Let the sum of geometric series, in general (S is the sum, a is the first element, r is the

ratio, n is the number of elements):

S = a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ... + arn-1

Sr = ar + ar2 + ar3 + ... + arn-1 + arn
S - Sr = a - arn [subtracting the second line from the first]
S (1-r) = a (1-rn)
S = a (1-rn) / (1-r), This formula is used when r < 1.

Example:-

Let a G.S is given

7+14+28+56+112

Here. a = 7, r = 2 , n = 5. Then S = 7 (1-32) / (1-2) = 217.

A geometric series is often infinite. In other words, it has infinitely many elements:

1+1/2+1/4+1/8+1/16...

It should be obvious that such a series diverges (goes to infinity) when r > = 1. When -1
< r <1 (r is between -1 and 1), the sum approaches a real number. We use limits to find
the handy formula for such a sum. Let me explain it in words instead. We take our
formula for n terms (above), S = a (1-rn) / (1-r). With -1< r < 1, rn gets closer and closer
to 0, as n gets large. None of the rest of our formula is affected by our large n. So, we can
stick 0 in for rn, and we get:

S=a/(1-r)