9 Week 9

9.1 The Ratio Test and Root Test

In section 11.6 of the textbook do exercises 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 21, 22, 30, 35, 42
P
Suppose we want to determine the convergence of the series an . We will use the following two
tests to show that the series is Absolutely Convergent and hence Convergent.

9.1.1 The Ratio Test

X1
an+1
1. If lim < 1, then an is absolutely convergent, and hence convergent.
n!1 an n=1

X1
an+1
2. If lim > 1 or 1, then an is divergent.
n!1 an n=1

an+1
3. If lim = 1, the Ratio Test fails.
n!1 an

Proof:
an+1
Let L = lim .
n!1 an
an+1
1. If L < 1, then 9r such that L < r < 1. Since L = lim , then eventually (for some integer
n!1 an
an+1
N with n N ), we have < r or |an+1 | < r|an |.
an
If we let n = N, N + 1, N + 2, . . . in this equation, we obtain
|aN +1 | < r|aN |
|aN +2 | < r|aN +1 | < rr|aN | = r2 |aN |
|aN +3 | < r|aN +2 | < rr2 |aN | = r3 |aN |
|aN +4 | < r|aN +3 | < rr3 |aN | = r4 |aN |
..
.
|aN +k | < rk |aN |
1
X
Then we can form the geometric series rk |aN |, which converges because 0 < r < 1.
k=0
1
X
k
Now, since |aN +k | < r |aN |, by the Comparison test, |aN +k | is convergent.
k=1
1
X 1
X
Note that we can rewrite |aN +k | = |an |. Thus,
k=1 n=N +1

1
X N
X 1
X
|an | = |an | + |an |
n=1 n=1 n=N +1

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 1
X
Since we have written |an | as the sum of a finite series and a convergent series, thus it is
n=1
1
X
convergent and so an is absolutely convergent.
n=1

an+1
2. Let L > 1. Then, there is some integer N such that when n N , we have > 1 or
an
|an+1 | > |an |. P
But, if |an+1 | > |an | for all n N , then lim |an | =
6 0 and so lim an 6= 0 and the series an is
n!1 n!1
divergent by the Test for Divergence.
P
3. To show the test fails when L = 1, we need only come up with examples of series an that
an+1
absolutely converge, conditionally converge and diverge with lim = 1.
n!1 an

Examples:
Determine the convergence of the following series:
X1
( 1)n 1 n2 2n
1.
n=1
n!

1
X nn
2.
n=1
n!

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Use the Ratio Test on series involving exponents, factorials, products and combinations thereof.

9.1.2 The Root Test

1
X
p
n
1. If lim |an | < 1, then an is absolutely convergent, and hence convergent.
n!1
n=1

1
X
p
n
2. If lim |an | > 1, then an is divergent.
n!1
n=1
p
n
3. If lim |an | = 1, then the Root Test fails. ,m
n!1

Proof:
The proof of the Root Test is very similar to the proof of the Ratio Test. We will omit it here but
refer the reader to the textbook for the complete proof.

Examples

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9.2 Review of Series Testing
In section 11.7 of the textbook do exercises 1-37 (odd)

Use
P the following guidelines in the order that they appear to determine convergence of a given series
an .
P
1. If lim an 6= 0, then an is Divergent.
n!1

P P
2. If an = arn 1
is a Geometric Series, then series Converges i |r| < 1.

P P 1
3. If an = np
is a p-series, then series Converges i p > 1.

R1
4. If an P
= f (n), where f is decreasing, positive and continuous and 1
f (x)dx is Convergent,
then an is Convergent. (Integral Test)

P
5. If an can be compared to bn where bn is a Geometric Series (see 2.) or a p-series (see 3.),
then use the Comparison Test to check for convergence/divergence.

f (n)
6. If an = , where f and g are polynomials or roots of polynomials, use the Limit Comparison
g(n)
Test.

7. If the series contains both positive and negative terms:

If the series is alternating, use the Alternating Series Test.

P
Try to show an is absolutely convergent:
P
directly determine convergence of |an |

P
use the Comparison Test on |an |

use the Ratio Test (factorials, powers of a constant) or Root Test (nth powers)

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Examples
Determine whether the following series are convergent or divergent.
1
X 1
X 1
X X1
2 n 1 n 2 3
1. (b) (c) sin (d)
n=1
n2 + 6n n=1
n+1 n=0
6 n=1
5n 2n
1
X 1
X 1
X X1
n4 3 + sin n 1 n!
(e) (f) (g) (h)
n=1
( 2)n n=1
n2 n=2
n(ln n)2 n=0
10n
1 p 1
X n5 + 3n + 1 X (n!)2
(i) p (h)
n=1
3
n9 2n1 n=1
(2n)!

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