Scribd
Upload
27 views11 pages

Alternating Series and Absolute Convergence

The document discusses alternating series, which are characterized by terms that alternate in sign, and provides examples of convergent and divergent series. It also introduces the concepts of absolute convergence and conditional convergence, explaining how the absolute values of series terms can affect convergence. Several examples are provided to illustrate these concepts and determine the nature of specific series.

Uploaded by

juho2302
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views11 pages

Alternating Series and Absolute Convergence

The document discusses alternating series, which are characterized by terms that alternate in sign, and provides examples of convergent and divergent series. It also introduces the concepts of absolute convergence and conditional convergence, explaining how the absolute values of series terms can affect convergence. Several examples are provided to illustrate these concepts and determine the nature of specific series.

Uploaded by

juho2302
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

11.

5 Alternating Series and Absolute Convergence


∎ Alternating Series

∎ 𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 : a series whose terms are alternately positive and negative.

1 1 1 1 1 𝑛−1 1
ex. 1 − 2 + 3 − 4 + 5 − 6 + ⋯ = σ∞
𝑛=1 −1 𝑛

1 2 3 4 5 6 𝑛 𝑛
− + − + − + − ⋯ = σ∞
𝑛=1 −1
2 3 4 5 6 7 𝑛+1

→ the 𝑛th term of an alternating series is of the form

𝑛−1 𝑏
𝑎𝑛 = −1 𝑛 or 𝑎𝑛 = −1 𝑛 𝑏𝑛

where 𝑏𝑛 is a positive number. (In fact, 𝑏𝑛 =| 𝑎𝑛 |.)


𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟏. (alternating harmonic series)

∞
𝑛−1
1 1 1 1 1 1
෍ −1 = 1 − + − + − + ⋯ ∶ convergent
𝑛 2 3 4 5 6
𝑛=1
∞ −1 𝑛 3𝑛
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟐. Determine whether the series σ𝑛=1 converges or diverges.
4𝑛−1
2
σ∞ 𝑛+1 𝑛
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟑. Test the series 𝑛=1 −1 for convergence or divergence.
𝑛3 +1
∎ Absolute Convergence and Conditional Convergence

Given any series σ 𝑎𝑛 we can consider the corresponding series


∞

෍ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ⋯
𝑛=1
whose terms are the absolute values of the terms of the original series.

Note. If σ 𝑎𝑛 is a series with positive terms, then 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 and so absolute


convergence is the same as convergence in this case.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟓. The alternating series
∞
−1 𝑛−1 1 1 1
෍ = 1 − + − + ⋯ ∶ absolutely convergent
𝑛2 22 32 42
𝑛=1
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟔.
∞
𝑛−1
1 1 1 1 1 1
෍ −1 = 1 − + − + − + ⋯ ∶ conditionally convergent
𝑛 2 3 4 5 6
𝑛=1
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟕. Determine whether the series
∞
cos𝑛 cos1 cos2 cos3
෍ 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 +⋯
𝑛 1 2 3
𝑛=1
is convergent or divergent.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟖. Determine whether the series is absolutely convergent, conditionally
convergent, or divergent.

−1 𝑛 −1 𝑛 𝑛
(a) ∞
σ𝑛=1 3 (b) ∞
σ𝑛=1 3 (c) σ∞
𝑛=1 −1
𝑛
𝑛 𝑛 2𝑛+1

You might also like