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Infinte Series Notes

This document provides an overview of various tests that can be used to determine if a sequence or series converges or diverges, including: - The Geometric Series Test for sequences of the form ar^k - The Kth Term Test, Integral Test, Comparison Test, p-Series Test, and Limit Comparison Test for series - The Alternating Series Test and Absolute Convergence Tests for series with alternating positive and negative terms - The Ratio Test and Root Test for any series, especially those with exponentials or factorials. Guidelines are provided for applying each test and interpreting the conclusions.

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108 views5 pages

Infinte Series Notes

This document provides an overview of various tests that can be used to determine if a sequence or series converges or diverges, including: - The Geometric Series Test for sequences of the form ar^k - The Kth Term Test, Integral Test, Comparison Test, p-Series Test, and Limit Comparison Test for series - The Alternating Series Test and Absolute Convergence Tests for series with alternating positive and negative terms - The Ratio Test and Root Test for any series, especially those with exponentials or factorials. Guidelines are provided for applying each test and interpreting the conclusions.

Uploaded by

abd_93
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
You are on page 1/ 5

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 1 of 5

Which test do I use for a sequence or series?


Are you evaluating a sequence or a series (infinite sum)?
If a series, go to page 3.
Otherwise
For a Sequence
Calculate a few terms
Graph some terms
Definition 1.1: Convergence of a sequence and divergence of a sequence.

The set an n n converges to L if and only if given any number > 0 there is an integer N for
0

which an L for every n > N. If there is no such number L, then we say the sequence
diverges.
Theorem 1.1: Combinations of limits of sequences.

If an n n and bn n n both converge, then


0

(i).

lim an bn lim an lim bn

(ii).

lim an bn lim an lim bn

(iii).

lim anbn lim an lim bn

(iv).

a lim an
lim n n
(assuming lim bn 0 ).
n b
n
bn
n lim
n

Theorem 1.2: The limit of a sequence is the limit of its function.


If x and lim f x L , then lim f n L for n .
x

Note that the converse is not true. Counterexample: lim cos 2 n


n

Theorem 1.3: Squeeze Theorem

Suppose that an n n and bn n n both converge to the limit L. If there is an integer n1 n0 such
0

that all n n1 guarantees that an cn bn, then cn n n converges to L as well.

Corollary 1.1:
If lim an 0 , then lim an 0 as well.
n

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 2 of 5

Definition 1.3: Increasing and Decreasing sequences.

The sequence an n 1 is increasing if a1 a2 a3 an an1


The sequence an n 1 is decreasing if a1 a2 a3 an an1
If a sequence is either increasing or decreasing it is called monotonic.

Key trick: To determine whether a series is monotonic, look at the ratio of successive terms.
Definition 1.4: Bounded sequences.

The sequence an n 1 is bounded if there is a number M > 0 (called a bound) for which |an| < M
for all n.

Theorem 1.4: Convergence of bounded monotonic sequences.


Every bounded, monotonic sequence converges.

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 3 of 5

For a Series
Get a feel for the series:
1. Evaluate a few partial sums.
2. Graph the first few partial sums.
3. Evaluate some large-n partial sums.
If the terms are always positive:
1. Quick check for convergence: can you work out the answer to the sum?

1
10
k
a. Geometric series: example: 0.1
(Section 8.2)

1 0.1 9
k 0

a
if r 1 and diverges if r 1
ar k converges to

1 r
k 0
b. Telescoping series:

1
1
1
1 1 1 1 1 1

1 (Section 8.2)

k 1 1 2 2 3 3 4
k 1 k k 1
k 1 k
2. Quick check for convergence: is the series a p-Series?

1
a. The p-Series p converges if p > 1 and diverges if p 1. (Section 8.3)
i 1 k
3. Quick check for divergence: do the terms grow instead of tending to zero?
a. divergence by the kth term test. Example:

k because lim a
k

k 1

0.

(Section 8.2)

b. The harmonic series diverges:

k . (Section 8.2)
k 1

4. Develop an intuition for whether it will converge or diverge, then compare the sequence
to a known converging or diverging integral or series:
a. Theorem 3.1: The Integral Test for Convergence of a Series If f(k) = ak for all
k = 1, 2, 3, , and f is both continuous and decreasing, and f(x) 0 for x 1, then

f x dx and

i 1

either both converge or both diverge.

b. Theorem 3.3: The Comparison Test for Convergence of a Series Suppose that
0 ak bk for all k . If

bk converges, then
k 1

ak diverges, then
k 1

a
k 1

converges, too. If

b
k 1

diverges, too.

c. Theorem 3.4: The Limit Comparison Test for Convergence of a Series


a
Suppose that ak, bk > 0, and that for some finite number L, lim k L 0 . Then,
k b
k

either

ak and
k 1

b
k 1

both converge or both diverge.

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 4 of 5

If the terms of the series are not always positive, including if they alternate sign:
1. If the terms do go to zero, and they alternate sign, then the series converges. (Section
8.4)

2. If some of the terms are negative, but

k 1

converges (which you would test using

techniques from the previous page), then the series converges absolutely (Section 8.5)

3. Theorem 5.2: The Ratio Test Given

k 1

, with ak 0 for all k, suppose that

ak 1
L . Then:
k a
k
a. if L < 1, the series converges absolutely.
b. if L > 1 (or L = ), the series diverges.
c. if L =1, no conclusion can be made.

lim

4. Theorem 5.3: The Root Test Given

a
k 1

, with ak 0 for all k, suppose that

lim k ak L . Then:
k

a. if L < 1, the series converges absolutely.


b. if L > 1 (or L = ), the series diverges.
c. if L =1, no conclusion can be made.

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Test
Geometric
Series

When to Use

Kth-Term Test

All series.

Integral Test

ar

Comparison
Test

Conclusions
a
if r 1 and
1 r
diverges if r 1 .

Converges to

k 0

If lim ak 0 , the series diverges.


k

k 1

ak , where ak f k , f

ak and

is continuous and
decreasing, and
f(x) 0

p
k 1 k
0 ak bk for all k .

converge or both diverge.

k 1

p-Series

Page 5 of 5

k 1

8.2
8.3

f x dx both

Converges if p > 1 and diverges if


p 1.
If

Section
8.2

8.3
8.3

converges, then

converges.

k 1

If

k 1

diverges, then

b
k 1

Limit
Comparison
Test

ak, bk > 0, and


a
lim k L 0
k b
k

Alternating
Series Test

Absolute
Convergence

Ratio Test

Root Test

k 1

k 1

ak , where

ak 0
Series with some positive
and some negative terms
(including alternating
series)
Any series (especially
those with exponentials or
factorials)

Any series (especially


those with exponentials)

diverges.

ak and
k 1

b
k 1

both converge or

8.3

both diverge.
If lim ak 0 and ak 1 ak , then the 8.4
k

series converges.

If

a
k 1

converges, then

a
k 1

8.5

converges absolutely.

ak 1
L and if L < 1, the
k a
k
series converges absolutely.

8.5

If lim k ak L and if L < 1, the

8.5

If lim

series converges absolutely.

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