Posted by bill on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 8:10pm.
It is not clear without sufficient parentheses what the expression really is.
I assume it to be:
Sum((-1)^n * (3/3^n)) for n=0 -> ∞
This is an alternating geometric series.
(9/2) is the correct sum for the geometric series (non-alternating).
Write out the first few terms of the series:
3 - 3/3 + 3/9 - 3/27 + 3/81 - ...
which can be regrouped into two geometric series:
3(1+1/9+1/81+...) - (1+1/9+1/81+...)
=3(9/8) - (9/8)
=2(9/8)
=9/4
Note that if the minus sign becomes a plus sign, we get the geometric sum of 9/2.
Oh, right . I forgot all about the -1. Thanks.
You're welcome!
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