Difference between revisions of "1950 AHSME Problems/Problem 39"
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==Problem== | ==Problem== | ||
| − | Given the series <math> 2 | + | Given the series <math> 2+1+\frac {1}{2}+\frac {1}{4}+\cdots</math> and the following five statements: |
| − | (1) the sum increases without limit | + | * (1) the sum increases without limit |
| − | (2) the sum decreases without limit | + | * (2) the sum decreases without limit |
| − | (3) the difference between any term of the sequence and zero can be made less than any positive quantity no matter how small | + | * (3) the difference between any term of the sequence and zero can be made less than any positive quantity no matter how small |
| − | (4) the difference between the sum and 4 can be made less than any positive quantity no matter how small | + | * (4) the difference between the sum and 4 can be made less than any positive quantity no matter how small |
| − | (5) the sum approaches a limit | + | * (5) the sum approaches a limit |
| + | |||
Of these statments, the correct ones are: | Of these statments, the correct ones are: | ||
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==Solution== | ==Solution== | ||
| − | {{ | + | This series is a geometric series with common ratio <math>\frac{1}{2}</math>. Using the well-known formula for the sum of an infinite geometric series, we obtain that this series has a value of <math>2\cdot \frac{1}{1-\frac{1}{2}}=4</math>. It immediately follows that statements 1 and 2 are false while statements 4 and 5 are true. 3 is false because we cannot make '''any''' term of the sequence approach 0, though we can choose some term that is less than any given positive quantity. The correct answer is therefore <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ \text{Only }4\text{ and }5}</math>. |
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]] | [[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]] | ||
| + | {{MAA Notice}} | ||
Latest revision as of 16:13, 9 May 2015
Problem
Given the series 
and the following five statements:
- (1) the sum increases without limit
- (2) the sum decreases without limit
- (3) the difference between any term of the sequence and zero can be made less than any positive quantity no matter how small
- (4) the difference between the sum and 4 can be made less than any positive quantity no matter how small
- (5) the sum approaches a limit
Of these statments, the correct ones are:
Solution
This series is a geometric series with common ratio 
. Using the well-known formula for the sum of an infinite geometric series, we obtain that this series has a value of 
. It immediately follows that statements 1 and 2 are false while statements 4 and 5 are true. 3 is false because we cannot make any term of the sequence approach 0, though we can choose some term that is less than any given positive quantity. The correct answer is therefore 
.
See Also
| 1950 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 38 |
Followed by Problem 40 | |
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| All AHSME Problems and Solutions | ||
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. 
