Analysis I

Sheet 6 — MT22
Convergence of series, Tests for Convergence

P
1. For the following choices of ak , use the indicated test to establish whether or not ak
converges.
(2k + 1)(3k − 1)
(a) (Comparison Test, limit form)
(k + 1)(k + 2)2
1
(b) 1 (Comparison Test, limit form)
kkk
k!
(c) k (Ratio Test)
k
 −1
2k
(d) (4 − 10−23 )k (Ratio Test)
k
(e) 2−k k if k is of the form 2m and 0 otherwise (Ratio Test)

For each of these series, write brief comments on possible alternative approaches.
X 1
2. (a) Use the Integral Test to prove that converges if p > 1 and diverges if
k⩾3
k(log k)p
0 < p ⩽ 1.
(b) For which positive values of α (α not assumed to be a natural number) does
X k −α
converge?
1 + α−k
P
3. For which of the following choices of ak is ak convergent? Justify your answers (using
standard convergence tests where appropriate).

k + 2k 1 1 sinh k
(a) ; (b) sin ; (c) ;
2k k k k 2k


1/k 2 2k
if k is odd,

k−1 log k 1
(d)(−1) √ ; (e) (f) 1 − .
k −(log k)/k 2 if k is even; k

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 Analysis I: Sheet 6 — MT22

ck xk , establish which of the following is true:

P
4. For each of the following power series
|ck xk | converges for all x ∈ R; (ii) |ck xk | converges only for x = 0; (iii) |ck xk |
P P P
(i)
converges for |x| < R and diverges for |x| > R for some R ∈ R>0 , which you should
determine.
X X xk X
2020 k
(a) k x ; (b) ; (c) 2k xk! ;
2k k 4

X X 1 2k X
(d) k k xk ; (e) x ; (f) sin(k)xk .
(4k)!

ck xk converges?
P
What can you say in each case about the values of x for which
[The aim of this problem is to give you experience relating to the concept of the radius of
a convergence of a power series. The idea is that you use standard convergence tests for
series to study these power series, not that you should use results from the last section
of the course or elsewhere.]

5. Give either a justification or a counterexample for each of the following statements about
real series.
P
(a) If kak → 0 as k → ∞ then ak converges.
ak+1 P
(b) If lim exists and equals L, where L > 1, then ak diverges.
k→∞ ak

ak converges and abkk → 1 then

P P
(c) If bk converges.

6. (Optional, or for use for consolidation later.)

X X
(a) Prove that the series (log k)−k and (log k)− log k converge.
k⩾2 k⩾2
X
(b) Prove that for any constant α > 0, the series (log k)−α diverges.
k⩾2

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