[Math] Find the sum of the following series

infinite-productsequences-and-seriessummation

Given a series:

$\frac{1}{3*2} +\frac{4}{3*2^2} + …. + \frac{3n-2}{3*2^n}$

Find the sum of this series?

My attempt:

I think I should try to find the first 5 terms to find the pattern, such that:

$S_1= \frac{1}{6}$

$S_2= \frac{1}{2}$

$S_3= \frac{19}{24}$

$S_4= 1$

$S_5= \frac{109}{96}$

But it seems that didn't help me to find its pattern. Can someone provide a better way to find the solution?

Best Answer

$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{3n-2}{3\cdot 2^n} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n}{2^n} - \frac{1}{3}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{2^{n-1}} = -\frac{2}{3} + \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n}{2^n}$$ since both sums converge. To evaluate the latter sum, note that $$\frac{1}{1-x} = \sum_{i=0}^\infty x^i,$$ so that $$\left(\frac{1}{1-x}\right)' = \frac{1}{(1-x)^2} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty nx^{n-1} = 1 + 2x + 3x^2 + \cdots.$$ Then set $x=\frac{1}{2}$, and $$2 = \frac{1/2}{(1-1/2)^2} = \frac{1}{2}\sum_{n=1}^\infty n\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{n-1} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n}{2^n}.$$ Finally, $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{3n-2}{3\cdot 2^n} = -\frac{2}{3} + \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n}{2^n} = -\frac{2}{3}+2 = \frac{4}{3}$$ and you are done.