Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Divergent geometric series

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In mathematics, an infinite geometric series of the form

Contents

∑ k = 0 ∞ a r k = a + a r + a r 2 + a r 3 + ⋯

is divergent if and only if | r | ≥ 1. Methods for summation of divergent series are sometimes useful, and usually evaluate divergent geometric series to a sum that agrees with the formula for the convergent case

∑ k = 0 ∞ a r k = a 1 − r .

This is true of any summation method that possesses the properties of regularity, linearity, and stability.

Examples

In increasing order of difficulty to sum:

  • 1 − 1 + 1 − 1 + · · ·, whose common ratio is −1
  • 1 − 2 + 4 − 8 + · · ·, whose common ratio is −2
  • 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + · · ·, whose common ratio is 2
  • 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + · · ·, whose common ratio is 1.

    • Motivation for study

    It is useful to figure out which summation methods produce the geometric series formula for which common ratios. One application for this information is the so-called Borel-Okada principle: If a regular summation method sums Σzn to 1/(1 - z) for all z in a subset S of the complex plane, given certain restrictions on S, then the method also gives the analytic continuation of any other function f(z) = Σanzn on the intersection of S with the Mittag-Leffler star for f.

    Open unit disk

    Ordinary summation succeeds only for common ratios |z| < 1.

    Closed unit disk

  • Cesàro summation
  • Abel summation

    • Larger disks

  • Euler summation

    • Half-plane

    The series is Borel summable for every z with real part < 1. Any such series is also summable by the generalized Euler method (E, a) for appropriate a.

    Shadowed plane

    Certain moment constant methods besides Borel summation can sum the geometric series on the entire Mittag-Leffler star of the function 1/(1 − z), that is, for all z except the ray z ≥ 1.

    References

    Divergent geometric series Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA