SECTION 11.

7 STRATEGY FOR TESTING SERIES |||| 721

11.7 STRATEGY FOR TESTING SERIES

We now have several ways of testing a series for convergence or divergence; the problem
is to decide which test to use on which series. In this respect, testing series is similar to
integrating functions. Again there are no hard and fast rules about which test to apply to a
given series, but you may find the following advice of some use.
It is not wise to apply a list of the tests in a specific order until one finally works. That
would be a waste of time and effort. Instead, as with integration, the main strategy is to
classify the series according to its form.

1. If the series is of the form 冘 1兾n p, it is a p-series, which we know to be convergent

if p ⬎ 1 and divergent if p 艋 1.
2. If the series has the form 冘 ar n⫺1 or 冘 ar n, it is a geometric series, which converges
ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
if r ⬍ 1 and diverges if r 艌 1. Some preliminary algebraic manipulation may
be required to bring the series into this form.
3. If the series has a form that is similar to a p-series or a geometric series, then
one of the comparison tests should be considered. In particular, if a n is a rational
function or an algebraic function of n (involving roots of polynomials), then the
series should be compared with a p-series. Notice that most of the series in Exer-
cises 11.4 have this form. (The value of p should be chosen as in Section 11.4 by
keeping only the highest powers of n in the numerator and denominator.) The com-
parison tests apply only to series with positive terms, but if 冘 a n has some negative
terms, then we can apply the Comparison Test to 冘 a n and test for absolute
ⱍ ⱍ
convergence.
4. If you can see at a glance that lim n l ⬁ a n 苷 0, then the Test for Divergence should
be used.
5. If the series is of the form 冘 共⫺1兲n⫺1bn or 冘 共⫺1兲nbn , then the Alternating Series
Test is an obvious possibility.
6. Series that involve factorials or other products (including a constant raised to the
nth power) are often conveniently tested using the Ratio Test. Bear in mind that
ⱍ ⱍ
a n⫹1兾a n l 1 as n l ⬁ for all p-series and therefore all rational or algebraic
functions of n. Thus the Ratio Test should not be used for such series.
7. If a n is of the form 共bn 兲n, then the Root Test may be useful.

8. If a n 苷 f 共n兲, where x1⬁ f 共x兲 dx is easily evaluated, then the Integral Test is effective
(assuming the hypotheses of this test are satisfied).

In the following examples we don’t work out all the details but simply indicate which
tests should be used.

⬁
n⫺1
V EXAMPLE 1 兺
n苷1 2n ⫹ 1
Since a n l 苷 0 as n l ⬁, we should use the Test for Divergence.
1
2 M

⬁
sn 3 ⫹ 1
EXAMPLE 2 兺
n苷1 3n ⫹ 4n 2 ⫹ 2
3

Since a n is an algebraic function of n, we compare the given series with a p-series. The
722 |||| CHAPTER 11 INFINITE SEQUENCES AND SERIES

comparison series for the Limit Comparison Test is 冘 bn , where

sn 3 n 3兾2 1
bn 苷 苷 苷 3兾2 M
3n 3 3n 3 3n
⬁
V EXAMPLE 3 兺 ne
n苷1
⫺n 2

Since the integral x1⬁ xe⫺x dx is easily evaluated, we use the Integral Test. The Ratio Test
2

also works. M

⬁
n3
EXAMPLE 4 兺 共⫺1兲
n苷1
n
n ⫹1
4

Since the series is alternating, we use the Alternating Series Test. M

⬁
2k
V EXAMPLE 5
k苷1 k!
兺
Since the series involves k!, we use the Ratio Test. M

⬁
1
EXAMPLE 6 兺
n苷1 2 ⫹ 3
n

Since the series is closely related to the geometric series 冘 1兾3 n, we use the Comparison
Test. M

11.7 EXERCISES

1–38 Test the series for convergence or divergence. ⬁ ⬁

共⫺2兲2n sn 2 ⫺ 1
1.
⬁

兺
1
2.
⬁

兺
共2n ⫹ 1兲 n 21. 兺
n苷1 nn
22. 兺
n苷1 n 3 ⫹ 2n 2 ⫹ 5
n苷1 n ⫹ 3n n苷1 n 2n
⬁ ⬁ ⬁ ⬁
n n
3. 兺 共⫺1兲 n
n⫹2
4. 兺 共⫺1兲 n
n ⫹2
2
23. 兺 tan共1兾n兲
n苷1
24. 兺 n sin共1兾n兲
n苷1
n苷1 n苷1

⬁ 2 n⫺1 ⬁
n 2 1
兺 兺
⬁ ⬁
n! n2 ⫹ 1
5.
n苷1 共⫺5兲 n
6.
n苷1 2n ⫹ 1 25. 兺
n苷1 en
2 26. 兺
n苷1 5n
⬁ ⬁
1 2 k k!
7. 兺 8. 兺 ⬁
k ln k ⬁
e 1兾n
n苷2 nsln n k苷1 共k ⫹ 2兲! 27. 兺
k苷1 共k ⫹ 1兲3
28. 兺
n苷1 n2
⬁ ⬁
9. 兺k 2 ⫺k
e 10. 兺ne 2 ⫺n 3
⬁
共⫺1兲 n ⬁
sj
兺 兺 共⫺1兲
k苷1 n苷1 j
29. 30.
⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫹1 ⬁ n苷1 cosh n j苷1 j⫹5
11. 兺 n ln n
12. 兺 sin n ⬁ ⬁
n苷2 n苷1
5k 共n!兲 n
⬁ n
3 n 2 ⬁
sin 2n
31. 兺 3 ⫹ 4k
k 32. 兺 n 4n
兺 兺
k苷1 n苷1
13. 14.
n苷1 n! n苷1 1 ⫹ 2n
⬁ ⬁
sin共1兾n兲 1
⬁
n! ⬁
n2 ⫹ 1 33. 兺 34. 兺
15. 兺 2 ⴢ 5 ⴢ 8 ⴢ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ ⴢ 共3n ⫹ 2兲
16. 兺 n3 ⫹ 1
n苷1 sn n苷1 n ⫹ n cos2 n

冉 冊
n苷0 n苷1
⬁ n2 ⬁
n 1
兺 兺
⬁ ⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫺1
17. 兺
n苷1
共⫺1兲 2 n 1兾n
18. 兺
n苷2 sn ⫺ 1
35.
n苷1 n⫹1
36.
n苷2 共ln n兲ln n
⬁ ⬁ ⬁ ⬁
ln n k⫹5
兺 共⫺1兲 兺 兺 (s2 兺 (s2
n
19. n
20. 37. n
⫺ 1) 38. n
⫺ 1)
n苷1 sn k苷1 5k n苷1 n苷1