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Evaluate the summation sum_n=120 (1)/(n(n+1)) using partial fraction decomposition.

Mathematics

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Answer

D) 2021\text{D) } \frac{20}{21}

Step-by-step solution

4 steps

To solve the summation, we first use partial fraction decomposition.

  1. Decompose the fraction 1n(n+1)\frac{1}{n(n+1)}.

    We can write 1n(n+1)\frac{1}{n(n+1)} as An+Bn+1\frac{A}{n} + \frac{B}{n+1}.
    Multiplying by n(n+1)n(n+1) gives 1=A(n+1)+Bn1 = A(n+1) + Bn.
    Setting n=0n=0, we get 1=A(1)⇒A=11 = A(1) \Rightarrow A=1.
    Setting n=−1n=-1, we get 1=B(−1)⇒B=−11 = B(-1) \Rightarrow B=-1.
    So, the expression becomes:

    1n(n+1)=1n−1n+1\frac{1}{n(n+1)} = \frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{n+1}
  2. Write out the terms of the summation.

    The summation is ∑n=120(1n−1n+1)\sum_{n=1}^{20} \left(\frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{n+1}\right).
    Let's list the first few terms and the last term:
    For n=1n=1: (1−12)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right)
    For n=2n=2: (12−13)\left(\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}\right)
    For n=3n=3: (13−14)\left(\frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{4}\right)
    ...
    For n=20n=20: (120−121)\left(\frac{1}{20} - \frac{1}{21}\right)

  3. Sum the terms.

    This is a telescoping series, meaning most terms will cancel out:

    ∑n=120(1n−1n+1)=(1−12)+(12−13)+(13−14)+⋯+(120−121)\sum_{n=1}^{20} \left(\frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{n+1}\right) = \left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{4}\right) + \dots + \left(\frac{1}{20} - \frac{1}{21}\right)

    The −12-\frac{1}{2} cancels with +12+\frac{1}{2}, −13-\frac{1}{3} cancels with +13+\frac{1}{3}, and so on.
    The sum simplifies to the first term of the first parenthesis and the last term of the last parenthesis:

    1−1211 - \frac{1}{21}
  4. Calculate the final value.

    1−121=2121−121=20211 - \frac{1}{21} = \frac{21}{21} - \frac{1}{21} = \frac{20}{21}

    The final answer is D) 2021\text{D) } \frac{20}{21}.

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