Hamm 1 Infinite Summation Task Technologies The following technologies were used for this Internal Assessment: -A GDC

-Microsoft Word -Microsoft Excel Introduction and Background The goal of this task is to investigate the sum of infinite sequences tn where

When looking at this equation a previous knowledge of logarithms, more specifically natural logarithms, and previous knowledge of permutations are important. The following basic equations are previously known properties of either logarithms or permutations: (where a1,x>0,a>0) ; ( ) ( e2.7182818 ; ) (where a1,x>0,a>0) ; ( ) where a>0 and

With this previous knowledge, various technology, and critical thinking the task of examining infinite summation will be done. Effect of n of Sn when x=1 The first thing considered when looking at the task was when the values were x=1 and a=2. This was to determine what the result of Sn was with no coefficient, and a counting number such as two. The result of the first n terms for 0n10 is shown below to six decimal places using a GDC. .
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

When:

n=0 n=1 n=2

Sn=1 Sn=1.693147 Sn=1.933374

Hamm 2 n=3 n=4 n=5 n=6 n=7 n=8 n=9 n=10 Sn=1.988878 Sn=1.998496 Sn=1.999829 Sn=1.999983 Sn=1.999998 Sn=1.999999 Sn=1.999999 Sn=1.999999

The data is put into a graph with the independent variable being n and the dependent variable being Sn. The graph for this data is displayed below using Microsoft Excel.

The Effect of n on Sn
2 1.8 1.6 Sn (dependent) 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 2 4 6 n ( independent) 8 10 12

As seen by the data and the graph as n Sn 2. The hypothesis at this point is that as n Sn a (see first equation Page 1). The restrictions of this hypothesis have yet to be determined. However, to test the basis of this hypothesis the value of a has been changed to three instead of two where x still is equal to 1. The data of the first n terms for 0n10 is shown below to six decimal places using a GDC.

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When:

n=0 n=1 n=2 n=3 n=4 n=5 n=6 n=7 n=8 n=9 n=10

Sn=1 Sn=2.093612 Sn=2.702086 Sn=2.923081 Sn=2.983778 Sn=2.997114 Sn=2.999556 Sn=2.999939 Sn=2.999992 Sn=2.999998 Sn=2.999999

The graph for the data is shown below using the same program on Microsoft Excel.

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The Effect of n on Sn
3.5 3 2.5 Sn (dependent) 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 2 4 6 n (independent) 8 10 12

As seen by both the data and the graph as n , Sn 3. Like the last one there is an asymptote at y=a. This shows that as n , Sn a. This proves that the hypothesis holds true for counting numbers. Now restrictions have to be established for this statement. In order to do this, different values of a were established and tested to see the results. The first value of a that was established was the number zero. In this case the hypothesis does not hold true. This is because the natural logarithm is undefined. The reason for this is because the natural ln(a)=b which equals eb =a and for the case of zero a number cannot be taken to any number to equal zero making the natural logarithm of zero undefined. The next value of a that was established was an irrational number such as . The data for when equal to a is shown below. is

When:

n=0 n=1 n=2 n=3

Sn=1 Sn=2.144730 Sn=2.799933 Sn=3.049943

Hamm 5 n=4 n=5 n=6 n=7 n=8 n=9 n=10 Sn=3.121491 Sn=3.137873 Sn=3.140998 Sn=3.141509 Sn=3.141582 Sn=3.141591 Sn=3.141593

The graph for this was constructed using Microsoft Excel and can be seen below.

The Effect of n on Sn
3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 2 4 6 n (independent) 8 10 12 Sn (dependent)

By viewing the data and the graph one can see that the hypothesis holds true for when n= . Therefore, the statement holds true for irrational numbers. Next, the hypothesis was tested to see if it would hold true for rational decimals. The number 0.5=a where x=1. The data for the results are shown below.

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( )

) (

( )

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When:

n=0 n=1 n=2 n=3 n=4 n=5 n=6 n=7 n=8 n=9 n=10

Sn=1 Sn=0.306853 Sn=0.547079 Sn=0.491575 Sn=0.501193 Sn=0.499860 Sn=0.500014 Sn=0.499999 Sn=0.500000 Sn=0.499999 Sn=0.499999

The graph for this data is shown below and was made using Microsoft Excel.

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The Effect of n on Sn
1.2 1 Sn (dependent) 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 2 4 6 n (independent) 8 10 12

From observing both the data and the graph one can see that there are some differences from the other results. First, since t0=1 the results for Sn are already over a for the term of t0. Second, for the even terms 2tn8, Sn exceeds a and when t8, Sn varies between being lower than a (0.5) and being above it. The reason for this is that in this case a<1. This is a restriction for the general statement made. However, this may not apply if a fraction is greater than one. The next value used for a was 1.5 to test if a rational decimal over the value of one can be used and work according to the hypothesis. The data for the results are shown below and were found using a GDC: ( ) ( : n=0 n=1 n=2 n=3 n=4 n=5 n=6 ( ) ) ( ( ) Sn=1.000000 Sn=1.405465 Sn=1.487666 Sn=1.498776 Sn=1.499902 Sn=1.499993 Sn=1.500000 ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Hamm 8 n=7 n=8 n=9 n=10 Sn=1.500000 Sn=1.500000 Sn=1.500000 Sn=1.500000

The graph for the data is shown below using Microsoft Excel.

