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What I'm attempting to do is to rearrange the formula for the sum of a geometric series so as to find the value of its common ratio $r$. I've tried several different methods, all of which have failed; though I can't understand why.

This was my last attempt using logarithms:

$$ S_n=\frac{a(1-r^n)}{1-r}$$ $$S_n(1-r) = a(1-r^n)$$ $$S_n-S_nr = a - ar^n$$ $$\frac{S_n}{a}-1 = \frac{S_n}{a}r-r^n$$ $$\log{\frac{S_n}{a}} = \log{\frac{S_n}{a}}+\log{r}-n\log{r}$$ $$0 = (\log{r})(n-1)$$ $$r = 10^{\frac{0}{n-1}}$$ $$r=1$$

I can't understand where I'm going wrong. Any advice would be great. Also, if you know a formula to find $r$ using $S_n$ and $a$, then that would be equally fantastic.

Thanks.

  • 0
    There is a mistake in the application of log to $(\dfrac{S_n}{a}-1).$2010-10-31
  • 0
    Do you want the sum of the (infinite) geometric series, or do you want the $n$th partial sum of the series? Your question implies the former, but the formula you give for $S_n$ implies the latter.2010-11-01

3 Answers 3