1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ⋯

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In mathematics, the infinite series 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ··· is an elementary example of a geometric series that converges absolutely. The sum of the series is 1. In summation notation, this may be expressed as

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The series is related đồ sộ philosophical questions considered in antiquity, particularly đồ sộ Zeno's paradoxes.

Proof[edit]

As with any infinite series, the sum

is defined đồ sộ mean the limit of the partial sum of the first n terms

as n approaches infinity. By various arguments,^[a] one can show that this finite sum is equal to

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As n approaches infinity, the term approaches 0 and sánh s_n tends đồ sộ 1.

History[edit]

Zeno's paradox[edit]

This series was used as a representation of many of Zeno's paradoxes.^[1] For example, in the paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise, the warrior Achilles was đồ sộ race against a tortoise. The track is 100 meters long. Achilles could lập cập at 10 m/s, while the tortoise only 5. The tortoise, with a 10-meter advantage, Zeno argued, would win. Achilles would have đồ sộ move 10 meters đồ sộ catch up đồ sộ the tortoise, but the tortoise would already have moved another five meters by then. Achilles would then have đồ sộ move 5 meters, where the tortoise would move 2.5 meters, and sánh on. Zeno argued that the tortoise would always remain ahead of Achilles.

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The Dichotomy paradox also states that đồ sộ move a certain distance, you have đồ sộ move half of it, then half of the remaining distance, and sánh on, therefore having infinitely many time intervals.^[1] This can be easily resolved by noting that each time interval is a term of the infinite geometric series, and will sum đồ sộ a finite number.

The Eye of Horus[edit]

The parts of the Eye of Horus were once thought đồ sộ represent the first six summands of the series.^[2]

In a myriad ages it will not be exhausted[edit]

A version of the series appears in the ancient Taoist book Zhuangzi. The miscellaneous chapters "All Under Heaven" include the following sentence: "Take a chi long stick and remove half every day, in a myriad ages it will not be exhausted."^{[citation needed]}