Real Analysis 86

a (1 r n )
, |r| 1
1 r
na , r 1
= a ar ar 2 ... ar n 1
a ( r n 1)
, |r| 1
r 1
1 ( 1)n
, r 1
2
a
When | r | < 1 lim S n lim r n 0
n 1 r n

ar n 1
is convergent
n 1

When r 1, lim S n ar n 1
is divergent
n
n 1

When | r | 1, nlim S n ar n 1
is divergent
n 1

When r = –1, S2 n 0, S2 n 1 1 ( Sn ) is having two subsequence converging to different limits.

lim sn does not exist ar n 1 is divergent.

n
n 1

The geometric series ar n 1

converges iff | r | 1 .
n 1

Theorem: Let an be a convergent series. Then lim an 0.

n 1 n

1
Remark: The converse of this theorem is not true. For example consider .
n 1n

1
here an n and lim an 0
n n

1
However, it can be shown that is a divergent series.
n 1n

1 1
Example: Consider . Show that this series is convergent.
n 1 n 1 n 2
1 1
Soln: Let an
n 1 n 2
1 1
Then S n a1 a2 ... an
2 n 2

1 1
lim Sn an is convergent and an
n 2 n 1 n 1 2
 SERIES 87

n
Example: Consider 2 . Show that this series is divergent
n 1n

n n (n 1) n 2 1
Soln: Let an 1 n 2 n 2
n2 n2 n

1
Then nlim an lim 1 n 2
n n

n
lim an 0 By the above theorem 2 is divergent
1n
n
n

2n 1
Example: Show that is divergent.
n 1 3n 2

2n 1
Soln: Let an
3n 2
2 1
2n 1 n 2
lim an lim lim 2
n n 3n 2 n 3 n
3

2
lim an 0 an is divergent.
n 3 n 1

6.2.1.Theorem: (Cauchy’s criterion for series):

The series an converges if and only if for every 0, N s.t.

n 1

| S m S n | | an 1 an 2 ... am | for all m n N.

1
Example: (Harmonic series): Show that the series diverges.
n 1 n

Soln. We note that

2n
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
| S 2n Sn | = ... = ...
k n 1k n 1 n 2 2n n 1 n 2 2n
1 1 1 1 1
... n. ... (1)
2n 2n 2n 2n 2
m
1 1 1 1
Suppose that converges. By Cauchy’s criterion, given , N s.t. for all
n 1 n 2 k n 1k 2
m n N.
If we choose n = N, m = 2N then
2N
1 1 1 1
i.e. | S 2 N SN | which is a contradiction to (1) is divergent.
k N k 2 2 n 1 n
 Real Analysis 88

6.2.2.Theorem:

Let (an) be a sequence of non-negative real numbers. Then an converges if and only if the sequence
n 1

of partial sums is bounded.

1
Example: Show that the exponential series is bounded.
n 0 n

1 1
Soln. an , an n
0
n 0 n 0 n

Using the above theorem, if we can show that (Sn) is bounded, then an will be convergent.
n 0

1 1 1
Now Sn a0 a1 .... an = 1 ...
1 2 n

1 1 1
Now n 1.2.3...(n 1)n 2n 1

n
1 1
Sn 1 2 1 3
2 2n 1

1
Sn 3 n ( Sn ) is bounded an is convergent
n 0 n 0 n
6.3. Tests for Convergence of Series
5.3.1 p-Series Test:
1
p converges when p > 1 and diverges when p 1.
n 1 n

6.3.2. Comparison Test:

(a) Let (an) and (bn) be two sequences such that | an | bn for some n N 0 , where N 0 is some fixed

integer. If bn converges, then an converges.

n 1 n 1

(b) Let (dn) be a sequence such that an dn 0 for some n N 0 . If d n diverges then an diverges.
n 1 n 1

Example: Examine the convergence of the following series

1 n 1
(a) 2 (b) 2
n 1 n 1 n 1 n 1
1 1 1 1 1
Soln. (a) Let an 2 i.e. an 2 2 and 2 is convergent ( p 2)
n 1 n 1 n 1 n 1 n 1 n2 n 1 n

1
By comparison test 2 is convergent
n 1 n 1