CHAPTER 5.

INFINITE SERIES

5.1 SEQUENCES
Sequence is defined by unending succession of numbers, called terms, in a certain order. A sequence
can be written as 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , ⋯ , 𝑎𝑛 .

5.1.1 Definition of a sequence

A infinite sequence is an unending succession of numbers. For example

1, 2, 3, 4, ⋯
1 1 1
, , ,⋯
2 4 8
1, −1, 1, −1, 1, −1, ⋯
𝑎1 = 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚, 𝑎2 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜 𝑜𝑛.
Definition:
A sequence is a function whose domain is a set of positive integers, denotes as {𝑎𝑛 }∞
𝑛=1 or simply
written as {𝑎𝑛 }.
1 2 3 4 𝑛 ∞
For example: , , , , ⋯ = { }
2 3 4 5 𝑛+1 𝑛−1

Example 1: Determine whether the sequence converges or diverges

2𝑛 ∞
a. {𝑛−1}
𝑛=1
Solution:

1 1 1
b. 1, 3 , 9 , 27 , ⋯

Solution:
5.1.2 Convergence of infinite sequence

An infinite sequence {𝑎𝑛 } converges if lim 𝑎𝑛 exist

𝑛→∞

Note:
i) If lim 𝑎𝑛 exist then {𝑎𝑛 } converges.
𝑛→∞
ii) If lim 𝑎𝑛 does not exist then {𝑎𝑛 } diverges.
𝑛→∞

Example 2: Determine if {𝑎𝑛 } converges or diverges.

1 ∞
a. { }
𝑛 𝑛=1

Solution:

∞
𝑛2 +1
b. { }
𝑛 𝑛=1

Solution:

5.2 INFINITE SERIES

An infinite series is the sum of infinitely many numbers, for example
1+2+3+4+⋯
1 1 1
1− + − + −⋯
2 3 4
Definition:
An infinite series is an expression of the form
∞

𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ⋯ = ∑ 𝑎𝑛
𝑛=1
Note:
i. A sequence is a succession: 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , ⋯ , 𝑎𝑛
𝑛 ∞ 1 2 3 4
{𝑎𝑛 } = { } = , , , ,⋯
2𝑛 + 1 𝑛 = 1 3 5 7 9
ii. A series is a sum of a succession: 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 + ⋯
∞ ∞
𝑛 1 2 3 4
∑ 𝑎𝑛 = ∑ = + + + + ⋯ = 𝑠𝑛
2𝑛 + 1 3 5 7 9
𝑛=1 𝑛=1

The convergence of a series can be tested by two methods:

1. Sum of a series
a. Geometric series
b. Telescoping series
2. Convergence test
a. Divergence test
b. Integral test
c. Comparison test
d. Limit comparison test
e. Root test
f. Ratio test
g. Alternating series test
5.3 Sum of infinite series
Consider
𝑆1 = 𝑎1
𝑆2 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2
𝑆3 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3
⋮
𝑆𝑘 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑘
The number 𝑆𝑘 is called the kth partial sum of the series. If the sequence 𝑆𝑘 converges to a limit S,
then the series is said to converge to the sum S.
Definition:

i. 𝑆𝑘 = ∑𝑘𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 , kth partial sum of a series

ii. 𝑆 = lim 𝑆𝑘 , sum of the series
𝑘→∞
5.2.1 Geometric series
A geometric series is one of the form

𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎 + 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 2 + 𝑎𝑟 3 + ⋯ 𝑎𝑟 𝑛−1 , 𝑎 ≠ 0
where each term is obtained by multiplying the preceding one by a constant r, called ratio. Geometric
series can simply be written as ∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑟 . For example:

2, 4, 8, 16, ⋯ 𝑎 = 2, 𝑟 = 2
4 4 4 4 4 1
, , , ,⋯ 𝑎 = ,𝑟 =
3 32 33 34 3 3
∞
1 𝑛+1 1 1
∑( ) 𝑎 = ,𝑟 =
3 9 3
1

∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑟 converges to S if |𝑟| < 1 and diverges if |𝑟| ≥ 1
𝑎
Sum 𝑆 = 1−𝑟,where a is the first term, r is the ratio

Example 3: Determine if the following series converges or diverges. If it converges, find its sum.
3 3𝑛
a. ∑∞
1 (2)
Solution:

22𝑛+1
b. ∑∞
1 3𝑛

Solution:
 2
c. ∑∞
1 5𝑛

Solution:

Example 4: Express 0.3333333 ⋯ as fraction.

Solution:
 Let ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 , ∑𝑛=1 𝑏𝑛 converges to 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 and c a constant.

i. ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑐𝑎𝑛 = 𝑐 ∑𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑐𝑆1 ii. ∑∞ ∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑏𝑛 = ∑𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 + ∑𝑛=1 𝑏𝑛
= 𝑆1 + 𝑆2

Let ∑∞ ∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges and ∑𝑛=1 𝑏𝑛 diverges. Then ∑𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑏𝑛 diverges.

Example 5: determine if the following series converges or diverges. If it converges, find its sum.
1 𝑛+1 1 3𝑛
a. ∑∞
1 (3) + (3)

Solution:

𝑒 𝑛
b. 0.212121 ⋯ + ∑∞
1 ( ) 3

Solution:
5.2.2 Telescoping series
A telescoping series is a series where the internal terms cancel each other. Usually a telescoping series
is in the form ∑∞
1 𝑎𝑛 − 𝑏𝑛 .

Step 1: Find partial sum, 𝑆𝑘

Step 2: Find sum, S
Step 3: Conclusion

Example 6: Determine if the following series converges or diverges. If it converges, find its sum.
1 1
a. ∑∞
𝑛=1 −
4𝑛 4 𝑛+1

Solution:
 1
b. ∑∞
𝑛=4 𝑛2 −5𝑛+6

Solution:
5.2.3 Harmonic series
1
Definition: A harmonic series ∑∞
1 𝑛 is a diverging series.

If the series ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges, then lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0
𝑛→∞

For example:
1 1 1 1
∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ⋯ is divergent series

Example 7: Show that each of the following series are divergent.

5
a. ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛

Solution:

1
b. ∑∞
𝑛=4 𝑛

Solution:

5.2.4 P-series
1 1 1 1
A p-series or hyper-harmonic series is an infinite series of the form 1 + 2𝑝 + 3𝑝 + 4𝑝 + ⋯ = ∑∞
1 𝑛𝑝

1
∑∞
𝑛=1 converges, if 𝑝 > 1 and diverges if 0 < 𝑝 ≤ 1
𝑛𝑝
Example 8: Determine if the series is convergent or divergent.
𝑛2
a. ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛4

Solution:

𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑛−𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑛
b. ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛

Solution:

cos(2𝜋𝑛)
c. ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛3

Solution:

1
d. If 𝑝 = 1, ∑∞
𝑘=1 𝐾𝑝

Solution: