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jmc

algebra intermediate

Problem

Compute
Solution
We can attempt to deconstruct the summand by applying supposing that it breaks down like a partial fraction: Then which expands as It makes sense to make both and multiples of that differ by To this end, set and Then and . Subtracting these equations, we get It follows that which gives us We can try setting to different values, to see what we get. If we set then we get which makes the sum telescope.

Just to make sure the sum converges, we compute the th partial sum: As becomes very large, also becomes very large. Thus, the infinite sum is
Final answer
2