Tho following are several geometric series with different common ratios. The behavior ofthe terms depends on the common rato r + 44-40-4400 + 4000 +... has the common ratio 10, tia +94341+2424...nas the common ratio + +8414 ete 4 + 3494943-+4.. has the common ratio 1 1,0 2*4-8 + 3-34.93 4.. has the common ratio 1 (ae has the common rato —3 Tho value of r provides information about the nature of the series: + Ifs between —1 and +1, the terms ofthe series become smaller and smaller, approaching zero in the limit, and the series con- vergosto asm Coser saqunce whee rs nota (444) whch hes asm Fone + If is greater than 1 or less than ~1, the terms of the series become larger and larger in magnitude, The sum of the terms also {gets larger and larger, and the series has no sum. The series diverges. + If Is equal to 1, all ofthe terms ofthe series are the same, The series diverges, + Ifrls —1, the tors take two values altornatoly (e.g.,2, -2,2, —2,2, —2,---). The sum ofthe tors oscillates between two values (€..,2,0,2,0,2,0, ---), This isa different type of divergence and again the series has no sum,We can use a formula to find the sum ofa finite number of terms ina sequence. For r # 1, the sum of the first terms of a geometric series fs: s=atartas* far bee tartt ‘hero a isthe frst term of the series, and ris the common ratio.