16.

AL1~ERNATING SERIES
A series whose terms are alternatively positive and negative is called an
alternating series. Thus a series of the form
U1 - U2 + U3 - ••• + (-1 t - l Un+ •.•

where un > 0 for all n, is an alternating series.

Leibnitz test: If the alternating series
U1 - u2 + u3 - . . . (un > 0~\/ n E N)
is such that
(i) Un+ l < Un V n E N, and
( ii) lim Un :..: 0,
n ~ oo

then the series converges. (Delhi B.Sc. 90; Meerut 96)

Proof. Let Sn = U1 - Uz + U3 - ... + (-1)'1u~
so that (Sn) is a sequence of partial sums of the given series.
No w for all n, S2n + 2 - S2n = Uzn + 1 - Uzn +2 > 0 [by (i)]

Thi s shows that (S2n) is a monotonic increasing sequence.

Further S2n = u 1 - u2 + u3 - . . . + uaa _ 1 - uaa
= U1 - (u2 - U3) - (u4 - U5} - ... - U2n

= UJ - [(uz - U3) + . . . + U2,i]

= u 1 - sorrJe positive number
< U J,
Thus the mo noto nic increasing sequence (S2,a) is bounded above and
conseq uently it is convergent.
L et Iim S2,, = S.
n -+ oo

No\v
 lim s .!11 1 I
lim S2,1 + l im u2,, 1 1
r1 ► -

=S+O [·: lim u" = Ol

n ➔ -

=S
"rh us the subsequences (S ,,) and
2 (S2n + 1) bo t h conv erge to the same
limits. Now we shall show that the sequence (Sn) also converges to S.
Let£ > 0 be given. Since the sequences (S2n) and (S2n + 1) both converge
to S. there exist positi ve integers m 1, m2 such that
IS2n - SI < E "v n 2': m1
and IS2n + 1 -- s I < t:: "v n ~ m 2.
Let m= max {m 1, m2}-
Then ISn - SI < E V n ~ 2m
This shows that the sequence (Sn) converges to S.
Hence the given series E(- l)" - 1u" converges.
Remarks~ Leibnitz test gives us a set of sufficient conditions for the
convergence of an alternating series. If the test does not show. a series to
be convergent, we may not immediately say that the series is divergent.
17. ABSOLUTE CONVERGENCE
A series l:un is said to be absolutely convergent if the series l:lunl is
convergent. (Meerut 94, 9S, 97(B), 98(0 ))
18. CONDITIONAL CONVERGENCE
A series l:un is said to be conditionally convergent (or non-absolu tely
convergent or semi-convergent if l:un is convergent but l:I Un I is divergent.
19. SOME THEOREMS
Theorem 1. Every absolutely convergent series is convergent.
(Meerut 97 (B), 98(0))
Proof. Let riun be an absolutely convergent series so that l:lunl is
convergent.
Hence for any real number E > 0, by Cauchy's general principle of
convergen ce, there exists a positive integer m such that
IUn + ti + IUn+ 2 I + · • •+ IUn+ p I < E, \:/ n '?:. m, p > 1
But for all n and p > I

IUn+ I + Un+ 2 + · · · + Un+ p I < IUn+ ii + IUn + 2 I + . .. + IUn + p I

< E, V n '?:. m,p > 1
Hence by Cauchy's general principle of convergen ce the series Lun
converges .
 T tw ~·o nH~~e o f th1 ~ rhcorcm l!', nt) f true For example. the ~en \!~
l I
- t- -
2 3
1s l' o nvergent b y Leibni t.l test. But. th e series
1 I
LI U n I = 1 + +) + • · •
2
is di vergent. He nce a convergent series need no t be absolute ly con vergent.
Theorem 2. The sun, of an absolutely con ve rgent se ries is indep endent
of tlze o rder of ternzs.
Proof. Let r.un be a given absolutely convergent series and let ~u ~ be
the series o btai ned by re-arranging the terms of Lun so that every un is same
u~ and every u~ is same un
Since Lun is absolutely convergent, fo r a given E > 0 there exists a
positive integer lll such that
{Un + 1 I + IUn + 2 I + • .. + IUn+ p I < E. V 11 > 1n, P > 0
In particular
IUm+ I I + IUm+ 2 I + · · · + IUm+ p I < E. VP > 0 ... ( 1)

Let Sn and S~ be the sums of n terms of the two series LUn and LU ~
respectively . Since Lun is convergent, Sn tends to a finite limit, say S.
Let u 1, u2 , •.. , um be common in Sn and S~ for all 11 > µ > ,n. Let
um+ a,, Um+ G2' , , ·. ,Um+ a'). be the terms which are either in Sn or in s~ but
not in both.
Then \/ n > µ > ,n, we have
I Sn - s~ I = I+ Um+ a, + Um+'½+ ... + Um+ a,J
< I Um+ a 1 I + I Um+ a 2 1 + · · · + I Um + a>- \
< E, [ from
( 1)]
Therefore lim (S~ - Sn)= 0
n ➔ oo

or lim S~ = lim Sn = S
n ➔ oo n ➔ oo

Hence the series Iu~ is convergent and has the same sum as the series
Llln·
Example 1.. n ,e seri es
1 l
l- -2' + -3 .. .
 Solution. The given series is an alternating series. Here th e nlh term
I
t,, = (- 1)" - 1u,, , where un = -n > 0, n E N.

