Finding the smallest possible value of the sum in infinite geometric sequence and another geometric sequence question

1.1k Views Asked by At
  1. The sum of an infinite geometric series is a positive number $S$, and the second term in the series is $1$. What is the smallest possible value of $S$?

For this I am thinking the $t_1, 1, t_2,...$

$r = \frac{1}{t_1} = \frac{t_2}{1}$ so that means $t_1t_2 =1$

$S = \frac{t_1}{1-t_2}$

I don't know how to get the smallest possible value for $S$ from here

  1. A geometric series with infinitely many terms has a sum of 2018. Now take each term in the original series and square it; this new series has a sum of 20180. The common ratio of the original series is $m/n$ where gcd$(m,n) =1$. Find $m+n$.

If the sum is 2018 then $a_1 = 2018(1-r)$. Then $a_1^2 = (2018-2018r)^2$

this is the value of the first term of the new series. so then the sum for that series would be $20180 = \frac{(2018-2018r)^2}{1-r}$

This is all I could come up with so far. Any help is appreciated, thank you.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

4
On BEST ANSWER

1.$S=\frac{t_1}{1-t_2}=\frac{1/r}{1-r}=\frac{1}{r-r^2}$. Finding min for $S$ is the same as max for $\frac{1}{S}=r-r^2$, where the max is at $r=\frac{1}{2}$, leading to $S=4$ as the minimum.

  1. $20180=(2018)^2\frac{(1-r)^2}{1-r}$ So $10=2018(1-r)$ or $r=\frac{2008}{2018}=\frac{1004}{1009}$ where the numerator and denominator are relatively prime. So $m+n=2013$.