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The Integral Test PDF

The document discusses the integral test for determining whether a series with positive terms converges or diverges. It states that if the function f that results from replacing n with x in the series terms is decreasing and continuous on the interval [a,∞), then the series and the integral of f will either both converge or both diverge. Several examples are then worked through applying this test to determine if specific series converge or diverge.

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Atikah J
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
419 views8 pages

The Integral Test PDF

The document discusses the integral test for determining whether a series with positive terms converges or diverges. It states that if the function f that results from replacing n with x in the series terms is decreasing and continuous on the interval [a,∞), then the series and the integral of f will either both converge or both diverge. Several examples are then worked through applying this test to determine if specific series converge or diverge.

Uploaded by

Atikah J
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1

The Integral Test



Let a
n
be a series with positive terms,
and let f(x) be the function that results
when n is replaced by x in the formula for
a
n
. If f is decreasing and continuous on
the interval [a, +), then

=1 n
n
a and
}

a
dx x f ) ( both converge or both diverge.
Means that
If
}

a
dx x f ) ( converges then

=1 n
n
a
converges.
If
}

a
dx x f ) ( diverges then

=1 n
n
a diverges.

Eg1
...
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
+ + + =

= n
n

u
n
=
n
1
-> f(x) =
x
1
is decreasing and
continuous for x > 1.

2
}

1
) ( dx x f =
}

1
1
dx
x

= dx
x
b
b
}
1
1
lim
= | |
b
b
x
1
ln lim


= | | b
b
ln lim

=

the integral
}

1
1
dx
x
diverges and
consequently so does the series
...
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
+ + + =

= n
n


Eg2
Use the integral test to determine
whether the series

=1
2
1
n
n
converges or
diverges.

Sol
u
n
=
2
1
n
-> f(x) =
2
1
x
is decreasing and
continuous for x > 1.

3
}

1
) ( dx x f =
}

1
2
1
dx
x

= dx
x
b
b
}
1
2
1
lim
=
b
b
x
1
1
lim
(



=
(

+

1
1
lim
b
b
= 1

the integral
}

1
2
1
dx
x
converges and
consequently so does the series

=1
2
1
n
n


Eg3
Use the integral test to determine
whether the series

=1
5
n
n
e
n
converges or
diverges.
Sol
u
n
=
5
n
e
n
-> f(x) =
5
x
e
x
= x
5
x
e


4
f(x) =
5
x
e

-
5
5
x
e
x

= (1-
5
x
)
5
x
e



critical point occurs when f(x) = 0
(1-
5
x
)
5
x
e

= 0
(1-
5
x
) = 0
x = 5

when x > 5, f(x) < 0, so f(x) is decreasing
and continuous for x > 5.
}

5
) ( dx x f =
}

5
5
dx xe
x

= dx xe
b
x
b
}

5
5
lim
=
b
x x
b
e xe
5
5 5
25 5 lim
(




(tabular method)
=
(

+ +



1 1
5 5
25 25 25 5 lim e e e be
b b
b

=
1
5 5
lim 50 lim 25 lim 5


+ e e be
b
b
b
b
b

5
=
1
5
50 0 lim 5


+ + e
e
b
b
b

=
1
5
50 0
5
1
1
lim 5


+ +

e
e
b
b
(LHopital Rule)
= 50e
-1

the integral
}

5
5
dx xe
x
converges and
consequently so does the series

=1
5
n
n
e
n
.

Eg4
Use the integral test to determine
whether the series

=
+
1
2
1
n
n
n
converges or
diverges.

Sol
u
n
=
1
2
+ n
n
-> f(x) =
1
2
+ x
x

f(x) =
2 2
2
2 2
2
) 1 (
1
) 1 (
) 2 ( 1
+

=
+
+
x
x
x
x x x

6
critical point occurs when f(x) = 0
2 2
2
) 1 (
1
+

x
x
= 0

x = 1 since x must be positive, so x = 1
is the critical point

when x > 1, f(x) < 0, so f(x) is decreasing
and continuous for x > 1.

}

1
) ( dx x f =
}

+
1
2
1
dx
x
x

= dx
x
x
b
b
}
+
1
2
1
lim
= | |
b
b
x
1
2
| 1 | ln lim
2
1
+


= | | 2 ln | 1 | ln lim
2
1
2
+

b
b
=
the integral
}

+
1
2
1
dx
x
x
diverges and
consequently so does the series

=
+
1
2
1
n
n
n
.

7
Eg5
Use the integral test to determine
whether the series

=
+
1
2
1
1
n
n
converges or
diverges.

Sol
u
n
=
1
1
2
+ n
-> f(x) =
1
1
2
+ x


f(x) is decreasing and continuous for
x > 1.

}

1
) ( dx x f =
}

+
1
2
1
1
dx
x

= dx
x
b
b
}
+
1
2
1
1
lim
= | |
b
b
x
1
1
tan lim
2
1



= | | 1 tan tan lim
2
1
1 1

b
b

=
4 4 2
t t t
=
8
the integral
}

+
1
2
1
1
dx
x
converges and
consequently so does the series

=
+
1
2
1
1
n
n
.

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