Series Tests Complete Summary
Standard Series
(a) Geometric Series:
n=0
Ar
= A + Ar + Ar + =
A 1r
if |r| < 1
diverges if |r| 1
(b) p-Series:
1 = np
converges if p > 1 diverges if p 1
(c) Constant Series: for any number c = 0,
c = c + c + c + diverges.
(d) Exponential Series
xn = ex converges for any x by the ratio test. n! n=1 Our Tests
0. nth Term Test: If lim |an | = 0 then
n
an diverges.
1. Integral Test:
If f (x) is a continuous, non-negative, decreasing function, then
f (n) converges
n=1 1
f (x)dx
is nite.
Use the next two tests to compare a given series to one of the Standard Series or one that can be handled with the integral test. 2. Direct Comparison Test: If 0 an bn for all large n, then 0 an bn and therefore
If the bigger series converges, then so does the smaller one. If the smaller series diverges, then so does the bigger one.
3. Limit Comparison Test: If an , bn 0 and
n
lim
an =L bn
with L = 0 or
then
an and
bn either both converge or both diverge. bn to be one of
This makes precise the intuition that an Lbn for large n. To apply it, take the Standard Series or one that can be handled with the integral test.
4. Ratio Test: If an 0 and lim
Try this rst for power series and series involving factorials or exponentials (e.g. n! and 2n ).
an converges absolutely an+1 = r then if r > 1 then an diverges an if r = 1 cant tell
if r < 1 then
5. Alternating Series Test: If the an are non-negative (an 0), decreasing (a1 a2 a3 ), and lim an = 0, then (1)n an converges.
n
Testing for Convergence Check the convergence of a series S =
n
an by the following steps.
(1) Check that lim |an | = 0. If not, then S diverges. (2) Check |an | by any test. If this converges, S is absolutely convergent.
(3) If the series is alternating (i.e. of the form (1)n |an |) and the |an | are decreasing (for example, if derivative < 0 for large x) then the series is conditionally convergent by the A.S.T. For (2) ask yourself: Does the ratio test work? especially if the terms factorials. (Note: if the limiting ratio is r > 1, the series diverges and Step (3) is not needed). Can I simplify by dropping lower order terms ? If so, justify this simplication by the L.C.T. Can I do the corresponding integral? If so, use the integral test. Is there an obvious inequality comparing an to a standard series? If so use the DCT.
Power Series A power series f (x) = an (x a)n denes a function on its interval of convergence = the part of the real line between a R and a + R (where R is possibly ). 1. The interval of convergence is found by the Ratio Test condition
n
lim
an+1 an
< 1
2. The series converges absolutely for x inside the interval of convergence, diverges for x outside, and can have various behavior (AC, CC or divergent) at the endpoints (you wont be asked to do this). 3. We can dierentiate and integrate power series term-by-term; this does not change the interval of convergence.
Taylor Series Theorem If f (x) has n + 1 derivatives on an interval [a, x] then 1 1 f (x) = f (a) + f (a) (x a) + f (a) (x a)2 + . . . + f (n) (a) (x a)n + Rn 2 n! where the remainder satises |Rn | M |x a|n+1 (n + 1)! where M = max. of |f (n+1) (t)| for t between a and x.
Important Taylor Series These series converge for any x: ex = 1 + x + x2 x3 x4 + + + = 2! 3! 4!
xn n! n=1 x2n+1 (2n + 1)! x2n (2n)!
x3 x5 + + = sin x = x 3! 5! x2 x4 cos x = 1 + + = 2! 4! and these converge on the interval |x| < 1: 1 1x
(1)n
n=0
(1)n
n=0
= 1 + x + x2 + x3 + =
n=0
xn xn n n=1
ln(1 x) = x +
x2 2
x3 3
x4 4
+ =
(1 + x)p = 1 + px +
p n p(p 1) 2 p(p 1)(p 2) 3 x + x + = 1 + x . n 2! 3! n=1
