+1.
  2. 1(1)n+1.
  3. 1+(1)n.
  4. 2(1+(1)n).
  5. 2(1(1)n+1).
(c)
Find the closed form for the nth partial sum for the geometric sequence Cn=i=0nci=i=0n3(1.2)n.

Activity 8.3.11.

Given the closed forms you found in Activity 8.3.10, which of the following limits are defined? If defined, what is the limit?
  1. limnAn.
  2. limnBn.
  3. limnCn.

Definition 8.3.12.

Given a sequence {an}n=k, we define its infinite series (or just series) to be its sequence of its partial sums
{An}n=k={i=knai}n=k={ak,ak+ak+1,ak+ak+1+ak+2,}
and often use the notation
i=kai=ak+ak+1+ak+2+
to represent it. We will also write ai for short when the starting index n=k is either known from context or irrelevant.
When the series (the sequence of partial sums) converges to a limit, we say the series is convergent and this limit is the value of the series, and write:
i=kai=ak+ak+1+ak+2+=limni=knai.
When the series (the sequence of partial sums) diverges, we say the series is divergent.

Activity 8.3.13.

Which of the following series are infinite?
  1. n=03(0.8)n.
  2. n=02(54)n.
  3. n=0(56)n.
  4. n=012(81)n.
  5. n=010(15)n.

Activity 8.3.14.

Let {an}n=1={1n1n+1}=112,1213,1314,. Let An=i=1nai=i=1n(1i1i+1).
Which of the following is the best strategy for evaluating A4=(112)+(1213)+(1314)+(1415)?
  1. Compute A4=(112)+(1213)+(1314)+(1415)=12+16+112+120, then evaluate the sum.
  2. Rewrite A4=(112)+(1213)+(1314)+(1415)=1+(12+12)+(13+13)+(14+14)15, then simplify.

Activity 8.3.15.

Recall from Activity 8.3.14 that {an}n=1={1n1n+1} and An=i=1nai=i=1n(1i1i+1).
Compute the following partial sums:
  1. A3.
  2. A10.
  3. A100.

Activity 8.3.16.

Recall from Activity 8.3.14 that {an}n=1={1n1n+1} and An=i=1nai=i=1n(1i1i+1).
Which of the following is equal to An?
  1. n1n+1.
  2. 11n.
  3. 11n+1.
  4. 11i.
  5. 11i+1.

Definition 8.3.17.

Given a sequence {xn}1 and a sequence of the form {sn}1:={xnxn+1}1 we call the series Sn=i=1nsi=i=1n(xixi+1) to be a telescoping series.

Activity 8.3.18.

Given a telescoping series Sn=i=1nsi=i=1n(xixi+1), find:
  1. S2.
  2. S10.
  3. Choose Sn from the following options:
    1. x1xn
    2. x1xn+1
    3. x1xn1
    4. x1xn+1
    5. x1xn1

Activity 8.3.19.

For each of the following telescoping series, find the closed form for the nth partial sum.
  1. Sn=i=1n(2i(2i1)).
  2. Sn=i=1n(i2(i+1)2).
  3. Sn=i=1n(12i+112i+3).

Activity 8.3.20.

Given the closed forms you found in Activity 8.3.19, determine which of the following telescoping series converge. If so, to what value does it converge?
  1. i=1(2i(2i1)).
  2. i=1(i2(i+1)2).
  3. i=1(12i+112i+3).

Activity 8.3.21.

Consider the partial sum sequence An=(2)+(23)+(29)++(2(13)n).
(a)
Find a closed form for An.
(b)
Does {An} converge? If so, to what value?

Activity 8.3.22.

Consider the partial sum sequence Bn=i=1n(15i+215i+7).
(a)
Find a closed form for Bn.
(b)
Does {Bn} converge? If so, to what value?

Subsection 8.3.2 Videos

Figure 178. Video: Compute the first few terms of a telescoping or geometric partial sum sequence, and find a closed form for this sequence, and compute its limit.

Subsection 8.3.3 Exercises