714 |||| CHAPTER 11 INFINITE SEQUENCES AND SERIES

31. Is the 50th partial sum s50 of the alternating series

; 21–22 Calculate the first 10 partial sums of the series and graph
both the sequence of terms and the sequence of partial sums on 冘⬁n苷1 共⫺1兲 n⫺1兾n
an overestimate or an underestimate of the
the same screen. Estimate the error in using the 10th partial sum total sum? Explain.
to approximate the total sum.
⬁ ⬁ 32–34 For what values of p is each series convergent?
共⫺1兲 n⫺1 共⫺1兲 n⫺1
21. 兺 n 3兾2
22. 兺 n3 ⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫺1
n苷1 n苷1
32. 兺
n苷1 np
⬁ ⬁
23–26 Show that the series is convergent. How many terms of 共⫺1兲 n 共ln n兲 p
the series do we need to add in order to find the sum to the indi-
33. 兺
n苷1 n⫹p
34. 兺 共⫺1兲
n苷2
n⫺1
n
cated accuracy?
⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫹1
23. 兺 ( ⱍ error ⱍ ⬍ 0.00005) 35. Show that the series 冘 共⫺1兲 n⫺1bn , where bn 苷 1兾n if n is odd
n苷1 n6
and bn 苷 1兾n 2 if n is even, is divergent. Why does the Alter-
⬁
共⫺1兲 n nating Series Test not apply?
24. 兺 ( ⱍ error ⱍ ⬍ 0.0001)
n苷1 n 5n 36. Use the following steps to show that
⬁
共⫺1兲 n
25. 兺 ( ⱍ error ⱍ ⬍ 0.000005) ⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫺1
n苷0 10 n n! 兺
n苷1 n
苷 ln 2
⬁
26. 兺 共⫺1兲 n⫺1
ne ⫺n
( ⱍ error ⱍ ⬍ 0.01) Let h n and sn be the partial sums of the harmonic and alter-
n苷1
nating harmonic series.
(a) Show that s2n 苷 h2n ⫺ hn .
27–30 Approximate the sum of the series correct to four (b) From Exercise 40 in Section 11.3 we have
decimal places. hn ⫺ ln n l ␥ as n l ⬁
⬁ ⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫹1
共⫺1兲 nn
27. 兺
n苷1 n5
28. 兺
n苷1 8n
and therefore
h2n ⫺ ln共2n兲 l ␥ as n l ⬁
⬁ ⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫺1 n 2 共⫺1兲 n
29. 兺
n苷1 10 n
30. 兺
n苷1 3 n n! Use these facts together with part (a) to show that
s2n l ln 2 as n l ⬁.

11.6 ABSOLUTE CONVERGENCE AND THE RATIO AND ROOT TESTS

Given any series 冘 a n , we can consider the corresponding series

⬁

兺 ⱍa ⱍ 苷 ⱍa ⱍ ⫹ ⱍa ⱍ ⫹ ⱍa ⱍ ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈
n苷1
n 1 2 3

whose terms are the absolute values of the terms of the original series.

N We have convergence tests for series with 1 DEFINITION A series 冘 a n is called absolutely convergent if the series of
positive terms and for alternating series. But 冘
absolute values ⱍ a n ⱍ is convergent.
what if the signs of the terms switch back and
forth irregularly? We will see in Example 3 that
the idea of absolute convergence sometimes
Notice that if 冘 a n is a series with positive terms, then a n 苷 a n and so absolute con-
ⱍ ⱍ
helps in such cases.
vergence is the same as convergence in this case.

EXAMPLE 1 The series

⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫺1 1 1 1
兺
n苷1 n 2 苷 1 ⫺ 2 ⫹ 2 ⫺ 2 ⫹ ⭈⭈⭈
2 3 4
 SECTION 11.6 ABSOLUTE CONVERGENCE AND THE RATIO AND ROOT TESTS |||| 715

is absolutely convergent because

兺
⬁

n苷1
冟 共⫺1兲 n⫺1
n 2
⬁

冟
1 1 1 1
苷 兺 2 苷 1 ⫹ 2 ⫹ 2 ⫹ 2 ⫹ ⭈⭈⭈
n苷1 n 2 3 4
is a convergent p-series ( p 苷 2). M

EXAMPLE 2 We know that the alternating harmonic series

⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫺1 1 1 1
兺
n苷1 n
苷 1 ⫺ ⫹ ⫺ ⫹ ⭈⭈⭈
2 3 4
is convergent (see Example 1 in Section 11.5), but it is not absolutely convergent
because the corresponding series of absolute values is

n苷1
⬁

兺 冟 共⫺1兲 n⫺1
n
⬁

冟
1
n苷1 n
1
2
1
3
1
苷 兺 苷 1 ⫹ ⫹ ⫹ ⫹ ⭈⭈⭈
4
which is the harmonic series ( p-series with p 苷 1) and is therefore divergent. M

2 DEFINITION A series 冘 a n is called conditionally convergent if it is conver-

gent but not absolutely convergent.

Example 2 shows that the alternating harmonic series is conditionally convergent. Thus
it is possible for a series to be convergent but not absolutely convergent. However, the next
theorem shows that absolute convergence implies convergence.

3 THEOREM If a series 冘 a n is absolutely convergent, then it is convergent.

PROOF Observe that the inequality

ⱍ ⱍ
0 艋 an ⫹ an 艋 2 an ⱍ ⱍ
is true because a n is either a n or ⫺a n . If 冘 a n is absolutely convergent, then 冘 a n is
ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
convergent, so 冘 2 a n is convergent. Therefore, by the Comparison Test, 冘 (a n ⫹ a n )
ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
is convergent. Then
兺 a n 苷 兺 (a n ⫹ a n ) ⫺ 兺 a n ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
N Figure 1 shows the graphs of the terms a n and
partial sums sn of the series in Example 3. Notice is the difference of two convergent series and is therefore convergent. M
that the series is not alternating but has positive
and negative terms. V EXAMPLE 3 Determine whether the series
⬁
cos n cos 1 cos 2 cos 3
0.5 兺
n苷1 n2
苷
12
⫹
22
⫹
32
⫹ ⭈⭈⭈
兵sn 其
is convergent or divergent.
SOLUTION This series has both positive and negative terms, but it is not alternating.
(The first term is positive, the next three are negative, and the following three are posi-
兵a n 其
tive: The signs change irregularly.) We can apply the Comparison Test to the series of
0 n absolute values

FIGURE 1
兺
⬁

n苷1
cos n
n 2 苷
⬁

兺
n苷1
冟 冟cos n
n2
ⱍ ⱍ
716 |||| CHAPTER 11 INFINITE SEQUENCES AND SERIES

ⱍ ⱍ
Since cos n 艋 1 for all n, we have

ⱍ cos n ⱍ 艋 1
n2 n2

We know that 冘 1兾n 2 is convergent ( p-series with p 苷 2) and therefore 冘 cos n 兾n 2 is

ⱍ ⱍ
convergent by the Comparison Test. Thus the given series 冘 共cos n兲兾n 2 is absolutely
convergent and therefore convergent by Theorem 3. M

The following test is very useful in determining whether a given series is absolutely
convergent.

THE RATIO TEST

(i) If lim
nl⬁
冟 冟
a n⫹1
an
⬁
苷 L ⬍ 1, then the series 兺 a n is absolutely convergent
n苷1

(and therefore convergent).

(ii) If lim
nl⬁
冟 冟
a n⫹1
an
苷 L ⬎ 1 or lim
nl⬁
a n⫹1
an 冟 冟 ⬁
苷 ⬁, then the series 兺 a n
n苷1

is divergent.

(iii) If lim
nl⬁
冟 冟
a n⫹1
an
苷 1, the Ratio Test is inconclusive; that is, no conclusion can be
drawn about the convergence or divergence of 冘 a n.

PROOF
(i) The idea is to compare the given series with a convergent geometric series. Since
L ⬍ 1, we can choose a number r such that L ⬍ r ⬍ 1. Since

lim
nl⬁
冟 冟
a n⫹1
an
苷L and L⬍r

ⱍ ⱍ
the ratio a n⫹1兾a n will eventually be less than r ; that is, there exists an integer N
such that

冟 冟
a n⫹1
an
⬍r whenever n 艌 N

or, equivalently,

4 ⱍa ⱍ ⬍ ⱍa ⱍr
n⫹1 n whenever n 艌 N

Putting n successively equal to N , N ⫹ 1, N ⫹ 2, . . . in (4), we obtain

ⱍa ⱍ ⬍ ⱍa ⱍr
N⫹1 N

ⱍa ⱍ ⬍ ⱍa ⱍr ⬍ ⱍa ⱍr
N⫹2 N⫹1 N
2

ⱍa ⱍ ⬍ ⱍa ⱍr ⬍ ⱍa ⱍr
N⫹3 N⫹2 N
3

and, in general,

5 ⱍa ⱍ ⬍ ⱍa ⱍr
N⫹k N
k
for all k 艌 1
 SECTION 11.6 ABSOLUTE CONVERGENCE AND THE RATIO AND ROOT TESTS |||| 717

