3.2 Given the convergent geometric series: \( 3^{\prime}+9^{\prime}+27^{\prime}+81^{\prime}+\ldots \) 3.2 .1 Write down the common ratio in terms of \( x \). 3.2 .2 Calculate the value of \( x \), if \( S_{-}=\frac{1}{2} \).
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The series you've presented is a geometric series, where each term is multiplying the previous term by a common ratio. In your case, the first term appears to be \( 3^{\prime} \) which could imply \( 3x \), and subsequent terms are \( 9^{\prime} (which suggests 9x), 27^{\prime} (27x), \) and so on. The common ratio, therefore, is \( \frac{9x}{3x} = 3 \). To find the value of \( x \) given that \( S_{-}=\frac{1}{2} \), we can use the formula for the sum of a convergent geometric series: \[ S = \frac{a}{1 - r}, \] where \( a \) is the first term and \( r \) is the common ratio. Here, \( S = \frac{1}{2}, a = 3x, \) and \( r = 3 \). Plugging these in gives: \[ \frac{3x}{1 - 3} = \frac{1}{2}, \] \[ \frac{3x}{-2} = \frac{1}{2}, \] Multiplying both sides by \( -2 \) yields \( 3x = -1 \) or \( x = -\frac{1}{3}. \) So, to summarize, the common ratio is \( 3 \), and the value of \( x \) is \( -\frac{1}{3} \).