Math 142 Series Notes
Math 142 Series Notes
Math 142 Series Notes
Mnemonic: PARTING CC
P-series, Alternating Series Test, Ratio and Root Tests, Telescoping Series, Integral Test, iNdividual Term Test for
Divergence, Geometric Series Test, Comparison Test, Limit Comparison Test
p-Series
Form:
X
1
p
n
n=1
Converges: If p > 1.
Diverges: If p 1.
P
P
P
Let b be any real number. Remember that n=1 ban = b n=1 an if n=1 an is convergent, so series like
P b
n=1 np are also convergent if p > 1. In particular, remember to look for constant multiples of the pseries
they come up a lot and are often useful for the Comparison Test.
(1)n bn or
n=1
(1)n+1 bn
n=1
This test applies only to alternating series. Also, note that we only need that {bn } is eventually a decreasing
sequence since a finite number of terms does not affect convergence.
Ratio Test
Suppose we have the series
an+1
.
an . Define L = lim
n
an
Root Test
Suppose we have the series
an . Define L = lim
p
n
Telescoping Series
A telescoping series is a series whose partial sums SN eventually only have a fixed number of terms after
cancellation. You can then evaluate the limit lim SN to determine whether the series converges or diverges.
N
Integral Test
Suppose that f (x) is (a) continuous, (b) positive, (c) decreasing function on the interval [k, ) and that
(d) f (n) = an then
f (x) dx is convergent so is
(1) If
k
Z
(2) If
f (x) dx is divergent so is
k
an .
n=k
an .
n=k
This test applies only to series that have positive terms. Try this test when f (x) is easy to integrate.
an diverges.
Look for the same degree in the numerator and denominator. This works for any series, including alternating
series.
Remember: If lim an = 0 then we know nothing.
n
Geometric Series
Form:
arn1
n=1
Comparison Test
Suppose that
an and
P
P
(1) If P bn is convergent and an bn for all n, thenP an is also convergent.
(2) If
bn is divergent and an bn for all n, then
an is also divergent.
Use this test if the given series is similar to a p-series or geometric series. Remember, the terms of the series
being tested must be smaller than a convergent series or larger than a divergent series. It is often
useful to bound the numerator; for example, for n 1 we have arctan(n) /2, ln(n) n, en n, and
e1/n e. Weve seen all of these used in class.