Power series determined by an experiment on the unit interval

Abstract

We consider the linear combinations of elements of two sequences: the first one a priory given nonnegative sequence and the second random sequence from the unit interval. We investigate the expected value of the smallest natural number such that the value of these linear combinations exceed a positive number. After very clear geometrical conclusions, we find the function which expresses the expected value. Here, we recognize a few known results like the special cases.