Infinite Geometric Progression

Rarely Tested

Infinite Geometric Progression

## Definition / Concept

An infinite GP is a geometric progression continuing indefinitely.

## Formula

For:

$$a+ar+ar^2+ar^3+\cdots$$

the sum to infinity exists only when:

$$|r|<1$$

Then:

$$S_\infty=\frac{a}{1-r}$$

## Conditions / Special Cases

If:

$$|r|\ge1$$

the infinite geometric series does not have a finite sum.

## Usage

- Used to evaluate infinite geometric series and convergence-based questions.

Question 1

$$\left(\dfrac{1}{3}+\dfrac{4}{7}\right)+\left( \dfrac{1}{3^{2}}+\dfrac{1}{3}\times\dfrac{4}{7}+\dfrac{4^{2}}{7^{2}} \right)+\left(\dfrac{1}{3^{3}}+\dfrac{1}{3^{2}}\times\dfrac{4}{7}+\dfrac{1}{3}\times\dfrac{4^{2}}{7^{2}}+\dfrac{4^{3}}{7^{3}} \right)+......$$ upto infinite term, is equal to

Question 2

$$\text{If }7 = 5 + \frac{1}{7}(5+\alpha) + \frac{1}{7^2}(5+2\alpha)+ \frac{1}{7^3}(5+3\alpha) + \cdots + \infty,\text{ then the value of } \alpha \text{ is:}$$

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