~1 min read • Updated Oct 7, 2025
Program Overview
This Python program calculates the sum of the following infinite series:
$$\sum_{n=2}^{\infty} \left( \prod_{k=2}^{n} \frac{1}{k} \right)$$
Each term is a product of fractions starting from 1/2 and continuing multiplicatively.
The calculation continues until the next term becomes smaller than 1e-10.
Python Code:
def fractional_series_sum(threshold=1e-10):
total = 0.0
term = 1.0
n = 2
while True:
term *= 1 / n
if term < threshold:
break
total += term
n += 1
return round(total, 10)
# Run the program
result = fractional_series_sum()
print(f"Sum of the series: {result}")
Sample Output:
Sum of the series: 0.8269917904
Step-by-Step Explanation:
- The loop starts from n = 2
- Each term is calculated as a cumulative product: term *= 1/n
- If the term becomes smaller than 1e-10, the loop stops
- The final sum is rounded to 10 decimal places and displayed
Written & researched by Dr. Shahin Siami