Now the series

⬁

兺 ⱍa ⱍr
k苷1
N
k
ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
苷 aN r ⫹ aN r 2 ⫹ aN r 3 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ ⱍ ⱍ
is convergent because it is a geometric series with 0 ⬍ r ⬍ 1. So the inequality (5),
together with the Comparison Test, shows that the series
⬁ ⬁

n苷N⫹1
兺 ⱍ ⱍ an 苷 兺 ⱍa ⱍ 苷 ⱍa ⱍ ⫹ ⱍa ⱍ ⫹ ⱍa ⱍ ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈
k苷1
N⫹k N⫹1 N⫹2 N⫹3

is also convergent. It follows that the series 冘⬁n苷1 a n is convergent. (Recall that a finite
ⱍ ⱍ
number of terms doesn’t affect convergence.) Therefore 冘 a n is absolutely convergent.
ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
(ii) If a n⫹1兾a n l L ⬎ 1 or a n⫹1兾a n l ⬁, then the ratio a n⫹1兾a n will eventually be ⱍ ⱍ
greater than 1; that is, there exists an integer N such that

冟 冟a n⫹1
an
⬎1 whenever n 艌 N

ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
This means that a n⫹1 ⬎ a n whenever n 艌 N and so
lim a n 苷 0
nl⬁

Therefore 冘 a n diverges by the Test for Divergence. M

NOTE Part (iii) of the Ratio Test says that if lim n l ⬁ a n⫹1兾a n 苷 1, the test gives no ⱍ ⱍ
information. For instance, for the convergent series 冘 1兾n 2 we have
1

冟 冟
a n⫹1
an
苷
共n ⫹ 1兲2
1
苷
n2
共n ⫹ 1兲2
苷
冉 冊
1

1⫹
1 2 l1 as n l ⬁

n2 n

whereas for the divergent series 冘 1兾n we have

冟 冟 a n⫹1
an
苷
n⫹1
1
苷
n
n⫹1
苷
1

1⫹
1
l1 as n l ⬁

n n

Therefore, if lim n l ⬁ a n⫹1兾a n 苷 1, the series 冘 a n might converge or it might diverge. In

ⱍ ⱍ
this case the Ratio Test fails and we must use some other test.

⬁
n3
EXAMPLE 4 Test the series 兺
n苷1
共⫺1兲n
3n
for absolute convergence.

N ESTIMATING SUMS SOLUTION We use the Ratio Test with a n 苷 共⫺1兲n n 3兾3 n:
In the last three sections we used various meth-
ods for estimating the sum of a series—the
共⫺1兲n⫹1共n ⫹ 1兲3

冟 冟 | |
method depended on which test was used to
prove convergence. What about series for which a n⫹1 3 n⫹1 共n ⫹ 1兲3 3 n
苷 苷 ⴢ 3
the Ratio Test works? There are two possibilities: an 共⫺1兲 nn 3
3 n⫹1 n
If the series happens to be an alternating series, n
as in Example 4, then it is best to use the meth- 3
ods of Section 11.5. If the terms are all positive,
then use the special methods explained in
Exercise 34.
苷
1
3
冉 冊 冉 冊
n⫹1
n
3
苷
1
3
1⫹
1
n
3
l
1
3
⬍1
718 |||| CHAPTER 11 INFINITE SEQUENCES AND SERIES

Thus, by the Ratio Test, the given series is absolutely convergent and therefore
convergent. M
⬁
nn
V EXAMPLE 5 Test the convergence of the series
n苷1 n!
. 兺
SOLUTION Since the terms a n 苷 n n兾n! are positive, we don’t need the absolute value signs.

a n⫹1 共n ⫹ 1兲n⫹1 n! 共n ⫹ 1兲共n ⫹ 1兲n n!

苷 ⴢ n 苷 ⴢ n
an 共n ⫹ 1兲! n 共n ⫹ 1兲n! n

苷 冉 冊 冉 冊
n⫹1
n
n
苷 1⫹
1
n
n
le as n l ⬁

(See Equation 3.6.6.) Since e ⬎ 1, the given series is divergent by the Ratio Test. M

NOTE Although the Ratio Test works in Example 5, an easier method is to use the Test
for Divergence. Since
nn n ⴢ n ⴢ n ⴢ ⭈⭈⭈ ⴢ n
an 苷 苷 艌n
n! 1 ⴢ 2 ⴢ 3 ⴢ ⭈⭈⭈ ⴢ n

it follows that a n does not approach 0 as n l ⬁. Therefore the given series is divergent
by the Test for Divergence.
The following test is convenient to apply when n th powers occur. Its proof is similar to
the proof of the Ratio Test and is left as Exercise 37.

