Related Formula
xⁿ - yⁿ = (x - y)(xⁿ⁻¹ + xⁿ⁻²y + + yⁿ⁻¹)$$x^n - y^n = (x - y)(x^{n-1} + x^{n-2}y + \dots + y^{n-1})$$
Sum of infinite G.P.: S_∞ = (a)/(1 - r)$$\text{Sum of infinite G.P.: } S_\infty = \frac{a}{1 - r}$$
Core Logic
Let a = (4)/(7)$a = \frac{4}{7}$ and b = (1)/(3)$b = \frac{1}{3}$.
The series given is:
(b + a) + (b² + ab + a²) + (b³ + b²a + ba² + a³) +$$(b + a) + (b^2 + ab + a^2) + (b^3 + b^2a + ba^2 + a^3) + \dots$$
Multiply and divide the entire expression by (a - b)$(a - b)$:
S = (1)/(a - b) [ (a² - b²) + (a³ - b³) + (a⁴ - b⁴) + ]$$S = \frac{1}{a - b} \left[ (a^2 - b^2) + (a^3 - b^3) + (a^4 - b^4) + \dots \right]$$
Step 1: Splitting into Two Infinite G.P.s
Separate the series into terms of a$a$ and terms of b$b$:
S = (1)/(a - b) [ (a² + a³ + a⁴ + ) - (b² + b³ + b⁴ + ) ]$$S = \frac{1}{a - b} \left[ (a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + \dots) - (b^2 + b^3 + b^4 + \dots) \right]$$
These are two infinite geometric progressions. The first term for series a$a$ is a²$a^2$ with ratio a$a$, and for series b$b$ is b²$b^2$ with ratio b$b$.
S = (1)/(a - b) [ (a²)/(1 - a) - (b²)/(1 - b) ]$$S = \frac{1}{a - b} \left[ \frac{a^2}{1 - a} - \frac{b^2}{1 - b} \right]$$
Step 2: Value Substitution
Calculate (a - b)$(a - b)$:
a - b = (4)/(7) - (1)/(3) = (12 - 7)/(21) = (5)/(21)$$a - b = \frac{4}{7} - \frac{1}{3} = \frac{12 - 7}{21} = \frac{5}{21}$$
Now substitute the values into the formula:
S = (21)/(5) [ ((16)/(49))/(1 - (4)/(7)) - ((1)/(9))/(1 - (1)/(3)) ]$$S = \frac{21}{5} \left[ \frac{\frac{16}{49}}{1 - \frac{4}{7}} - \frac{\frac{1}{9}}{1 - \frac{1}{3}} \right]$$
S = (21)/(5) [ ((16)/(49))/((3)/(7)) - ((1)/(9))/((2)/(3)) ] = (21)/(5) [ (16)/(21) - (1)/(6) ]$$S = \frac{21}{5} \left[ \frac{\frac{16}{49}}{\frac{3}{7}} - \frac{\frac{1}{9}}{\frac{2}{3}} \right] = \frac{21}{5} \left[ \frac{16}{21} - \frac{1}{6} \right]$$
Step 3: Final Arithmetic
(16)/(21) - (1)/(6) = (96 - 21)/(126) = (75)/(126)$$\frac{16}{21} - \frac{1}{6} = \frac{96 - 21}{126} = \frac{75}{126}$$
Multiply with the outer factor:
S = (21)/(5) × (75)/(126) = (21)/(5) × (25)/(42) = (25)/(5 × 2) = (5)/(2)$$S = \frac{21}{5} \times \frac{75}{126} = \frac{21}{5} \times \frac{25}{42} = \frac{25}{5 \times 2} = \frac{5}{2}$$
Pattern Recognition
Homogeneous polynomials of degree 1, 2, 3$1, 2, 3\dots$ inside a sum instantly cry out to be multiplied by the difference of their bases (x-y)$(x-y)$ to telescope into differences of pure powers xⁿ - yⁿ$x^n - y^n$.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Maths: Sequences and Series