Summary of Convergence Tests for Series

Test
term test
(or the zero test)
n

Series

th

Geometric series

1
X
n

=0

or

ax

-series

=1

1
X

1
X

=1

ax

Comparison

an

and

Root*

X
X

an

!1 bn

with lim

an

with lim

bn

1
X

!1

bn

=1

an

+1 j = L

j nj
a

p
n j j=
n
n!1
a

Z1

Z 1c

( ) dx converges

f x

( ) dx diverges

bn

converges =)

an

diverges =)

bn

converges =)

bn

diverges =)

bn

an

diverges

an

an

converges

converges

diverges

Converges (absolutely) if L < 1

Diverges if L > 1 or if L is innite

Diverges if L > 1 or if L is innite

X
(an > 0)

j n j converges =)
a

an

converges

Converges if 0 < an+1 < an for all n

and lim an = 0
n

!1

Useful for comparison

tests if the nth term an of
a series is similar to axn .

f x

!1 an = 0.

Useful for comparison

tests if the nth term an of
1
a series is similar to p .

Converges (absolutely) if L < 1

L

an

( 1)n 1 an

=L>0

j nj

Alternating series

an

Absolute Value

Diverges if

with an ; bn > 0 for all n

and lim

Ratio

Converges if

with 0  an  bn for all n

Limit Comparison*

and

only if jxj < 1

Diverges if p  1

an
(c  0)
=
an = f (n) for all n

an

Converges if p > 1

n c

Inconclusive if lim

Diverges if jxj  1

1
X

Integral

!1 an 6= 0

Converges to

1
n

Comments

Diverges if lim

an

Convergence or Divergence

The function f obtained

from an = f (n) must be
continuous, positive,
decreasing and readily
integrable for x  c.
The
X comparison series
bn is often a geometric
series or a p-series.
The
X comparison series
bn is often a geometric
series or a p-series. To nd
bn consider only the terms
of an that have the greatest
eect on the magnitude.
Inconclusive if L = 1.
Useful if an involves
factorials or nth powers.
Test is inconclusive if L = 1.
Useful if an involves
th
n
powers.
Useful for series containing
both positive and negative
terms.
Applicable only to series
with alternating terms.

*The Root and Limit Comparison tests are not included in the current textbook used in Calculus classes at Bates College.