FIRST MIDTERM CHECKLIST

• Covers Sections 10.1 through 10.8 in the book.

• Sequences
(a) Definitions
(b) Sandwich Theorem
(ln x)p
(c) l’Hospital’s Rule: limx→∞ xq
= 0 for any constant p, q > 0.
limn→∞ (1 + nx )n = ex .
1
limn→∞ (nα ) n = 1 for all α > 0.
(d) Order of growth: ln grows slower than polynomials, which grow slower than
exponentials, which grow slower than factorial, at ∞.
(d) Monotone Convergence Theorem: Bounded montone sequences converge.
• Series
(1) partial sums, when the partial sums converge (as a sequence), the series con-
verges.
1
(2) geometric series: 1 + r + r2 + r3 + · · · = 1−r for |r| < 1.
P∞
(3) telescoping series: n=k (an − an+1 ) = ak if limn→∞ an = 0.
P
(4) N-th term test for divergence: If limn→∞ an 6= 0, then an diverges.
P 1
(5) p-series: np
converges when p > 1 and diverges when p ≤ 1.
• Tests for convergences
i. Integral Test: If f(x) ≥ 0, continuous, and decreasing and if an = f(n), then
Z N+1 X
N ZN
f(x)dx ≤ an ≤ f(x)dx + f(k)
k n=k k

(where k is assumed to be picked such that f(k) 6= ∞ and convergence-

problem does not depend on the choice of k as long as k is picked so that
R∞ P
ak 6= ∞) and k f(x)dx converges if and only if ∞ n=k an converges. Useful
when the associated function f(x) is easy to integrate.
ii. Comparison Test: If a series with nonnegative terms is dominated by a conver-
gent series, then the series converges. If a series dominates a divergent series,
then it diverges. Useful when we can compare the series to some known series, e.g.
p-series, geometric series.
iii. Limit Comparison Test: If bn 6= 0 for n sufficiently large and limn→∞ |a n|
|bn |
=c>
P P
0 and c 6= ∞, then an and bn have the same convergent behavior. Useful
P
when we can get a simpler series as n gets large. If c = ∞, then that bn diverges
1
2 FIRST MIDTERM CHECKLIST
P P
implies that an diverges. If c = 0, then that bn converges implies that
P
an converges.
iv. Ratio/Root test: If
 P

 an converges absolutely


<1
an+1 1 P
lim , lim |an | n > 1 an diverges
n→∞ an n→∞ 


= 1 inconclusive

Useful when the terms involve exponentials, factorials

v. Series with signs:
(a) Alternating Series Test: If an ≥ 0, an decreasing, and limn→∞ an = 0,
P
then (−1)n+1 an converges. To apply this test, you need to verify all of the
conditions to get the full credit.
P
(b) Error estimate: a1 − a2 + a3 + ... + (−1)N aN differs from (−1)n+1 an
(assuming the series converges) by no more than aN+1 .
P P
(c) Absolute convergence: If |an | converges, then an converges.
• Power series
I. Radius of convergence. Interval of convergence can be obtained by checking
whether the series converges at the end points of the convergence interval.
II. Basic manipulations with power series: multiplication, term-by-term addi-
tion/subtraction, differentiation, and integration.
III. Given an infinitely differentiable function f, the Taylor series at a is given by
X
∞
f(n) (a)
(x − a)n .
n=0
n!

When a = 0, the Taylor series is called the Maclaurin series.

IV. Some common series:
1 X ∞
= xn , |x| < 1.
1 − x n=0

X
∞
xn
x
e = converges for all x
n=0
n!
X
∞
(−1)n+1 xn
ln(1 + x) = , −1 < x ≤ 1
n=1
n
X∞
(−1)n x2n+1
arctan x = , |x| ≤ 1
n=0
(2n + 1)
X
∞
(−1)n x2n+1
sin x = converges for all x
i=0
(2n + 1)!
 FIRST MIDTERM CHECKLIST 3

X
∞
(−1)n x2n
cos x = converges for all x
i=0
(2n)!
 These are just sample problems of some of the concepts you need to know for the exam.
Please refer to the checklist for contents.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR MIDTERM 1, MATH 21C

(1) Determine whether each of the following series converges or diverges. Justify your
answers.
i.
X
∞
1
n=1
(ln 5n)n
ii.
X∞
sin n
n=1
4n + 1
iii.
X
∞
5
n=2
10 + 2n(ln n)2
iv.
X∞
4n n!
n=1
(2n)!
v.
X∞
(−1)n
n=1
6n4/3 + 8
(2) Consider the alternating series
X∞
(−1)n
2 + 10
.
n=1
n

i. Does the series converge absolutely, conditionally, or diverge?

PN (−1)n
ii. Determine (with reason) a number N such that the partial sum n=1 n2 +10 ap-
P
proximates ∞ (−1)n
n=1 n2 +10 with an error at most 1/20.
(3) (A) Let |r| < 1 and let K be a fixed positive number. Determine the sum
X
∞
rn
n=K
P∞ 2n
P∞ n+1
in closed form. Find n=3 7n . (B) Find n=0 (1/3) .
(4) Consider the power series
X
∞
(x − 1)n
.
n=0
7n2 + 4
(A) Find the interval of convergence. (B) Find the derivative and determine the
radius of convergence. (C) Compute an antiderivative of the series.
(5) Calculate the Maclaurin series for sin(2x2 ) and e2x .
(6) Calculate the coefficient for (x − 1)2 in the Taylor series for x3 + x2 + x + 1 at a = 1.