Question :
Find the sum to n terms of the series $\frac{1}{1.2.3}+\frac{3}{2.3.4}+\frac{5}{3.4.5}+\frac{7}{4.5.6}+\cdots$
What I have done :
nth term of numerator and denominator is $2r-1$ and $r(r+1)(r+2)$ respectively.
Therefore the nth term of given series is :
$\frac{2r-1}{r(r+1)(r+2)} =\frac{A}{r}+\frac{B}{r+1}+\frac{C}{r+2}$ …..(1)
By using partial fraction :
and solving for A,B and C we get A = 1/2, B = -1, C =1/2
Putting the values of A,B and C in (1) we get :
$\frac{1}{2r}-\frac{1}{r+1}+\frac{1}{2(r+2)}$
But by putting $r =1,2,3, \cdots$ I am not getting the answer. Please guide how to solve this problem . Thanks.
Best Answer
The $r$th term is
$$\frac12 \left (\frac1{r}-\frac1{r+1} \right )-\frac12 \left (\frac1{r+1}-\frac1{r+2} \right )$$
so the sum telescopes. The result is
$$\sum_{r=1}^n \frac{2 r-1}{r (r+1) (r+2)} = \frac12\left (1-\frac1{2} \right )-\frac12 \left (\frac1{n+1}-\frac1{n+2} \right ) = \frac14 - \frac1{2 (n+1) (n+2)}$$