The aim of this task is to investigate the sum of infinite sequences tn, where t0 = 1, t1 = , t2 = , t3 = , , tn = .

. An infinite sequence In this portfolio, I will determine the general statement after testing tn with different values of variables to find the formula to count the sum of the infinite sequence. A graphing calculator (TI-84 Plus), Micorsoft Excel and Microsoft Word are all technological tools that have been used in order to complete this math portfolio. To begin this investigation, it is important to provide a basis of the premise of the investigation: Sn meaning the sum of the terms where ns limits are 0 n 10, the factorial notation, n!, is defined as: n! = n (n 1) (n 2) 3 2 1 and with 0! = 1, and all answers will be given correct to six decimal places. First, this sequence will be investigated where x=1 and a=2. Therefore, the sequence would follow this format: t0 = 1, t1 = , t2 = , t3 = , Calculating the sum, Sn, of the first n terms of the above sequence for 0 n 10 using the TI-84 graphing calculator, theifrst six decimal place values will be recorded: S0 = t0 = 1 Table 1 S1 = S0 + t 1 = 1 + =1.693147 S2 = S1 + t2 = 1.693147 S3 = S2 + t3 = 1.933374 + S4 = S3 + t4 = 1.988878 + S5 = S4 + t5 = 1.998496 + S6 = S5 + t6 = 1.999829 + S7 = S6 + t7 = 1.999997 + S8 = S7 + t8 = 1.999999 + S9 = S8 + t9 = 1.999998 + S10 = S9 + t10 = 1.999999 + = 1.933373 = 1.988877 = 1.998495 = 1.999829 = 1.999999 = 1.999999 = 1.999999 = 1.999999 = 1.999999 n 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sn 1.000000 1.693147 1.933374 1.988878 1.998496 1.999829 1.999982 1.999997 1.999999 1.999999 1.999999

Using Microsoft Excel and the above data, a graph showing the relation between Sn and n will be created.

From this plot, it is evident that as n increases to , the values for Sn increase as well. However, the Sn value will approach the value of 2 but never actually be 2. As a result, there is a horizontal asymptote at y= 2 thereby creating a domain of 1 Sn < 2 as n approaches . Considering another sequence of terms where x= 1 and a= 3, the sequence will model the change in variables accordingly: t0 = 1, t1 = , t2 = , t3 = , Using the method of calculations done on the TI-84 graphing calculator for the first set of calculations, the same method will be applied for this second set of calculations with the different variables. Once again, answers were kept to 6 decimal places.

Using these formulas to calculate the data (as used in the first set of calculations), the table was created: S0 = t0 = 1 S1 = S0 + t 1 S2 = S1 + t 2 S3 = S2 + t 3 S4 = S3 + t 4 S5 = S4 + t 5 S6 = S5 + t 6 S7 = S6 + t 7 S8 = S7 + t 8 S9 = S8 + t 9 S10 = S9 + t10 Table 2 n 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sn 1.000000 2.098612 2.702087 2.923082 2.983779 2.997115 2.999557 2.999940 2.999993 2.999999 2.9999999

Using Microsoft Excel and the above data, a graph showing the relation between Sn and n will be created.

This graph tells us that as n approaches , Sn will increase as well. However, the Sn values will only approach y= 3 but never actually reach y= 3. Therefore, there is a horizontal asymptote at y= 3 thereby creating a domain of 1 Sn < 3 as n approaches . In order to further investigate the general statement that represents the infinite sum of this general sequence, a general sequence where x= 1 and a= 3, 11 and 19 will be examined. These calculations were performed using the same steps used calculate previous values. t0 = 1, t1 = , t2 = , t3 = Table 3 n 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sn (a=5) 1.000000 2.609438 3.904583 4.599402 4.878969 4.968958 4.993096 4.998646 4.999763 4.999862 4.999995 Sn (a=11) 1.000000 3.397895 6.272846 8.570790 9.948347 10.608994 10.873022 10.963466 10.990575 10.997798 10.999530 Sn (a=19) 1.000000 3.944439 8.279294 12.533877 15.665713 17.510013 18.415084 18.795788 18.935908 18.981750 18.995247 ,

Using Microsoft Excel and the above data, a graph showing the relation between Sn and n will be created. This graph will then be examined in order to help determine a general statement that represents the infinite sum of this general sequence.

