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1.3 Tests For Convergence: Week2 MAT455

The document discusses various tests that can be used to determine if a series converges or diverges, including: 1) The Divergence Test, which states that if the limit of the terms does not equal 0 as n approaches infinity, the series diverges. 2) The Integral Test, which relates convergence of a series to convergence of an associated integral. 3) The Comparison Test, which compares a given series to one that is known to converge or diverge. 4) The Limit Comparison Test and Ratio Test provide additional ways to analyze series convergence based on limits of the term ratios. Examples are provided to demonstrate applying each test.

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Syahmi
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
90 views

1.3 Tests For Convergence: Week2 MAT455

The document discusses various tests that can be used to determine if a series converges or diverges, including: 1) The Divergence Test, which states that if the limit of the terms does not equal 0 as n approaches infinity, the series diverges. 2) The Integral Test, which relates convergence of a series to convergence of an associated integral. 3) The Comparison Test, which compares a given series to one that is known to converge or diverge. 4) The Limit Comparison Test and Ratio Test provide additional ways to analyze series convergence based on limits of the term ratios. Examples are provided to demonstrate applying each test.

Uploaded by

Syahmi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WEEK2 CHAPTER 1 MAT455

1.3 Tests for Convergence

We have discussed the method of determining the convergence and divergence of a


particular series by first writing the nth partial sum, Sn, of the series in closed form,
and then investigate the lim𝑛→∞ 𝑆𝑛 .

However, some series cannot be written in the closed form. Thus, the following tests
are used to determine the convergence and divergence of these series.

A) The Divergence Test

Theorem 1
i) If lim𝑛→∞ 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0 , the series ∑𝑛=∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 diverges.

ii) If lim𝑛→∞ 𝑎𝑛 = 0 , the series ∑𝑛=∞


𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 may either converge or
diverge.

Note: if you can see at a glance that 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑛→∞ 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0, then the Divergence Test should be used

Example 1
Use the Divergence Test to determine if the following series is divergent.
1 𝑒𝑛
a) ∑∞
𝑛=1 2
𝑛
b) ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛 c) ∑∞
𝑛=1
2 𝑛

𝑛 𝑛2
d) ∑∞
𝑛=1 ln(𝑛+1) e) ∑∞
𝑛=1 5𝑛2 +4

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WEEK2 CHAPTER 1 MAT455

B) The Integral Test

Theorem 2
Suppose f is a continuous, positive, decreasing function on [1 , ∞) and let an =
f(n). Then the series ∑𝑛=∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 is convergent if and only if the improper

integral ∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 is convergent. In other words


i) If ∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 is convergent, then ∑𝑛=∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 is convergent.


ii) If ∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 is divergent, then ∑𝑛=∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 is divergent.


Note: i) an = f(n), where If ∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 is easily evaluated, then the Integral Test is effective.
∞ 𝑡
ii) If ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑡→∞ ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥

Example 2
Use the Integral Test to determine if the following series is convergent or divergent.
1 ln 𝑛 𝑛 1
a) ∑∞ 𝑛=1 3 b) ∑∞𝑛=1 c) ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛 d) ∑∞
𝑛=1 (𝑛+1)
𝑛 𝑛 𝑒 ln(𝑛+1)

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WEEK2 CHAPTER 1 MAT455

C) The Comparison Test


- the idea is to compare a given series with a series that is known be
convergent or divergent (eg: p-series, geometric series)

Theorem 3
Suppose that ∑ 𝑎𝑛 and ∑ 𝑏𝑛 are series with positive terms.

i) If ∑ 𝑏𝑛 is convergent and 𝑎𝑛 ≤ 𝑏𝑛 for all n, then ∑ 𝑎𝑛 is also convergent.

ii) If ∑ 𝑏𝑛 is divergent and 𝑎𝑛 ≥ 𝑏𝑛 for all n, then ∑ 𝑎𝑛 is also divergent.

Tips for applying the comparison test

1. Delete the constant in the denominator of an (as this will not affect the
convergence or divergence of the series).

2. If the numerator or the denominator of an appears in a polynomial form,


eliminate all except for the term with the highest power.

3. Make a guess as to whether the series converge or diverge.

- if the guess is convergence, then, choose a bigger series for comparison.


- if the guess is divergence, then choose a smaller series for comparison.

The Comparison Test works well for comparing “messy” algebraic series to a p-
series, geometric series or any other series that is known to converge. In choosing
an appropriate p-series, we must choose one with an nth term of the same
magnitude as the nth term of the given series.
1 1
Eg: 1. If ∑ 3𝑛2 −4𝑛+5 , compare with ∑ 𝑛2 .

1 1
2. If ∑ , compare with ∑ 𝑛1/2 .
√3𝑛−2

𝑛2 −10 1
3. If ∑ 4𝑛5 +𝑛3 , compare with ∑ 𝑛3 .

√𝑛 1
4. If ∑ √𝑛3 , compare with ∑ 𝑛 .
+3

1 1
5. If ∑ 2𝑛+1 , compare with ∑ 2𝑛 .

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WEEK2 CHAPTER 1 MAT455

Example 3
Use the Comparison Test to determine if the series converges or diverges.

1 5
a) ∑∞
𝑛=1 2+3𝑛 b) ∑∞
𝑛=1 2𝑛2 +4𝑛+3

5𝑛 +1 1
c) ∑∞
𝑛=1 2𝑛 −1 d) ∑∞
𝑛=1 2+ √𝑛

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D) The Limit Comparison Test

Theorem 4
Suppose that ∑ 𝑎𝑛 and ∑ 𝑏𝑛 are series with positive terms. If
𝑎
lim𝑛→∞ 𝑏𝑛 = 𝑐
𝑛

Where c is a finite number and c > 0, then either both series converge or both
diverge.

Example 4
Use the Limit Comparison Test to determine whether the series converge or diverge.

1 2𝑛2 + 3𝑛 1 1+ 2𝑛
a) ∑∞
𝑛=1 2𝑛 −1 b) ∑∞
𝑛=1 c) ∑∞
𝑛=1 √𝑛2 d) ∑∞
𝑛=1 1 + 3𝑛
√5 + 𝑛 5 +1

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E) The Ratio Test

Theorem 5
𝑎𝑛+1
Let ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 be a series with positive terms such that lim𝑛→∞ | 𝑎 | = L
𝑛

i) If L < 1, then the series ∑∞


𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 is convergent.

ii) If L > 1, then the series ∑∞


𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 is divergent.

iii) If L = 1, then the Ratio test is inconclusive; that is no conclusion can be


drawn about the convergence or divergence of the series ∑∞ 𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 .

Note: this test is usually used when 𝑎𝑛 involves factorials or n th power.

Example 5
Use the Ratio Test to determine if the following series is convergent or divergent.
𝑛2 1 (𝑛+1)! 𝑛! 2𝑛−1
a) ∑∞
𝑛=1 2𝑛 b) ∑∞
𝑛=1 (2𝑛)! c) ∑∞
𝑛=1 d) ∑∞
𝑛=1 (2𝑛+1)! e) ∑∞
𝑛=1 3𝑛 (𝑛+1)
2𝑛 𝑛2

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WEEK2 CHAPTER 1 MAT455

TRY THIS

Use any relevant test to determine whether the following series converges or diverges.
5𝑘 +2𝑘
1. ∑∞
𝑘=1 (Ans: Diverge)
3𝑘 +4

𝜋𝑘
2. ∑∞
𝑘=1 (Ans: Converge)
52𝑘 (3𝑘)!

2𝑘
3. ∑∞
𝑘=1 ln(𝑘+3) (Ans: Diverge)

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