document.write( "Question 398922: Find S8 for the geometric series 256 + 64 + 16 + 4 +… \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #282575 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
this is a geometric series with a common ratio of 1/4.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "formula for sum of a geometric series is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Sn = (a*(1-r^n)) / (1-r)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n = number of terms in the series.
\n" ); document.write( "S = sum of the terms in the series.
\n" ); document.write( "a = the first term in the series.
\n" ); document.write( "r = the common ratio in the series.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In this problem:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n = 8
\n" ); document.write( "a = 256
\n" ); document.write( "r = (.25)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Substitute in the formula to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Sn = (a(1-r^n)) / (1-r) becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "S8 = (256 * (1 - .25^8)) / (1 - .25)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Simplify to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "S8 = (256 * (1 - .000015259) / (.75)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Simplify further to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "S8 = (256 * .999984741) / (.75)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Solve to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "S8 = 341.328125\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You can verify this is correct by detailing each individual term from 1 to 8 and then summing them up.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You get:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "S1 = 256
\n" ); document.write( "S2 = 64
\n" ); document.write( "S3 = 16
\n" ); document.write( "S4 = 4
\n" ); document.write( "S5 = 1
\n" ); document.write( "S6 = .25
\n" ); document.write( "S7 = .0625
\n" ); document.write( "S8 = .015625\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Sum is equal to 341.328125\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer is the same.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You're good.\r
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