MATH F111- Mathematics I

Saranya G. Nair
Department of Mathematics

BITS Pilani

November 3, 2022

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 1 / 14

Integral test for Series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
Does the series = 1 + 2 + 2 + · · · + 2 + · · · converge?
n2 2 3 n
n=1
∞ Z ∞
X 1 1
Let us compare the series 2
with dx.
n 1 x2
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 2 / 14

Integral test for Series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
Does the series = 1 + 2 + 2 + · · · + 2 + · · · converge?
n2 2 3 n
n=1
∞ Z ∞
X 1 1
Let us compare the series 2
with dx.
n 1 x2
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 2 / 14

 1 1 1
sn = 1 + 2
+ 2 + ··· + 2
2 3 n
= f (1) + f (2) + · · · + f (n)
Z n
1
< f (1) + 2
dx
1 x
Z ∞
1
< f (1) + dx = 1 + 1 = 2
1 x2
∞
X 1
Thus sn is bounded above and thus the series converges.
n2
n=1

Remark
The series and integral need not have the same value in the convergent
∞ Z ∞
X 1 1
case as 2
̸= dx = 1.
n 1 x2
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 3 / 14

Theorem
The Integral Test: Let an be a sequence of positive terms (an > 0).
Suppose that an = f (n), where f is a continuous, positive, decreasing
X∞
function of x for all x ≥ N (N a positive integer). Then the series an
Z ∞ n=N

and the integral f (x)dx both converge or both diverge.

N

Let us prove this result when N = 1. The proof for general N is similar.
Thus we know that
• f is decreasing and f (n) = a(n), ∀n.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 4 / 14

 Z n+1 Z n
f (x)dx ≤ a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an ≤ a1 + f (x)dx
1 1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 5 / 14

 Z n ∞
X
• If f (x)dx is finite, the RHS inequality shows that an is finite.
1 n=1
Z n X∞
• If f (x)dx is infinite, the LHS inequality shows that an is
1 n=1
infinite.
• Hence the series and the integral are either both finite or both infinite.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 6 / 14

Using integral test discuss the convergence or divergence of the series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
p
= 1 + p + p + · · · + p + · · · + for any fixed real number p.
n 2 3 n
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 7 / 14

Using integral test discuss the convergence or divergence of the series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
p
= 1 + p + p + · · · + p + · · · + for any fixed real number p.
n 2 3 n
n=1

Case I: Let p > 1.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 7 / 14

Using integral test discuss the convergence or divergence of the series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
p
= 1 + p + p + · · · + p + · · · + for any fixed real number p.
n 2 3 n
n=1

Case I: Let p > 1.

• f (x) = x1p is continuous and decreasing for x ≥ 1.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 7 / 14

Using integral test discuss the convergence or divergence of the series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
p
= 1 + p + p + · · · + p + · · · + for any fixed real number p.
n 2 3 n
n=1

Case I: Let p > 1.

• f (x) = x1p is continuous and decreasing for x ≥ 1.
b
Z ∞ Z b −p+1 
1 x
dx = lim x −p dx = lim

xp b→∞ −p + 1 

1 b→∞ 1
1 
1 1
= lim − 1
p − 1 b→∞ b p−1
1
=
p−1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 7 / 14

Using integral test discuss the convergence or divergence of the series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
p
= 1 + p + p + · · · + p + · · · + for any fixed real number p.
n 2 3 n
n=1

Case I: Let p > 1.

• f (x) = x1p is continuous and decreasing for x ≥ 1.
b
Z ∞ Z b −p+1 
1 x
dx = lim x −p dx = lim

xp b→∞ −p + 1 

1 b→∞ 1
1 
1 1
= lim − 1
p − 1 b→∞ b p−1
1
=
p−1

• Thus the series converges by the Integral test when p > 1.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 7 / 14
Case II: Let p ≤ 0.

By n th term test,

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 8 / 14

Case II: Let p ≤ 0.

By n th term test, the series diverges.

Case III: Let 0 < p < 1.
Then 1 − p > 0 and
b
Z ∞ Z b 1−p 
1 x
dx = lim x −p dx = lim

xp b→∞ 1 − p 

1 b→∞ 1
1
=∞

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 8 / 14

Case II: Let p ≤ 0.

By n th term test, the series diverges.

Case III: Let 0 < p < 1.
Then 1 − p > 0 and
b
Z ∞ Z b 1−p 
1 x
dx = lim x −p dx = lim

xp b→∞ 1 − p 

1 b→∞ 1
1
=∞

• Thus the series diverges by the Integral test when 0 < p < 1.
Case IV: If p = 1,

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 8 / 14

Case II: Let p ≤ 0.