From this graph, as n approaches , Sn increases as well. When a= 5, the Sn values approached y= 5 however they never reach y=5. Therefore, at y= 5, there is a horizontal asymptote thereby creating a domain of 1 Sn < 5. When a= 11, the Sn values approached y= 11 however they nevert reach y= 11. Therefore, at y= 11, there is a horizontal asymptote thereby creating a domain of 1 Sn < 11. When a= 19, the Sn values approached y= 19 however they never reach y= 19. Therefore, at y= 19, there is a horizontal asymptote thereby creating a domain of 1 Sn < 19. An interesting pattern arises that can be seen in each set of calculations and graph. This pattern is that the a value is the horizontal asymptote. Therefore, all values in the calculations will approach the respective a value but never quite reach that value. This can be seen in the above data where when a= 5, there is a horizontal asymptote at y= 5, when a= 11, there is a horizontal asymptote at y= 11 and when a= 19, there is a horizontal asymptote at y= 19. Upon observing the calculated data and graphs, it can be deduced that when x is set to equal 1, and the n value increases infinitely, the Sn values will converge at the a value that was used in the general respectively.

To further understand this infinite sequence tn where:

we will calculate T9 (2, x) where a= 2 and x will be set as x= 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Also, it is important to note that because only the T9 values have been asked for, only the calculated values representing T9 will be used.

Table 4 n 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sn (x = 1) 1.000000 1.693147 1.933374 1.988878 1.998496 1.999829 1.999983 1.999999 1.999999 1.999999 Sn (x = 2) 1.000000 2.386294 3.347200 3.791233 3.945123 3.987791 3.997649 3.999601 3.999940 3.999992 Sn (x = 3) 1.000000 3.079442 5.241480 6.740091 7.519159 7.843165 7.955457 7.988814 7.997485 7.999488 Sn (x = 4) 1.000000 3.772589 7.616213 11.168476 13.630717 14.996073 15.627002 15.876903 15.963512 15.990293 Sn (x = 5) 1.000000 3.465736 9.471399 16.409412 22.420743 26.587480 28.994281 30.185901 30.702131 30.900922

Using Microsoft Excel and the above data, a graph showing the relation between T9 (2, x) and x will be created.

It can be observed that the graph is similar to that of an exponential graph. Therefore, as the x value increases, the T9 values increase accordingly. Examining T9 (3, x) where a = 3 and x will be set as x= 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in order to further examine this summation sequence. Also, these calculations were calculated using the same method that the other sets of calculations have been done in. Table 5 n 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9

Sn (x = 1) 1.000000 2.098612 2.702087 2.923082 2.983779 2.997115 2.999557 2.999940 2.999993

79.803290

Sn (x = 2) 1.000000 3.197225 5.611122 7.379081 8.350232 8.776999 8.933283 8.982339 8.995812

2.999999

Sn (x = 3) 1.000000 4.295837 9.727107 15.693968 20.610417 23.851180 25.631351 26.469516 26.814823

8.999101

Sn (x = 4) 1.000000 5.394449 15.050041 29.193710 44.732118 58.388667 68.39083 74.669982 78.119155

26.941280

Sn (x = 5) 1.000000 5.493061 20.579923 48.204276 86.139844 127.816325 165.971570 195.912871 216.471547

Using Microsoft Excel and the above data, a graph showing the relation between T9 (3, x) and x will be created.

This graph is similar to a graph that an exponential function would create. As a result of its exponential like features, we can deduce that as the value of x increases, the value of summation for each T9 increases as well, as n approaches . Through observing the calculated data, it is shown that there is a relationship between the values T9 (a, x) and x. The general statement that can be derived is ax. Therefore, as the value of n increases infinitely, the T9 of the sequence (t0 = 1, t1 = ) will be equivalent to the value of ax given that {a , t2 = , t3 = , , tn = R, a 0}.

R, a 0, a > 1} and {x

Scope and Limitations of the General Statement: The scope of the general statement is that we know the range of values for Tn (a, x), the domain for a and x are of positive values, and we know how Tn (a, x) changes when x changes. One of the dominant limitations of the general statement, ax, is that one of the values, x or a, are required to be set at a fixed value while the other value differs. If both values were continuously differing, a relationship and/or pattern between the two values would be more difficult to realize. Producing the General Statement How I was able to come in concluding with a general statement was throughout doing each section of the investigation, things like range, domain suggested the general scope about Tn (a, x). Also, observing patterns in the tables and graphs formulated in this investigation show similarities to exponential functions.

Concluding Remark After doing this portfolio, I learned a few things. In breaking down a large, confusing-looking question, its easier to understand and look at it with a more logical perspective. This investigation also showed me how easy it is to find the infinite sum by setting random values for a and x. Lastly, this investigation improved my Microsoft Excel skills and using my graphing calculator in a way I had not known previously.