1). In series (1), there is some cancelation in the partial sums, which may be assisting the convergence property of the series. However, if we make all ofthe terms positive in series (1) to form the new series 6/1)" S(t). seden= SH) s+$e BtGto =10.5 Absolute Convergence; The Ratio and Root Tests 593 ‘we see that it still converges. Fora general series with both positive and negative terms, we ccan apply the tests for convergence studied before to the seties of absolute values of its terms. In doing so, we are led naturally tothe following concept. DEFINITION A series Sa, converges absolutely (is absolutely convergent) if the corresponding series of absolute values, 5) |a,|, converges, So the geometric series (1) is absolutely convergent. We observed, too, that itis also con- vergent. This situation is always true: An absolutely convergent series is convergent as well, which we now prove. THEOREM 12—The Absolute Convergence Test If 3°|a,| converges, then 'a, converges. # Proof For each n, -la|=a,= |), so 05a, + lal = 2a, If E&|a,| convenges, then Z*"_, 2|a,| converges and, by the Direct Comparison Test, the nonnegative series E5° (a, + |ay|) converges. The equality 4, = (a, + |aq|) — |ay| now lets us express 3, a, asthe difference of two convergent series: Sa= Sle. + lal ~ lol = Sle * lal) ~ Se ‘Therefore, Sa, converges. . EXAMPLE 1 This example gives two series that converge absolutly. Sepethey-telidy. (a) For =e ys 4797 i¢ +” the corresponding series of absolute ‘values isthe convergent series toyatyty Zar tatorie ‘The original series converges because it converges absolutely, sinn «sind, sin3 (or Sst = A 2 a negative terms, the corresponding series of absolute values is, ++, which contains both positive and [sin 2] 4 which converges by comparison with J)” ,(1/n?) because |sinn| <1 for every n. ‘The original series converges absoltely therefore it converges. . Caution Be careful when using Theorem 12. A convergent series need not converge absolutely, as you will see in the next section.594 (Chapter 10: infinite Sequences and Series, The Ratio Test The Ratio Test measures the rate of growth (or decline) of a series by examining the ratio gqi/dq. Fora geometric series ar, this ate is a constant ((ar**"\(ar*) = 7), and the series converges if and only if it ato isles than 1 in absolute value. The Ratio Testis a ‘powerful rule extending that result. THEOREM 13—The Ratio Test Let Sa, be any series and suppose that, ‘Then (a) the series converges absoluely if p <1, (b) the series diverges if p> 1 or pis infinite, (c) the testis inconclusive if p = 1. Proof (@) p <1-Letrbeanumber between p and 1.'Then the number ¢ = r ~ p is positive Since a,41/d| must lic within € of p when n is large enough, say, forall n = WN. In particular, ie ‘The terms ofthe series do not approach zero as n becomes infinite, and the series diverges by the nth-Term Test. op |. The two series Shoe SEfinite Sequences and Series an (nat 1/2", meven “To investigate convergence we writ ou several terms of the series: Sa,-L+44344 So-d-d+3-4 1yly3,4, 5a, 7, 2tatst ist 327 647 Te Clearly, this isnot a geometric series. The mth term approaches zero as n> 00, so the nth- Term Test does not tel us ifthe series diverges. The Integral Test does not look promising. ‘The Ratio Test produces 1 ee) ntl neven aa As n> 06, the ratio is alternately small and large and has no limit, However, we will see that the following test establishes thatthe series converges. THEOREM 14—The Root Test Let Sq, be any series and suppose that Jin, = Vlad =p. Then (a) the series converges absolutely if p <1, (b) the series diverges if p> 1 or pis infinite, (e) the testis inconclusive if p Proof (a) p <1. Choose an € > 0 so small that p + € <1. Since ~Vfa,] rp, the terms “Vja,] eventually get to within e of p. So there exists an index M such that M. ‘Then itis also true that lal <(p + O* form = Now, B2v(p + ©) a geometic series with ratio (p + e) < 1, converges. By the Comparison Test, Ss [ay| converges, from which it follows that Ms Sila = bad 4+ layed + Sle converges. Therefore, Ya, converges absolutely. () 1 < p $ ©, Forall indices beyond some integer M, we have ‘([a,| > 1, so that |a,| > 1 for n > M. The terms of the series do not converge to zero, The series diverges by the nth-Term Test. (© p= 1."The series E% (/n) and B2(1/n2) show thatthe tes 8 not conclusive when p = 1. The first series diverges and the second converges, but in both cases Vhagl 1 . n/t, nodd EXAMPLE 3 Consider again the series with terms ay = fr 72" meven Does Ea, converge?10.5 Absolute Convergence; The Ratio and Root Tests 597 Solution We apply the Root Test, finding that ‘Therefore, Since {/n—> 1 (Section 10.1, Theorem 5), we have lim, oo V/ Val - (40 nod 1/2, meven. = Vial =, = 1/2 by the Sandwich ‘Theorem. The limits ess than I, so the seis converges absolutely BY the Root Test mL EXAMPLE 4 @ 35 ‘Which ofthe following series converge, and which diverge? © 33 © 84) Solution We apply the Root Test to cach series, noting that cach series has positive terms. ale _ Ve _ (Sn? p Z f@) EF eamerpes because] ba zsh Sz foe 2 b) 5% aiverges because Zp dere Way p>! 1) (14 © 3 (4,) comers teeme (AG) = pts o