Question #c18f2

1 Answer
Apr 13, 2017

7 terms in total:
27+9+3+1+1/3+1/9+1/27=1093/27

Explanation:

The series is a geometric series and is thus in the form a_n=a_(n-1)*r or a_n=a_1*r^(n-1).

The first term, a_1, is 27. The common ratio r is 1/3.

We need to find n such that sum_(k=1)^n27*(1/3)^(k-1)=1093/27.

The sum of a geometric series is equal to (a_1(1-r^(n-1)))/(1-r). Thus, the left-hand side can be expressed as (27(1-(1/3)^(n-1)))/(1-1/3)=81/2(1-1/3^(n-1)).

Solve 81/2(1-1/3^(n-1))=1093/27. This becomes 1/3^(n-1)=1-2186/2187=1/2187. Solving for n results in n=7.