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Convergence Tests For Series
Convergence Tests For Series
Convergence Tests For Series
Geometric Series
∞ 𝑎𝑎
If |𝑟𝑟| < 1, the series converges to
𝑛𝑛−1 1−𝑟𝑟
� 𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑟 If |𝑟𝑟| ≥ 1, then the series diverges
𝑛𝑛=0
Integral Test
𝑓𝑓(𝑛𝑛) must be continuous, positive, and decreasing
∞ ∞
If ∫𝑐𝑐 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 converges, then the series converges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 where 𝑐𝑐 ≥ 0 and 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑛𝑛) for all 𝑛𝑛
∞
If ∫𝑐𝑐 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 diverges, then the series diverges
𝑛𝑛=𝑐𝑐
p-series
∞
1 If p > 1, then the series converges
� If p ≤ 1, then the series diverges
𝑛𝑛𝑝𝑝
𝑛𝑛=1
Comparison Test
If ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 converges, then ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 converges
If ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 diverges, then ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 diverges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and � 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 where 0 ≤ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 ≤ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 for all 𝑛𝑛
Ratio Test
If L < 1, then the series converges absolutely
|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛+1 | If L > 1 or L is infinite, then the series diverges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 with lim = 𝐿𝐿 If L = 1, then the test is inconclusive
𝑛𝑛→∞ |𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 |
Root Test
If L < 1, then the series converges absolutely
𝑛𝑛 If L > 1 or L is infinite, then the series diverges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 with lim �𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝐿𝐿 If L = 1, then the test is inconclusive
𝑛𝑛→∞
Flowchart for Convergence Tests for Series
Test for Divergence
Does lim 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 0?
𝑛𝑛→∞ No ∑an Diverges
Yes
P-Series ∑an Converges
Does an = 1/np, n ≥ 1? Yes Yes
Is p > 1
No
No ∑an Diverges
Geometric Series
∞ 𝑎𝑎
Does an = arn-1, n ≥ 1 Yes Is |r| < 1? Yes � 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 =
𝑛𝑛=1 1 − 𝑟𝑟
No
No ∑an Diverges
No
∞
Integral Test � 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑛𝑛=𝑎𝑎
Does an = f(n), f(x) is ∞ Yes
continuous, positive & Yes 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 � 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐?
decreasing on [a, ∞)?
𝑎𝑎
No ∑an Diverges
Ratio Test
∑an Abs. Conv.
𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim |𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛+1 /𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | ≠ 1? Yes 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim |𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛+1 /𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | < 1? Yes
𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑛𝑛→∞
No ∑an Diverges
Root Test
∑an Abs. Conv.
𝑛𝑛
𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim �|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | ≠ 1? 𝑛𝑛 Yes
𝑛𝑛→∞
Yes 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim �|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | < 1?
𝑛𝑛→∞
No ∑an Diverges
X
Goal: Determine whether an is absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent, or divergent.
n
P
Given an
P
yes Determine conv.
Is an a geom.
based on |r| or p.
or p-series?
Done
no
yes no
P
Consider |an |.
Int Test, CT, yes
Use other tests, Convergent?
LCT, Ratio Test, Done
say Int Test, CT,
Root Test
LCT.
no
yes
P
no Is an an alter-
Conclusive? no nating series?
yes yes
Done AST
(Note that the terms are all positive since 2n + cos n ≥ 2n − 1 > 0 for all n ≥ 1, and 3n2 + n + 1 > 0 for n ≥ 1. Because of
the “greatest terms” 2n and 3n2 in the numerator and denominator, respectively, we guess that the series is divergent.)
2n + cos n 2n − 1
2
≥ 2 for all n
3n + n + 1 3n + n + 1
∞
2n − 1 2n 2 X 2
(Direct CT would not work since we cannot say that 2
> 2
= , where is divergent. In fact,
3n + n + 1 3n 3n n=1
3n
2n − 1 2n
< 2 .)
3n2 + n + 1 3n
∞ ∞
X 2n − 1 X 1
We use LCT, comparing 2+n+1
with , which is divergent.
n=1
3n n=1
n
2n−1
3n2 +n+1 2n2 − n 2
lim 1 = lim = .
n→∞ n→∞ 3n2 + n + 1 3
n
∞ ∞
X 2n − 1 X 2n + cos n
By LCT, 2+n+1
is divergent. By CT, 2+n+1
is divergent.
n=1
3n n=1
3n
∞
X 2n
• (−1)n
n=1
3n + 5
(This is an alternating series, but the ratio test cannot be applied immediately because of the constant in the denominator.
But we can guess that the series is convergent.)
∞ X ∞
(−1)n 2n = 2n
X
Consider .
n=1
3n + 5 n=1
3n + 5
2n 2n
< n for all n.
3n + 5 3
∞
X 2n
Consider . (Use Ratio Test.)
n=1
3n
n
an+1
lim = lim 2n + 2 · 3 = lim 1 · 2n + 2 = 1 < 1
n→∞ an n→∞ 3 n+1 2n n→∞ 3 2n 3
∞ ∞ ∞
X 2n X 2n X 2n
By Ratio Test, n
is (absolutely) convergent. By CT, n
is convergent. Thus, (−1)n n is absolutely
n=1
3 n=1
3 +5 n=1
3 +5
convergent.
• Just because all terms involve factorials does not mean the Ratio Test is helpful.
∞
X (n − 1)!
n=1
(n + 1)!
∞ ∞ ∞
X (n − 1)! X 1 X 1
Instead, simplify first: = = 2
.
n=1
(n + 1)! n=1 n(n + 1) n=1 n + n
∞
X 1
Use CT or LCT to compare with 2
to conclude that the given series is (absolutely) convergent.
n=1
n