Problem:
An infinite geometric series has sum . If the first term, the third term, and the fourth term form an arithmetic sequence, find the first term.
Problem:
An infinite geometric series has sum . If the first term, the third term, and the fourth term form an arithmetic sequence, find the first term.
Solution:
Let be the first term and be the common ratio. Thus, , or .
We also have . Since the sum of the geometric series is nonzero, , and so we have , or .
Since the sum of the geometric series is finite, cannot be , so implies .
Solving this equation gives (since ). This gives us .