# Math Help - Determining series convergence or divergence

1. ## Determining series convergence or divergence

$
\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac {1}{4^n}
$

I tried rewriting it to 4^-n and then using the geometric series test 1/1-r
Which makes it to -1/3 convergence. I am not sure if its correct or not...

2. This is a geometric series. Rewrite it so the index starts at zero and (1/4)^n

3. I obtained a positive 1/3 when I did it.

4. Originally Posted by dwsmith
I obtained a positive 1/3 when I did it.
That probably correct can you show steps u used?

5. Since you have $1/4^n$, you can rewrite it as $(1/4)^n$. This is because 1 to any power is still 1.

Now, because your indexing starts at 1 instead of 0, we can subtract 1 and then add 1.

This will make the index start at 0. The adding one happens to the exponent so now we have $(1/4)^{n+1}$. This can be written as $(1/4)^1*(1/4)^n$.

Of course, $(1/4)^1=(1/4)$ so we just move that out side the summation.

Thus, you have a geometric series times 1/4 which is your a in the formula $a/(1-r)$