

In mathematics, the infinite series 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ··· is an elementary example of a geometric series that converges absolutely. The sum of the series is 1. In summation notation, this may be expressed as
The series is related to tướng philosophical questions considered in antiquity, particularly to tướng Zeno's paradoxes.
Proof[edit]
As with any infinite series, the sum
is defined to tướng mean the limit of the partial sum of the first n terms
as n approaches infinity. By various arguments,[a] one can show that this finite sum is equal to
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As n approaches infinity, the term approaches 0 and ví sn tends to tướng 1.
History[edit]
Zeno's paradox[edit]
This series was used as a representation of many of Zeno's paradoxes.[1] For example, in the paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise, the warrior Achilles was to tướng race against a tortoise. The track is 100 meters long. Achilles could run rẩy at 10 m/s, while the tortoise only 5. The tortoise, with a 10-meter advantage, Zeno argued, would win. Achilles would have to tướng move 10 meters to tướng catch up to tướng the tortoise, but the tortoise would already have moved another five meters by then. Achilles would then have to tướng move 5 meters, where the tortoise would move 2.5 meters, and ví on. Zeno argued that the tortoise would always remain ahead of Achilles.
The Dichotomy paradox also states that to tướng move a certain distance, you have to tướng move half of it, then half of the remaining distance, and ví on, therefore having infinitely many time intervals.[1] This can be easily resolved by noting that each time interval is a term of the infinite geometric series, and will sum to tướng a finite number.
The Eye of Horus[edit]
The parts of the Eye of Horus were once thought to tướng represent the first six summands of the series.[2]
In a myriad ages it will not be exhausted[edit]
A version of the series appears in the ancient Taoist book Zhuangzi. The miscellaneous chapters "All Under Heaven" include the following sentence: "Take a chi long stick and remove half every day, in a myriad ages it will not be exhausted."[citation needed]
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See also[edit]
- 0.999...
- 1/2 − 1/4 + 1/8 − 1/16 + ⋯
- Actual infinity
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