Does the series converge or diverge? If it converges, what is the sum? Show your work.

∑∞n=1−4(−12)n−1

frist you have to find the frist term and the common ratio by sub

how? well my submitting 1 for n in
-4x(-1/2)^n-1
this will give me a1=-4x(-1/2)1-1
then identify the common ratio
r=-1/2
simplify the expression
a1=-4
r=-1/2
substituting -4nfor a1 and -1/2 for r into this formula
s=a1/1-r
s=-4/1-(-1/2)
simplify it and this gavew me
s=- 8/3

I think these series is converge because of how we trie to simplify them together and we used a formula that gave us a sum.this expression has a limit

the fraction is -1/2

That didn’t help at all. What is the answer with complex a explanation?

A complex*

To determine whether the series ∑∞n=1 -4(-12)^(n-1) converges or diverges, we can use the formula for the sum of an infinite geometric series.

The formula for an infinite geometric series is given by S = a / (1 - r), where 'S' represents the sum of the series, 'a' is the first term, and 'r' is the common ratio.

In our case, the first term 'a' is -4 and the common ratio 'r' is -12. Therefore, we can substitute these values into the formula:

S = -4 / (1 - (-12))
S = -4 / (1 + 12)
S = -4 / 13

So the sum of the series is -4/13.

To confirm that the series converges, we need to check if the absolute value of the common ratio, |r|, is less than 1. In this case, |r| = |-12| = 12, which is greater than 1. Therefore, the series diverges.

if you don't have any fractions, there's no way it will converge

maybe you have some exponents? Use ^ if so
and also parentheses

what you have, as written, is just some multiple of n
Also, if you want to sum from 1 to ∞, maybe something like ∑(1..∞)

In other words, write something that makes sense.

well,


∑ (-1/2)^n = -1/3
n=1

because it's just a geometric series with
a = -1/2
r = -1/2

I know that's not exactly what you have, but it should not be hard to adapt it.