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Convergence Test
Convergence Test
a k
k 1
• A series is convergent if, as n gets larger and larger, Sn goes to
some finite number.
• If Sn does not converge, and Sngoes to ∞, then the series is
said to be divergent
Geometric and P-Series
• The two series that are the easiest to test are geometric series
and p-series.
ar k
1
n
p
n 1
Geometric Series
• A geometric series is a series in which there is a constant ratio
between successive terms
Geometric Series
• Sn = =arar +ar^2 + ar^3 + … +ar^k
k
k 1
a
1 r
P-Series
• Given a series
1
p
n 1
n
Geometric and P-Series
Examples
n 1 This series is
3
n
3
3 geometric with a=3 The Sum of the series, S
n 1
n 1
4 n 1
4 and r =3/4. Since
a
r<1, this series will S
So S= 3/(1-3/4) = 12
converge. 1 r
1 Here, p=3, so p>1. Therefore our series
will converge
3
n 1
n
1
1 1 2 Here, p=1/2, so p<1. Therefore our series will
n
diverge
n 1
n n 1
Convergence Tests
• Divergence test
• Comparison Test
• Limit Comparison Test
• Ratio Test
• Root Test
• Integral Test
• Alternating Series Test
Divergence Test
• Say you have some series
an
• The easiest way to see if a series diverges
n 0 is this test
• Evaluate L= Lim
• If L 0, the series diverges
• a
If L=0, then this test is inconclusive
n
n
Divergence Test Example
2
n
5n 2
4
Let’s look at the limit
n 1 of the series
2 2
n n 1
Lim 2
Lim 2
0 Therefore, this series is divergent
n 5n 4 n 5n 5
1
2 The limit here is equal to zero, so this test is inconclusive.
n 1
n
However, we should see that
1 this a p-series with p>1, therefore this will converge.
Lim 2
0
n n
Comparison Test
• Often easiest to compare geometric and p series.
b k a k
b k a k
b k a k
Comparison Test Example
1
3 n
1
Test to see if this series converges
using the comparison test
n 1
1
This is very similar to 3 n
which is a geometric series so
it will converge
n 1
1 1
And since 3 n
3 n
1
our original series will also converge
n 1 n 1
Limit Comparison Test
• Let and b be series with non-negative terms.
ak k
• Evaluate Lim
• If lim=L, some finite number,
ak then both and
either converge or diverge.
k bk
• and are generally geometric series or p-series, so
seeing whether these series are convergent is fast. ak
b k
ak b k
Limit Comparison Test
Example
n
9 Determine whether
3 10 n
this series
n
n 1 converges or not 9
n
9
n
9 n
Lim 3 10n 1 0
Compare it with n
10
so n 9
n 1
10 n 1
10
n
9
And since Is a geometric series with r<1, this series converges,
n 1
10 therefore so does our original series
Ratio Test
• Let be a series with non-negative terms.
a k
• Evaluate L= Lim
a k 1
• If L < 1, then converges
ak
• If L > 1, then kdiverges
isa kinconclusive
• If L = 1, then this test
a k
Ratio Test Example
Test for convergence
3
n a n 1
1
n Look at the limit of
n an
n 1
3
n 1 3
( 1) ( n 1)
3 n
3
n 1 ( n 1) 3
Lim n 3
Lim n 1
3
n ( 1) n n 3 n
Since L<1, this series
n
3 will converge based
on the ratio test
1 n 1 3 1 1 3 1
Lim ( ) Lim (1 ) 1
3 n n 3 n n 3
Root Test
• Let be a series with non-negative terms.
an
• Useful if involves nth powers
a
• Evaluate L= Limn 1
• If L < 1, is convergent (a n ) n
• If L > 1, n
is divergent
•If L = 1, thenthis
an
test is inconclusive
a n
Root Test Example
Test for convergence
4n 5
1
n 1
1
4n 5 n 4n 5 4
Lim (( ) ) n
Lim 1
n 5n 6 n 5n 6 5
By the root test, since L<1, our series will converge.
Integral Test
• Given the series , let =a f(k) ak
k
f ( x ) dx
0
ak 1
f ( x ) dx
k 1
Integral Test Example
Test for convergence Since x>0, f(x) is
1 1 continuous and
(2 n 1) 3
So let f (x) 3
positive.
n 1 (2 x 1) f’(x) is negative so
we know f(x) is
decreasing.
1 1 1 t
Now let’s look
at the integral
1
(2 x 1)
3
dx
2
2 Lim [
t (2 x 1)
2 ]
1
1 1 1
Lim ( 2
2
)
t (2 t 1) ( 3) 9
Since the integral converged to a finite number, our original series will also converge
will most likely not converge to 1/9, but it will converge nonetheless.
Note: Series
Alternating Series Test
• Given a series (1) k
ak , where ais positive for all k
k
• IF
• for all k, and
• Lim = 0
a k 1 a k
Then the series is convergent
k
ak
Alternating Series Test
Example
Test for convergence
2
n Check:
1
n 1
3
Is this series decrease- yes
n 1
n 4 Is the Lim=0?
2
n
Lim 3
0 Yes
n n 4
2
n
1
n 1
3
Therefore,
n 1
n 4 , is convergent.
More Examples
cos n
2
1 n n
1. n
3 4
2. 2 6
n 1 n 1 1 n n
n 1
3. ( n 1) 4
10
2 n 1
4. n ln n
n2
n 1
Answers
• 1. By Alternating series test, series will converge
• 2. By the comparison test, series will diverge
• 3. By the ratio test, series will converge
• 4. By the integral test, series will diverge