By n th term test, the series diverges.

Case III: Let 0 < p < 1.
Then 1 − p > 0 and
b
Z ∞ Z b 1−p 
1 x
dx = lim x −p dx = lim

xp b→∞ 1 − p 

1 b→∞ 1
1
=∞

• Thus the series diverges by the Integral test when 0 < p < 1.
Case IV: If p = 1, we have the (divergent) harmonic series
1 + 21 + 31 + · · · + n1 + · · · +

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 8 / 14

• The p-series test shows that the harmonic series is just barely
divergent; if we increase p to 1.000000001, for instance, the series
converges!!

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 9 / 14

• The p-series test shows that the harmonic series is just barely
divergent; if we increase p to 1.000000001, for instance, the series
converges!!
• The slowness with which the partial sums of the harmonic series
approach infinity is impressive.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 9 / 14

• The p-series test shows that the harmonic series is just barely
divergent; if we increase p to 1.000000001, for instance, the series
converges!!
• The slowness with which the partial sums of the harmonic series
approach infinity is impressive.
• For instance, it takes more than 178 million terms of the harmonic
series to move the partial sums beyond 20.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 9 / 14

 ∞
X 1
2. Discuss the convergence of the series .
n2 +1
n=1
Z ∞
1 π
dx = and thus the series converges by the integral test.
1 x2 +1 4
3. Determine the convergence or divergence of the series. (Use integral
test)
∞
2
X
(i) ne −n
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 10 / 14

 ∞
X 1
2. Discuss the convergence of the series .
n2 +1
n=1
Z ∞
1 π
dx = and thus the series converges by the integral test.
1 x2 +1 4
3. Determine the convergence or divergence of the series. (Use integral
test)
∞
2
X
(i) ne −n
n=1
∞
X 1
(ii)
2ln n
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 10 / 14

Comparison tests

We have seen how to determine the convergence of geometric series,

p-series, and a few others. We can test the convergence of many more
series by comparing their terms to those of a series whose convergence is
already known.
Theorem
X X
Direct Comparison test: Let an and bn be two series
0 ≤ an ≤ bn .

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 11 / 14

Comparison tests

We have seen how to determine the convergence of geometric series,

p-series, and a few others. We can test the convergence of many more
series by comparing their terms to those of a series whose convergence is
already known.
Theorem
X X
Direct Comparison test: Let an and bn be two series
0 ≤ an ≤ bn . Then
X X
• If bn converges, then an also converges.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 11 / 14

Comparison tests

We have seen how to determine the convergence of geometric series,

p-series, and a few others. We can test the convergence of many more
series by comparing their terms to those of a series whose convergence is
already known.
Theorem
X X
Direct Comparison test: Let an and bn be two series
0 ≤ an ≤ bn . Then
X X
• If bn converges, then an also converges.
X X
• If an diverges, then bn also diverges.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 11 / 14

Determine the convergence or divergence of the series.
∞
X 5
(i)
5n − 1
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 12 / 14

Determine the convergence or divergence of the series.
∞
X 5
(i)
5n − 1
n=1

5 1 1 1
= 5n−1
= 1
> .
5n − 1 5 n− 5
n

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 12 / 14

Determine the convergence or divergence of the series.
∞
X 5
(i)
5n − 1
n=1

5 1 1 1
= 5n−1
= 1
> .
5n − 1 5 n− 5
n
X 5 X1
Thus diverges as diverges.
5n − 1 n
∞
X 1
(ii)
n!
n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 12 / 14

Determine the convergence or divergence of the series.
∞
X 5
(i)
5n − 1
n=1

5 1 1 1
= 5n−1
= 1
> .
5n − 1 5 n− 5
n
X 5 X1
Thus diverges as diverges.
5n − 1 n
∞
X 1
(ii)
n!
n=1
X 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1+ 2! +
+ 4! + · · · + n!
3! <1+ 2 + 22
+ 23
+ ··· + 2n−1
Thus
X 1 n!
converges as diverges.
2n

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 12 / 14

Limit comparison test

an
Proof of (i) : Since lim = c, we have ∃ N ∈ N such that
n→∞ bn
a  c
 n
 − c  < . Thus for n ≥ N,

bn 2
c 3c
bn < an < bn and use Comparison tests to conclude.
2 2
Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 13 / 14
Which of the following series converge and, which diverge?
∞ ∞ ∞
X 2n + 1 X 1 X 1 + n ln n
(i) (ii) (iii)
(n + 1)2 n
2 −1 n2 + 5
n=1 n=1 n=1

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I November 3, 2022 14 / 14