CHAPTER 5.

INFINITE SERIES

5.4 ALTERNATING SERIES

Generally, the alternating series are as following:
∞

∑(−1)𝑛+1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 − 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 − 𝑎4 + ⋯
𝑛=1
∞

∑(−1)𝑛 𝑎𝑛 = −𝑎1 + 𝑎2 − 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 − ⋯
𝑛=1

For example, we have

∞

∑(−1)𝑛 (𝑛 + 1) = −2 + 3 − 4 + 5 − ⋯
𝑛=1

Alternating Series Test

An alternating series ∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=1(−1) 𝑎𝑛 converges if the following two conditions are satisfied:

a. 𝑎𝑛 > 𝑎𝑛+1
b. lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0
𝑛→∞

Note: 𝑎𝑛 > 𝑎𝑛+1 must be shown (algebraically or by using 𝑦 ′ < 0).

Example 1. Determine whether the series converges or diverges

1
a. ∑∞
𝑛=0(−1)
𝑛+1
𝑛

Solution:

(−1)𝑛 𝑛2
b. ∑∞
𝑛=0 𝑛2 +1

Solution:
5.4.1 Absolute and Conditional Convergence
The convergence test developed so far only applied to either positive series or alternating series. These
test cannot be applied to series that has mixed terms or terms do not strictly alternate. For example,
Consider that the series:
1 1 1 1 1
1+ − − + + +⋯
2 3 4 5 6
It is not an alternating series and also not also positive term series. Thus, does not fit into any categories
of the convergence test. In such cases, it is often useful to apply the following result.
a. ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 is called absolute convergent if ∑𝑛=1|𝑎𝑛 | converges.

b. ∑∞ ∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 is called conditionally convergent if ∑𝑛=1|𝑎𝑛 | diverges and ∑𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges

Step 1: ∑∞
𝑛=1|𝑎𝑛 |

Step 2: Test for convergence

Step 3: If it converges, then it converges absolutely, else use alternating series test (converges
conditionally)
1
Example 2. Show that ∑∞
𝑛=1(−1)
𝑛
converges absolutely.
𝑛2

Solution:

1
Example 3. Show that ∑∞
𝑛=1(−1)
𝑛
is a conditionally convergent.
𝑛

Solution:
Example 4. Determine if the following series is absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent or
divergent.
1
a. ∑∞
𝑛=1(−1)
𝑛
3𝑛−1

Solution:

1
b. ∑∞
𝑛=1(−1)
𝑛
𝑛2 +1

Solution:
 𝑛2 +3𝑛−1
c. ∑∞
𝑛=3(−1)
𝑛
𝑛3 −3𝑛2 +1

Solution:
5.5 POWER SERIES
In the previous section, we concentrated on series with constant terms. Now we will consider series
whose terms contain variables.
Definition: A power series is a series of the form
∞

∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑎0 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎1 𝑥 2 + 𝑎1 𝑥 3 + 𝑎1 𝑥 4 + ⋯
𝑛=1

where 𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , are constant and 𝑥 is a variable. If a number is substituted for 𝑥, then the resulting
series of constant may converge or diverge.
The main objective in this section is to determine all the values of 𝑥 for which a power series converges
– called the interval of convergence. To find the interval of convergence of a power series, ratio test is
used.
5.5.1 Interval of Convergence
𝑥 𝑛 2𝑛 2𝑥 4𝑥 2 8𝑥 3
Consider that ∑∞
𝑛=1 = + + +⋯
𝑛+1 2 3 4

This is power series in term of 𝑥 𝑛 . The series will be different for various of 𝑥, if 𝑥 = 1, then
∞
2𝑛 2 4 8
∑ = + + +⋯
𝑛+1 2 3 4
𝑛=1

If 𝑥 = −1, then
∞
(−1)𝑛 2𝑛 2 4 8
∑ = − + − +⋯
𝑛+1 2 3 4
𝑛=1

Thus, they may behave differently. The series may converge or diverge by depending on the value of
𝑥. We need to find the value of 𝑥 at which the series converge. This set of values of 𝑥 is called the
interval of convergence.
Step 1: Use ratio test to get L
Step 2: For any power series ∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑦) , exactly one of the following is true

i. If 𝐿 = ∞ then the point of convergence is 𝑥 = 𝑦

ii. If 𝐿 = 0 then the interval of convergence is (−∞, ∞)
iii. Otherwise the interval of convergence will either be (𝑎, 𝑏) or [𝑎, 𝑏) or [𝑎, 𝑏].
Step 3: For case (iii)
i. 𝐿 < 1 converge absolutely
ii. 𝐿 = 1 (end points)
Example 5. Find interval of convergence for the following series.
𝑛!2𝑛 𝑛
a. ∑∞
𝑛=1 2𝑛
𝑥

Solution:
 ln(𝑛+1)
b. ∑∞
𝑛=1 (𝑥 − 1)𝑛
(2𝑛+1)!

Solution:
 𝑥𝑛
c. ∑∞
𝑛=1 3𝑛−1

Solution:
5.5.2 Radius and Interval of Convergence
If a numerical value is substituted for 𝑥 in a power series ∑ 𝑐𝑛 𝑥𝑛 , then the resulting series of numbers
may either converge or diverge. This leads to the problem of determining the set of x-values for which
a given power series converges. This is called its convergence set.
Theorem: For every power series in 𝑥, exactly one of the following is true:
a. The series converges only for 𝑥 = 0
b. The series converges absolutely (and hence converges) for all value of 𝑥
c. The series converges absolutely (and hence converges) for all 𝑥 in some finite open interval
(−𝑅, 𝑅) and diverges if 𝑥 < −𝑅 or 𝑥 > 𝑅. At either of the values of 𝑥 = 𝑅 or 𝑥 = −𝑅, the
series may converges absolutely, converges conditionally or diverges.
In the case where the convergence set is the single value 𝑥 = 0, we say that the series has radius
of convergence 0.
In the case where the convergence set is (−∞, ∞), we say that the series has radius of
convergence +∞.
In the case where the convergence set extends between −𝑅 and 𝑅, we say that the series has
radius convergence 𝑅.
Ratio test is used for absolute convergence.
Example 6. Find the interval of convergence and radius of the following power series.
a. ∑∞
𝑛=0 𝑥
𝑛

Solution:
 𝑥𝑛
b. ∑∞
𝑛=2 𝑛2 −1

Solution:
 𝑛2 (𝑥−1)𝑛
c. ∑∞
𝑛=0 2𝑛

Solution: