SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3

Problem 1. Find the sum of the following series

∞
X 2n + (−1)n
n
.
n=0
5
5
• 2

5
• 3

25
• 12

1
• 2

• This series diverges.

Solution:
Note that this defines two convergent geometric series with respective radii |r1 | =
|2/5| < 1 and |r2 | = | − 1/5| < 1. So we get

∞ ∞  n ∞  n
X 2n + (−1)n X 2 X −1 1 1 5
= + = + = .
n=0
5n n=0
5 n=0
5 1 − 2/5 1 − (−1/5) 2

1
2 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3

Problem 2. Use Comparison Tests (or tests of your own choosing) to determine
which one of the following series is divergent.
• ∞ ln(n)
P
√
n=1 n
P∞ 21/n
• n=1 n3/2
P∞ n2 +2n+2
• n=1 n4 +8
P∞ 2n
• n=1 n3n
P∞ 1
• n=1 2n +n

Solution:
Note that for any n ≥ 4, ln(n) ≥ 1 for natural log is increasing. So ln(n)
√
n
≥ √1n on
that domain and hence the first series is divergent for it bound from above a p-series
with p = 1/2 < 1.
 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3 3

Problem 3. Which one of the following series converges conditionally?

(−1)n
(a) ∞
P
√
n=1 n+1
P∞ (−1)n 2n
(b) n=1 5n
P∞ (−1)n n
(c) n=1
√
n2 +1
P∞ (−1)n
(d) n=1 n4
P∞ (−1)n n
(e) n=1 ln(n)

Solution:
Recall that a series is conditionally convergent ifpit converges but
√not in abso-
lute value. Taking a look at the first one we see that (n + 1) + 1 ≥ n + 1 which
gives
1 1
bn+1 = p ≤√ = bn
(n + 1) + 1 n+1
and we know that bn → 0 as n → ∞. Thus the series converges by the Alternating
Series Test. Taking absolute value we see that
∞  ∞ ∞ ∞
 (−1)n  X

X
√ 1 X 1 1 X 1
= √ ≥ √ =√
n=1
 n + 1
n=1
n + 1 n=1 n + n 2 n=1 n1/2
which defines a p-series with p < 1, and hence it diverges. Thus the series is not
absolutely convergent.
4 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3

Problem 4. Consider the following series.

∞  2 ∞
X n + 1 n X n!
(I) (II) √ .
n=1
3n2 − 1 n=1
2n n
Which of the following is true?
(a) (I) converges and (II) diverges.

(b) The ratio test is inconclusive on (II).

(c) (I) diverges and (II) converges.

(d) Both the series converge.

(e) Both the series diverge.

n2 +1
p 1
Solution: Computing n |an | in the first series we get 3n 2 −1 → 3 < 1 and thus it

converges absolutely.
For the second one, let us ratio test it. We compute
√ √ √
2n n
 
 an+1 
 = (n √+ 1)! n n 1
 an  2n+1 n + 1 · n! = (n + 1) 2√n + 1 ≥ (n + 1) 2√n + n = (n + 1) 2√2


which is unbounded and hence the second series diverges.

 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3 5

Problem 5. Consider the following series

∞ ∞ ∞
X (−1)n ln(n) X en X sin(n2 )
(I) √ (II) (III)
n=2
n n=2
en + 2 n n=1
1 + n2
Which of the following statements is true?
• Only I and III converge

• Only III converges

• Only I and II converge

• All three converge

• All three diverge

Solution:
Let f (x) := ln(x)
√
x
on [1, ∞). Note that
1 √ 1
· x − ln(x) · √
 
x 2 x 1 ln(x)
f 0 (x) = √ = √ 1− <0
( x)2 x x 2
for all x > e2 . Thus the terms of the first sum are eventually decreasing. Note also
that applying L’Hospital’s rule once we get
1


ln(x) x 2
lim √ = lim   = √ → 0 as x → ∞.
x→∞ x x→∞ √1 x
2 x

Thus the Alternating test tell us that a tail of this series converges, hence it converges.
For the second one, note that
en 1 1
n n
= n
→ = 1 6= 0
e +2 1 + (2/e) 1+0
for |2/e| < 1. Thus it diverges by the divergence test.
For the last one, note that upon taking absolute value we get
 sin(n2 )  2
 
  = | sin(n )| ≤ 1 ≤ 1
 1 + n2  1 + n2 1 + n2 n2
Thus it converges absolutely via comparison test with a p-series with p = 2 > 1.
6 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3
P∞ (−1)n
Problem 6. Find the sum of the following series n=0 n!
.
• e−1

