Solutions to Practice Midterm 2

∞ √ √
X n+1− n
Problem 1. Evaluate the sum of the infinite series √ .
n=1
n2 + n

Solution. The nth partial sum is

n √ √
X n+1− n
sn = √
k=1
n2 + n
√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
2− 1 3− 2 4− 3 n− n−1 n+1− n
= √ + √ + √ + ··· + q + √
2 6 12 2
(n − 1) + (n − 1) n2 + n
         
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= 1− √ + √ −√ + √ −√ + ··· + √ −√ + √ −√
2 2 3 3 4 n−1 n n n+1
1
=1− √ .
n+1
 
1
The sum of the infinite series is the limit of the sequence of partial sums, lim sn = lim 1 − √ = 1.
n→∞ n→∞ n+1
∞
X 4n + 6 n
Problem 2. For what values does the series n converge?
n=0
(2c)

Solution. When |c| > 3,

∞ ∞
X 4n + 6 n X 4n 6n
n = n + n
n=0
(2c) n=0
(2c) (2c)
∞ ∞ ∞ n ∞ n
X 4n X 6n X 4 X 6
≤ n + n = + ,
n=0
(2c) n=0
(2c) n=0
(2c) n=0
(2c)

which are both ∞ geometric series. So, when |c| > 3, the series converges absolutely. When |c| ≤ 3
 convergent
4n + 6n
the sequence n does not converge to 0, so the series does not converge.
(2c) n=0
∞
cos n1 + n4


X
Problem 3. Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1
(n2 + n + 1) (n3 + 1)

1
Solution. Version 1: We have the following (in)equalities:
∞ ∞
cos n1 + n4


X X n4 − 1
≥
n=1
(n2 + n + 1) (n3 + 1) n=1 (n2 + n + 1) (n3 + 1)
∞

X (n − 1) n3 + n2 + n + 1
=
n=1
(n2 + n + 1) (n3 + 1)
∞

X (n − 1) n3 + n2 + n + 1
≥
n=1
(n2 + n + 1) (n3 + n2 + n + 1)
∞
X n−1
= 2+n+1
n=1
n
∞ ∞
X n−1 X n−1
≥ 2
= .
n=1
n + 2n + 1 n=1 (n + 1) (n + 1)

Then, letting u = x + 1, we can apply the integral test:

Z∞ Z∞
x−1 u−2
dx = du
(x + 1) (x + 1) u2
1 1
Z∞ Z∞
1 2
= du − du.
u u2
1 1

The first integral diverges and the second is finite. Hence, this diverges by the integral test, so the original
series also diverges.
P1
Version 2: Use the limit comparison test against n.
N
∞
X 1
Problem 4. Suppose that (an )n=1 is a positive sequence with the property that an ≤ 2011 − for all
n=1
N
∞
X
N ≥ 1. Prove that an converges.
n=1
∞
∞
X
Solution. Let sn denote the nth partial sum of the series an . Since (an )n=1 is a positive sequence,
n=1

k+1
X k
X k
X
sk+1 = an = an + ak+1 ≥ an = sk .
n=1 n=1 n=1

Therefore, the partial sums form a non-decreasing sequence. We are given that sn ≤ 2011 for all n ∈ N, so
the sequence of partial sums in bounded above. Then, by the monotone convergence theorem, the sequence
of partial sums converges, which definitionally means that the series converges.
∞
X n+1 n2
Problem 5. Determine whether the series (−1) converges absolutely, converges conditionally,
n=1
n3 +4
or diverges.
Solution. The sequence does not converge absolutely by the integral test. Let u = x3 + 4, so du = 3x2 dx.
Z∞ Z∞
x2 1 1
3
dx = du,
x +4 3 u
1 1

2
 n2
which diverges. The series does converge conditionally; the series is given as alternating, lim 3 = 0,
n→∞ n + 4
∞
n2
 
and the sequence 3
is decreasing in absolute values for all n ≥ 2, since
n + 4 n=1
 