Now l J I . .. (1)
U 11 +l - U = - - - - = - - - - <0.
" n+l ,z n(n+l)
. .. (2)
Also Jim u,, = Jim .! = 0.
n
n ➔ oo n ➔ c,o
oo 1
Th ere,ore
& ~(-l)(n
by Leibritz test, the alternating series ~ - l)_ JS
I n
convergent .
Example 2. Test the convergence of the series:
1 1 1
I - - + - - - + . . . (p > 0)
2P ]P 4P
Solution. The given series is an alternating series. Here the nth term

tn=(-lt- 1un whereun=_ !_>O, (p>0).

nP
1 I
Now
Un+ I - Un = (n + l )P - nP

nP - (n + I)P
= -~---- - <0 \fn;?:l
nP(n + l)P
... u,, + 1 ~ Un \f n E N
1
Also lim Un = lim - , p > 0
n-+oo n-+oo nP

=0 .
1
• Hence by Leibritz test, the alternating series l:(-1 / - > _I is convergent.
nP
Example 3. Examine for convergence the series
log 2 _ log 3 + log 4 _
22 32 42
Solution. The given series is an alternating series. Here the nth term
log (n + 1)
t11 = (-lfun where Un= >0
(n + 1) 2
log (n + l) log (n + l) I
lim un = lim - - - - -- lim
n ~ oo n~ (n+I)200 n-+ (n+l) (n + I) 00

= 0.
Now we shall show that un + 1 ~ u11 for a)) n.
 I .JJ
l(lg t
L ct }(.,._) - ,
x~
2 I
x · - - 2x log x
Then J (x
I ) = __X_x_4 _ _

l - 2 log x
= 3 <0 when x > e 112
X
Therefore the function f(x ) is mo
notonica1Jy de cre asi ng for all
x > e 112 .
We know that 2 <e<3 ⇒ 2 <e <3112 I12 112

⇒ 1 < e112 < 2 .

So f(n + 2) ~f (n + 1) for all n,
i.e., Un+ 1 ~ Un for all n.
He nc e by Le ibn itz tes t the giv
en ser ies is co nv erg en t.
Example 4. Test for co nv erg
en ce the series
1
- - - 1- + I
2a . .. , x > 0, a > 0.
x x+ a x+ (Meerut 91, 92)
Solution. Th e giv en ser ies is an alt ern ati
ng series. He re the nth ten n
t = (-1 t - 1 1
=X . I
n x + (n - l)a un, wh en u
+ (11 - >O
n l)a ·
No w 1
u
n+ 1
-u = - - - - -1- -
n x + na x + (n - 1)a
_ [x + (n - l )a] - [x + na]
(x + na) [x + (n - I )a]

=---- -a
----
[x + na ][x + (n - l)a ]
<0

Also .
1lffi Un = 1lffi
· 1
n ➔ oo n ➔ oo x + (n - 1)a
=0 .
Hence by Leibnitz test the given ser
ies is convergent.
Example S. Prove that the follow
ing series is absolutely convergen
t:
1 1 ·
l - 2'12"+ 31 '3 - .. .. (Kanpur 95, 96)

Solution. Here 1 1
LU n
2
= 1-
313 ••
'12" + - ••
The series Lun is absalutely conv
ergent if LI un I is convergent.
 I . if •
I 1
NtH\'
LI"nI = I i 2-{2 I· 3 ✓3 ·I . ..

J 1
= J+ 23/2 + 3312 + ...

1
= L 312 ·
n
This series is converge nt ('. · p = ¾> J ). Hence the given series is
absolutely converge nt.
Example 6. Show that the series
I I I
vi- {f + '13- ...
is condition ally converge nt. (Tirupa ti 92)
Solution. The given series is an alternati ng series. Here the nth term
1 J
In= (-1r - un, where Un={;; > 0

1 1
Now Un+ 1 - Un= ✓n +I - 7n
{;; - ✓n + 1
- {;;° ✓n + 1
<0
...
1
Also lim Un= lim _,
n ➔ oo n ➔ oo "\/n

=0.

(-
Hence by Leibnitz test the given series is convergent.

I
l )n - I 1
But the series l: ..j;; = l:-{;; is divergent because here p =½< 1.
Hence the given series is conditio nally converg ent. I

Example 7. Examine the absolute convergence of the series:

(--1r+'].
L [ +I
✓n2
(Avadh 95)

Solution. The given series is

LUn -
_ L [(-l, )n+
-V n .. + 1
l] .

This series will be absolutely convergent if LI un I is convergent.