The Relation of n to Sn
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 Sn 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 2 4 n 6 8 10 12

The next thing looked at was if a=1, what would be the effect on Sn. Based on knowledge of natural logarithms and Eulers number in relation to it the ln(1)=0, and in relation to the Sn of the sequence the result would be for it constantly to be 1. This is consistent with the general statement. The final kind of numbers chosen to represent a were negative numbers. Using knowledge that the ln of a negative number is always an imaginary number it is already known that the statement does not apply for such numbers. Thus negative numbers are another restriction for the general statement. With all the previous information and data a general statement was made with restrictions. The general statement is as follows: As n , Sn a where n1 and n is in and x=1

This equation is making reference to the first base equation (see Page 1). The equation is supported by the previous data, graphs, and conclusions (Pages 1-8).

Hamm 9 The Effect of x on Tn(a,x) After finding a general statement for the base equation where x=1, the next observation was the effect of x on Tn(a,x). The first values used were T8(2,x). The first seven terms were found for this statement. Each T9(2,x) value was found the same way as previously in the paper when testing for the relation of n to Sn. The value of T9(2,1) was already technically found so for an example of how each was done view the equation on page one.

Using a GDC the results below were found for the x-values of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.

When: x=1 x=2 x=3 x=4 x=5 x=6 x=7 T9(2,1)= 1.999998 T9(2,2)=3.999983 T9(2,3)=7.997486 T9(2,4)=15.963512 T9(2,5)=31.702131 T9(2,6)=62.305296 T9(2,7)=120.465723

The graph for this data is shown below and was made using Microsoft Excel.

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The Relation of T9 (2,x) to x

140 120 100 T9 (2,x) 80 60 40 20 0 0 1 2 3 4 x 5 6 7 8

The graph and data show that there is an exponential rise in T9 (2,x) as x increases. The hypothesis that was found was that each value leveled off at approximately ax or y=ax. No scopes or limitations were found at this point. In order to find these, and to test the validity of the hypothesis, more values for a were used.

The first value used for a was three. T9(3,x) is used to test the statement, three being a good number because it is a counting number such as two. The data for the results are shown below, and were found using a GDC for x being equal to 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Again, since T9(3,1) was done earlier an example of how each equations were set up for this specific problem can be found at the bottom of page 2.

When: x=1 x=2 x=3 x=4 x=5 x=6 x=7 x=8 T9(3,1)= 2.999991 T9(3,2)=8.995813 T9(3,3)=26.814822 T9(3,4)=78.119155 T9(3,5)=217.471547 T9(3,6)=569.033838 T9(3,7)=1390.256866 T9(3,8)=3174.042570

Hamm 11 x=9 T9(3,9)=6802.981104

The graph for this data is displayed below and was made using Microsoft Excel.

The Relation of T9(3,x) to x

8000 7000 6000 T9 (3,x) 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 0 2 4 x 6 8 10

As seen by the graph and data the hypothesis holds true that y=ax. Now that the validity of the hypothesis has been proven, the scope and limitations of this statement need to be found by putting different values in for a that are not regular numbers. The next consideration was what would happen when the a values were irrational T7( ,x), T7 being used for a variation in the sums. This was to test if the hypothesis would still hold true for if a was an irrational number. The results for this data are shown below and were found by a GDC for when x is equal to 1,2,3,4. When: x=1 x=2 x=3 x=4 T7( ,1)= 3.140998 T7( ,2)=11.579476 T7( ,3)=29.135563 T7( ,4)=79.954196

The graph for this data is shown below using Microsoft Excel.

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The Relation of x to T7(,x)

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 1 2 x 3 4 5

As seen by the data and graph, the hypothesis holds true for irrational numbers. The next step taken was to look for the scope and limitation for y=ax. a>0, due to previous findings when dealing with the relation of n to Sn. Also, x>0 and must be positive because if x=0 then all answers would simply be 0 and if x was negative all answers would vary between negative and positive due to the fact a negative taken to an even power is positive and a negative taken to an odd power is still a negative. Another limitation was stated before, n1, and also applies to this general statement.

T7(,x)

From all the data made, a general statement can be made that as n x>0, and n1 and n is in .

Tn(a,x)

ax where a>0,

This general statement was found using the previous data and graphs, stating and expounding upon hypotheses, previous knowledge, technology, and critical thinking.