THE ROOT TEST

⬁
n
(i) If lim s
nl⬁
ⱍ ⱍ
a n 苷 L ⬍ 1, then the series 兺a
n苷1
n is absolutely convergent
(and therefore convergent).
⬁
n
(ii) If lim s
nl⬁
ⱍ ⱍ
a n 苷 L ⬎ 1 or lim s
n

nl⬁
ⱍ ⱍ
a n 苷 ⬁, then the series 兺a
n苷1
n is divergent.

n
(iii) If lim s
nl⬁
ⱍ ⱍ
a n 苷 1, the Root Test is inconclusive.

n
If lim n l ⬁ s ⱍ ⱍ
a n 苷 1, then part (iii) of the Root Test says that the test gives no infor-
mation. The series 冘 a n could converge or diverge. (If L 苷 1 in the Ratio Test, don’t try the
Root Test because L will again be 1. And if L 苷 1 in the Root Test, don’t try the Ratio Test
because it will fail too.)

V EXAMPLE 6 Test the convergence of the series

⬁

兺
n苷1
冉 2n ⫹ 3
3n ⫹ 2
冊
n
.

冉 冊
SOLUTION
2n ⫹ 3 n
an 苷
3n ⫹ 2
3
2⫹
2n ⫹ 3 n 2
n
s ⱍ ⱍ
an 苷
3n ⫹ 2
苷
2
l ⬍1
3
3⫹
n
Thus the given series converges by the Root Test. M
 SECTION 11.6 ABSOLUTE CONVERGENCE AND THE RATIO AND ROOT TESTS |||| 719

REARRANGEMENTS

The question of whether a given convergent series is absolutely convergent or condi-

tionally convergent has a bearing on the question of whether infinite sums behave like
finite sums.
If we rearrange the order of the terms in a finite sum, then of course the value of the
sum remains unchanged. But this is not always the case for an infinite series. By a
rearrangement of an infinite series 冘 a n we mean a series obtained by simply changing
the order of the terms. For instance, a rearrangement of 冘 a n could start as follows:
a 1 ⫹ a 2 ⫹ a 5 ⫹ a 3 ⫹ a 4 ⫹ a 15 ⫹ a 6 ⫹ a 7 ⫹ a 20 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈
It turns out that
if 冘 a n is an absolutely convergent series with sum s,
then any rearrangement of 冘 a n has the same sum s.
However, any conditionally convergent series can be rearranged to give a different sum. To
illustrate this fact let’s consider the alternating harmonic series
6 1 ⫺ 12 ⫹ 13 ⫺ 14 ⫹ 15 ⫺ 16 ⫹ 17 ⫺ 18 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ 苷 ln 2
1
(See Exercise 36 in Section 11.5.) If we multiply this series by 2 , we get
⫺ 14 ⫹ 16 ⫺ 18 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ 苷 12 ln 2
1
2

Inserting zeros between the terms of this series, we have

N Adding these zeros does not affect the sum of
the series; each term in the sequence of partial 7 0 ⫹ 12 ⫹ 0 ⫺ 14 ⫹ 0 ⫹ 16 ⫹ 0 ⫺ 18 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ 苷 12 ln 2
sums is repeated, but the limit is the same.
Now we add the series in Equations 6 and 7 using Theorem 11.2.8:
8 1 ⫹ 13 ⫺ 12 ⫹ 15 ⫹ 17 ⫺ 14 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ 苷 32 ln 2
Notice that the series in (8) contains the same terms as in (6), but rearranged so that one
negative term occurs after each pair of positive terms. The sums of these series, however,
are different. In fact, Riemann proved that
if 冘 a n is a conditionally convergent series and r is any real number what-
soever, then there is a rearrangement of 冘 a n that has a sum equal to r.
A proof of this fact is outlined in Exercise 40.

11.6 EXERCISES

1. What can you say about the series 冘 a n in each of the following ⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫹1 ⬁
共⫺1兲 n
cases? 5. 兺 4
n
6. 兺 n4

冟 冟 冟 冟
n苷1 s n苷1

a n⫹1 a n⫹1
(a) lim 苷8 (b) lim 苷 0.8 ⬁ ⬁
n!
nl⬁ an nl⬁ an 7. 兺 k( ) 2 k
8. 兺
冟 冟
3
k苷1 n苷1 100 n
a n⫹1
(c) lim 苷1 ⬁ ⬁
nl⬁ an 共1.1兲 n n
9. 兺 共⫺1兲
n苷1
n
n4
10. 兺 共⫺1兲
n苷1
n
sn 3 ⫹ 2
2–28 Determine whether the series is absolutely convergent,
conditionally convergent, or divergent. ⬁ ⬁
共⫺1兲n e 1兾n sin 4n
⬁
n2 11. 兺 n3
12. 兺 4n
2. 兺
n苷1 2n
n苷1 n苷1

⬁ ⬁
10 n n 2 2n
3.
⬁

兺
共⫺10兲 n
4.
⬁

兺 共⫺1兲 n⫺1 2n 13. 兺

n苷1 共n ⫹ 1兲4 2n⫹1
14. 兺 共⫺1兲
n苷1
n⫹1
n!
n苷0 n! n苷1 n4