Analyzing the Setup
The series we are evaluating is given by:
The presence of factorials in the denominator is a significant clue. In calculus, whenever you encounter n! in the denominator, your mind should immediately associate it with the Maclaurin expansion of the exponential function.
The standard expansion is defined as:
This identity serves as the bedrock of our solution.
The Power of Substitution
Observe the signs in our target series; they alternate between positive and negative. Since the standard expansion of ex contains only positive terms, we must force the signs to flip.
We achieve this by substituting a negative value for x. Specifically, if we set x=−1, the term xn becomes (−1)n.
Substituting x=−1 into the expansion, we obtain:
e−1=1+1!−1+2!(−1)2+3!(−1)3+…
Simplifying the powers of −1, we get:
The Elegance of Cancellation
Look closely at the first two terms: 1−1. These terms sum to zero and effectively vanish.
This leaves us with exactly the series we were asked to evaluate:
Since e−1=e1, the final value of the series is:
You have successfully solved this infinite series by recognizing the hidden structure of the exponential function. Remember: when you see factorials, think exponentials; when you see alternating signs, think negative bases.