• e

• −e

• ln(2)

• −e−1

Solution:
Recalling that ex = ∞ xn
P
n=0 n! for all x, we can evaluate the above series by substi-
tuting −1 for x, yielding e−1 .
 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3 7

Problem 7. Find a power series representation for the the function f (x) = ln (1 − x2 ).
d −2x
Hint: dx ln (1 − x2 ) = 1−x 2.
P∞ (−2)x2n+2
• n=0 2n+2
P∞ n 2n
• n=0 (−2) x
P∞ (−2)n x2n+2
• n=0 2n+2
P∞
• n=0 (−2)(2n + 1)x2n
P∞ (−2)n x2n+1
• n=0 2n+1

Solution:
Using the hint as a starting place, we can find the expansion for the derivative and
then integrate term by term to arrive at a power series for the initial function. From
our knowledge of the geometric series, we can write
∞ ∞
1 X
2n d 2
X
2
= x , so locally ln (1 − x ) = −2x2n+1 .
1−x n=0
dx n=0

Then we integrate and solve for our constant of integration, f (0) = ln(1) = 0, so in
the end we find our power series about 0 is
∞
X (−2)x2n+2
ln(1 − x2 ) = .
n=0
2n + 2
8 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3

Problem 8. Which of the power series given below is the McLaurin series (i.e.
Taylor series at a = 0) of the function
2
f (x) = xex ?
P∞ x2n+1
• n=0 n!
.
P∞ (−1)n x4n+1
• n=0 (2n)!
.
P∞ x2n
• n=0 (2n)! .
P∞ (−1)n x4n+3
• n=0 (2n+1)!
.
P∞ x2n+1
• n=0 (2n)! .

Solution:
∞
x x
X xn
We use the Maclaurin series for e , i.e. e = . Substituting in x2 (for x), we
n=0
n!
∞ ∞ ∞
! ∞
2 n 2n 2n
2
X (x ) X x 2
X x X x2n+1
obtain ex = = x
. Thus, f (x) = xe = x = .
n=0
n! n=0
n! n=0
n! n=0
n!
 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3 9

Problem 9. The following is the fifth order Taylor polynomial of the function f (x)
at a = 2
1 1 1
T5 (x) = 2 − (x − 2) + (x − 2)2 − 2(x − 2)3 + (x − 2)4 + 10(x − 2)5
2 3 2
(4)
What is f (2)?
• 12
1
• 2

• 48

• 2

• 24

Solution:
f (4) (2)
The coefficient of the term (x−2)4 in the fifth order Taylor polynomial is =
4!
1 1 24
. Thus, f (4) (2) = 2
· 4! = 2
= 12.
2
10 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3

Problem 10. Which of the following is a graph of the parametric curve defined by
t sin(t) t cos(t)
x=− , y=
π π
for 0 ≤ t ≤ 3π?
Solution:

Plotting a few points in a table, we get

t x y
0 0 0
π 1
2
− 2
0
3π 0 −3
So, the curve should start at (0, 0), end at (0, −3), and pass through the point
(− 21 , 0). The only choice that does this is
 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3 11

∞
X  
n
Problem 11. Consider the series (−1) ln(n + 1) − ln(n) . Fill in the following
n=1
blanks and be sure to show your work. In each case indicate which test you are
using and show how it is applied.
• Is the series absolutely convergent? (YES or NO)
Solution:
To check if the series is aboslutely convergent, we take the absolute value of the
X∞  
inside to get ln(n + 1) − ln(n) . We notice that this series is telescoping, and
n=1
the partial sums are
sn = (ln(2) − ln(1)) + (ln(3) − ln(2)) + (ln(4) − ln(3)) + · · · + (ln(n + 1) − ln(n))
= − ln(1) + ln(n + 1) = ln(n + 1).
∞ 
X 
Therefore, limn→∞ sn = limn→∞ ln(n+1) = ∞. So, the series ln(n+1)−ln(n)
n=1
is divergent, which shows that the original series is not absolutely convergent.

• Is the series convergent? (YES or NO)

Hint: Laws of logarithms may help here.

