Innite Series: Convergence Tests

Heather Angelo

Wednesday, 12 April, 2006

Preliminary remarks.
1. The sequence {a
n
} is summable if the sequence {S
n
} converges, where S
n
= a
1
+ +a
n
. (S
n
is called
the n
th
partial sum.)
2. If S
n
converges, we dene

n=1
a
n
= lim
n
S
n
.

n=1
a
n
is called an innite series.
3. In many cases, we cant actually compute an innite sum. We instead content ourselves with deter-
mining whether or not the series converges.
1 Divergence Test
Suppose we are given

a
n
. If a
n
0, then the series diverges.
Example.

n=1
n + 1
n
. The sequence
n + 1
n
1 = 0. Therefore the series diverges.
Note. Its a good idea to try this test rst.
Warning. a
n
0 DOES NOT IMPLY that the series converges. Consider

1
n
. The sequence
1
n
0,
but the series diverges.
2 Comparison Test
Suppose that 0 a
n
b
n
n. If

b
n
converges, then

a
n
converges also.
Similarly, if

a
n
diverges, then

b
n
diverges.
Examples.
1.

n=1
4n
2
6n
4
+ 3n
.
6n
4
+ 3n > 6n
4
4n
2
6n
4
+ 3n
<
4n
2
6n
4
=
2
3n
2
and

n=1
2
3n
2
=
2
3

n=1
1
n
2
converges. Therefore,

n=1
4n
2
6n
4
+ 3n
converges.

Edited and typeset by M. A. Tucker

1
2.

n=1
3n
n
2
1
.
n
2
1 < n
2
3n
n
2
1
>
3n
n
2
=
3
n
and

n=1
3
n
= 3

n=1
1
n
diverges. Therefore,

n=1
3n
n
2
1
diverges.
Note. This test is eective when you can compare the series with something of the form

1
n
p
.
3 Limit Comparison Test
If a
n
, b
n
> 0 and lim
n
a
n
b
n
= c, where 0 < c < , then

a
n
converges i

b
n
converges.
Examples.
1.

3n
2
+ 2n + 1
n
3
+ 1
=

a
n
. The leading terms of the numerator and denominator dominate, so let
b
n
=
3n
2
n
3
=
3
n
. Then
a
n
b
n
=
3n
2
+ 2n + 1
n
3
+ 1

n
3
n
1.
Since 0 < 1 < and

b
n
= 3

1
n
diverges,

3n
2
+ 2n + 1
n
3
+ 1
diverges also.
2.

n + 100
2n
2

n + 9

n
=

a
n
. Let b
n
=
5

n
2n
2

n
=
5
2n
2
. Then
a
n
b
n
=
5

n + 100
2n
2

n + 9

n

2n
2
5
n
1.
Since 0 < 1 < and

b
n
=
5
2

1
n
2
converges,

a
n
converges also.
Note. You might want to try this when you cant quite get the Comparison Test to work.
4 The Ratio Test
Let a
n
> 0 n, and suppose that lim
n
a
n+1
a
n
= r.
If r < 1,

a
n
converges.
If r > 1,

a
n
diverges.
If r = 1, the test is inconclusive!
Examples.
1.

n=1
2
n
n!
.
a
n+1
a
n
=
2
n+1
(n + 1)!

n!
2
n
=
2
n + 1
n
0 < 1.
Therefore, the series converges.
2
2.

n=1
n!
10
n
.
a
n+1
a
n
=
(n + 1)!
10
n+1

10
n
n!
=
n + 1
10
n
> 1.
Therefore, the series diverges.
Note. Use when you see factorials or a combination of factorials and powers.
5 Root Test
Let a
n
> 0 n, and suppose that lim
n
n

u
n
= .
If r < 1,

a
n
converges.
If r > 1,

a
n
diverges.
If r = 1, the test is inconclusive!
Examples.
1.

n=2
_
4n 5
2n + 1
_
n
.
= lim
n
n

_
4n 5
2n + 1
_
n
= lim
n
4n 5
2n + 1
= 2 > 1.
Therefore, the series diverges.
2.

n=1
1
_
log(n + 1)
_
n
.
= lim
n
n

1
_
log(n + 1)
_
n
= lim
n
1
log(n + 1)
= 0 < 1.
Therefore, the series converges.
Note. Use when you see the n
th
power. Remember that for a constant b > 0, lim
n
n

b = 1. Also
remember the special limit lim
n
n

n = 1.
6 Integral Test
Suppose f is positive and decreasing on [1, ) and that f(n) = a
n
n.
Then

n=1
a
n
converges i
_

1
f(x) dx converges.
Examples.
1.

n=1
1
n
k
converges for k > 1 and diverges for 0 < k 1 since
_

1
1
x
k
=
_

_
1
(k1)x
k1

1
k = 1
log x

1
k = 1
=
_

_
1
k1
k > 1
k 1
3
2.

n=2
1
nlog n
.
_

2
1
xlog x
dx = log(log x)

2
.
Thus, our series diverges.
Note. Use when the terms being summed are easily integrable.
7 Alternating Series Test
Consider

(1)
n
a
n
, where a
n
> 0.
If {a
n
} is a decreasing sequence AND a
n
0, then the series converges.
If a
n
0, then the series diverges.
Examples.
1.

(1)
n
n
. This is an alternating series with a
n
=
1
n
. The sequence a
n
is decreasing, and a
n
0.
Therefore, the series converges.
2.

(1)
n
2
n
. The sequence a
n
=
1
2
n
is a decreasing sequence, and a
n
0. Therefore, the series
converges.
8 Absolute and Conditional Convergence
Denition. The series

a
n
is absolutely convergent if the series

|a
n
| is convergent.
Theorem. If

|a
n
| converges, then

a
n
converges. (Every absolutely convergent series converges.)
Denition. Series which are convergent but not absolutely convergent are called conditionally convergent.
Examples. Test the series for absolute and conditional convergence.
1.

(1)
n
n
. Note that

(1)
n
n

1
n
diverges, so the series is not absolutely convergent. How-
ever,
1
n
is a decreasing sequence whose limit is zero, so

(1)
n
n
converges, and so the series is
conditionally convergent.
2.

(1)
n
n
2
n
. Consider

(1)
n
n
2
n

n
2
n
. Then
a
n+1
a
n
=
n + 1
2
n+1

2
n
n
=
n + 1
2n
n

1
2
< 1.
By the Ratio Test, the series is absolutely convergent.
3.

(1)
n
4
n2
e
n
=

(1)
n
1
16

4
n
e
n
=
1
16

(1)
n
_
4
e
_
n
. The terms do not go to zero, so the series
diverges.
4