How do you find the sum of the geometric series 1/9-1/3+1-... to 6 terms?

1 Answer
Jan 16, 2017

-182/9

Explanation:

The sum to n terms of a geometric progression is.

color(red)(bar(ul(|color(white)(2/2)color(black)(S_n=(a(1-r^n))/(1-r)=(a(r^n-1))/(r-1))color(white)(2/2)|)))
where a is the first term and r, the common ratio.

"here " a=1/9" and " r=(a_2)/(a_1)=(1/9)/(-1/3)=-3

"thus for " n=6

S_6=(1/9((-3)^6-1))/(-4)

=(1/9xx728)/-4=-182/9