1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ⋯

In mathematics, the infinite series 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ··· is an elementary example of a geometric series that converges absolutely. The sum of the series is 1. In summation notation, this may be expressed as

First six summands drawn as portions of a square.
The geometric series on the real line.

The series is related to philosophical questions considered in antiquity, particularly to Zeno's paradoxes.

Proof

As with any infinite series, the sum

is defined to mean the limit of the partial sum of the first n terms

as n approaches infinity. By various arguments,[lower-alpha 1] one can show that this finite sum is equal to

As n approaches infinity, the term approaches 0 and so sn tends to 1.

History

Zeno's paradox

This series was used as a representation of many of Zeno's paradoxes.[1] For example, in the paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise, the warrior Achilles was to race against a tortoise. The track is 100 meters long. Achilles could run at 10 m/s, while the tortoise only 5. The tortoise, with a 10-meter advantage, Zeno argued, would win. Achilles would have to move 10 meters to catch up to the tortoise, but by then, the tortoise would already have moved another five meters. Achilles would then have to move 5 meters, where the tortoise would move 2.5 meters, and so on. Zeno argued that the tortoise would always remain ahead of Achilles.

The Eye of Horus

The parts of the Eye of Horus were once thought to represent the first six summands of the series.[2]

In a myriad ages it will not be exhausted

A version of the series appears in the ancient Taoist book Zhuangzi. The miscellaneous chapters "All Under Heaven" include the following sentence: "Take a chi long stick and remove half every day, in a myriad ages it will not be exhausted."

See also

References

  1. Wachsmuth, Bet G. "Description of Zeno's paradoxes". Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  2. Stewart, Ian (2009). Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical Treasures. Profile Books. pp. 76–80. ISBN 978 1 84668 292 6.
  1. For example: multiplying sn by 2 yields Subtracting sn from both sides, one concludes Other arguments might proceed by mathematical induction, or by adding to both sides of and manipulating to show that the right side of the result is equal to 1.
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