Solution:
We use the alternating series test with
   
n+1 1
bn = ln(n + 1) − ln(n) = ln = ln 1 + .
n n
• We have   
d 1 1 −1 −1
ln 1 + = 1 · 2
= 2 ,
dx x 1+ x x x +x
which is negative for all x ≥ 1. Therefore, the sequence {bn } is decreasing.
• Also,  
1
lim bn = lim ln 1 + = ln(1) = 0.
n→∞ n→∞ n
X∞  
n
Therefore, by the alternating series test, the series (−1) ln(n + 1) − ln(n) is
n=1
convergent.
12 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3

Problem 12. Find the radius of convergence and interval of convergence of the
following power series:
∞
X (−1)n (x + 1)n
√ .
n=1
2n n
Show all of your work for credit.
Solution:
cn (x − a)n
P
We recall the general form of a power series centred at a:
Now, let’s express the series we have in this form:
∞ ∞
X (−1)n (x + 1)n X (−1)n
√
n n
= √ (x − (−1))n
n n
n=1
2 n=1
2
n
In this form, we see a = −1 and cn = (−1)
√ . So, before we do any tests, we know
2n n
our series converges at x = a = −1. Now, for x 6= −1, we apply the Ratio Test:
√
 (−1)n+1 (x + 1)n+1 n
   
 cn+1  2 n 
lim   = lim  √ n

n→∞ cn  n→∞  2n+1 n + 1 (−1)n (x + 1) 
 √   
 (x + 1) n  x + 1
= lim  √ = 
n→∞ 2 n + 1  2 
 
So, the Ratio Test guarantees us (abs.) convergence if  x+1 2
 < 1, which is equiva-
lent to |x − (−1)| < 2. i.e., we have convergence on (−3, 1), and R = 2. Recall, that
the Ratio Test is inconclusive when we get the above limit = 1. i.e. when |x + 1| = 2,
which occurs when x = −3 and x = 1 (boundary terms). We must check these indi-
vidually:
x = −3:
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
X (−1)n (−3 + 1)n X (−1)n (−2)n X 1 X 1
n
√ = n
√ = √ = 1/2
n=1
2 n n=1
2 n n=1
n n=1 n
Which we know diverges by the p-test (p = 21 ≤ 1).
x = 1:
∞ ∞ ∞
X (−1)n (1 + 1)n X (−1)n (2)n X (−1)n
√
n n
= √
n n
= √
n=1
2 n=1
2 n=1
n
Which we recognize as an alternating series with bn = √1n . We see: limn→∞ √1n = 0
√ √ 1
and, n + 1 > n ⇒ √n+1 < √1n Hence, by the Alternating Series Test, the series
converges.
We conclude, the Interval of Convergence is (−3, 1].
 SOLUTIONS TO EXAM 3 13

Problem 13. (a) Give the Taylor series expansion for sin (x5 ) about 0.
(Use Σ notation and then write out the first three non-zero terms.) Solution: Recall
the Maclaurin Series (Taylor Series around 0) expansion for sin(y):
P∞ (−1)n 2n+1 3 5
sin(y) = n=0 (2n+1)! y = y − y3! + y5! − ...
Hence,
P∞ (−1)n (−1)n
= ∞
15 25
sin(x5 ) = 5 2n+1 10n+5
= x5 − x3! + x5! − ...
P
n=0 (2n+1)! (x ) n=0 (2n+1)! x

R 0.1
(b) Use your answer from part (a) to write the definite integral 0 sin(x5 ) dx as the
sum of a series (using Σ notation). Solution:
Using (a), and recalling that we may integrate power series term by term inside
their radius of convergence, we have:

∞
! ∞ Z 0.1
0.1 0.1
(−1)n (−1)n
Z Z X X 
5 10n+5 10n+5
sin(x )dx = x dx = x dx
0 0 n=0
(2n + 1)! n=0 0 (2n + 1)!

∞  Z 0.1 ∞ 0.1 !
(−1)n (−1)n x10n+6 
X  X
10n+5
= x dx =
n=0
(2n + 1)! 0 n=0
(2n + 1)! (10n + 6) 0
∞  ∞  1 10n+6  ∞  10n+6
(−1)n (0.1)10n+6 (−1)n ( 10 (−1)n

X X ) X 1 1
= = =
n=0
(2n + 1)! 10n + 6 n=0
(2n + 1)! 10n + 6 n=0
(2n + 1)! 10n + 6 10

(c) Use your answer from part (a) to compute the following limit
sin (x5 ) − x5
lim
x→0 x15
Solution:
Using part (a):

x15 x25
sin(x5 ) = x5 − + − ...
3! 5!
sin(x5 ) − x5 1 x10
⇒ = − + ...
x15 3! 5!
sin(x5 ) − x5 1 1
⇒ lim 15
= − + 0 + ... = −
x→0 x 3! 6