The sigma notation for the power series is equivalent to the following function: $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty x^n = \frac{1}{1-x}$$
However, given the sigma notation above, how would one arrive at it's equivalent function?
The sigma notation for the power series is equivalent to the following function: $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty x^n = \frac{1}{1-x}$$
However, given the sigma notation above, how would one arrive at it's equivalent function?
Assume that $|x|<1$, else the series does not converge. Let $S_n = \sum_{k=0}^n x^k$. Then $$ (1-x)S_n = \sum_{k=0}^n x^k - \sum_{k=0}^n x^{k+1} = 1 -x^{n+1}. $$ Dividing by $1-x$ yields $$ S_n = \frac{1 -x^{n+1}}{1-x}\stackrel{n\to\infty}\longrightarrow \frac1{1-x}. $$