3 2

n 2
(n + 1)
2 (n + 1) + 4 n2 − (n + 1) n3 + 4
− =
n3 + 4 (n + 1)3 + 4
 
3
(n3 + 4) (n + 1) + 4
n4 + n3 + n2 − 8n − 5
=   ≥0
3
(n3 + 4) (n + 1) + 4

whenever n ≥ 2. Then, by the alternating series test, the series converges conditionally.
∞
X 2 1
Problem 6. Suppose that an = . Evaluate lim .
n=1
3 n→∞ 1 + an

∞
X
Solution. Since the series an converges, lim an = 0, for otherwise the series would diverge. Therefore,
n→∞
n=1
1 1
lim = = 1.
n→∞ 1 + an 1+0
∞
X n n!
Problem 7. Determine whether the series (−1) is absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent,
n=1
nn
or divergent.
Solution. For all n ∈ N,
n terms
z }| {
n! n (n − 1) (n − 2) · . . . · 3 · 2 · 1
=
nn | · n · n · .{z
n . . · n · n · n}
n terms
 
 
 n (n − 1) (n − 2) · . . . · 5 · 4 · 3  2 2
=  ≤ .
 n
| · n · n · .
{z. . · n · n · n
}
 n2 n2
n-2 terms

∞ ∞
X n! X 1
Then, n
≤ 2 , which converges, so the series converges absolutely.
n=1
n n=1
n2
∞ n
X (−1) n
Problem 8. Determine whether the series n is absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent,
n=1
(ln n)
or divergent.
√
Solution. Use the Root Test: since lim n
n = 1, we have
r
n 1
lim n = lim = 0,
n→∞ (ln n)n n→∞ ln n

and the series converges absolutely.

∞ n
X (x + 3)
Problem 9. Determine the radius and interval of convergence for the power series √ .
n=1
2n n

3
 an+1
Solution. The series converges whenever lim < 1.
n→∞ an
n+1 n √  r
(x + 3) 2 n x+3 n
lim √ = lim .
n→∞ (x + 3)n 2n+1 n + 1 n→∞ 2 n+1
∞
X 1
This is less than 1 whenever |x + 3| < 2. When x = −1, the series is equal to √ , which diverges, and
n=1
n
∞
n 1
X
when x = −5, the series is equal to (−1) √ , which converges conditionally by the alternating series
n=1
n
test. Therefore, the radius of convergence is 2, and the inteval of convergence is [−5, −1).
∞
X n
Problem 10. Suppose that the series cn (x − 2) converges for x = 4 and diverges for all x > 4.
n=1
∞
X n−1
(a) Is it true that the series cn (x − 2) converges for x = −2?
n=1
∞
X n−1
(b) Is it true that the series ncn (x − 2)
n=1

Solution. (a) Since the power series converges for x = 4 and diverges for all x > 4, the radius of conver-
gence is 2, and for all x ∈
/ [0, 4] the series diverges (it might also diverge at x = 0, but this doesn’t
matter). Since -2 is not within the interval of convergence, the series diverges for x = −2.
X∞ X∞
n n−1
(b) The power series cn (x − 2) is differentiable and its derivative is ncn (x − 2) . The deriva-
n=1 n=1
∞
X n−1
tive of a power series has the same radius of convergence as the original series, so ncn (x − 2)
n=1
converges when x = 3.
x
Problem 11. (a) Express the function f (x) = 2 as a power series and indicate the radius and
(1 − x)
interval of convergence.
∞
X n5n
(b) Use the answer from (a) to evaluate the sum of the series .
n=1
6n

Solution. (a)
x − (1 − x) + 1
f (x) = 2 = 2
(1 − x) (1 − x)
1 1
=− +
1 − x (1 − x)2
X∞ ∞
X
=− xn + nxn−1
n=0 n=1
∞
X ∞
X
= −xn + (n + 1) xn = nxn .
n=0 n=0

This series converges whenever |x| < 1, and diverges for both x = 1 and x = −1, since the sequences
∞ n ∞
(n)n=1 and (n (−1) )n=1 both diverge. Hence, the radius of convergence is 1 and the inteval of conver-
gence is (−1, 1).

4
 ∞
5 X
(b) is within the interval of convergence of the series nxn . So,
6 n=0

∞  n 5


X 5 6
n =

2
n=0
6 1 − 56
5

 
6
5
= 1 = 36 = 30.
36
6