Series Convergence/Divergence Flow Chart

TEST FOR DIVERGENCE

Does limn an = 0?

NO

YES
p-SERIES
Does an = 1/np , n 1?

Is p > 1?

YES

YES
NO

GEOMETRIC SERIES
Does an = arn1 , n 1?

Is |r| < 1?

YES

YES

Is bn+1 bn & lim bn = 0?

n

an Diverges

n=1

YES
NO

NO
ALTERNATING SERIES
Does an = (1)n bn or
an = (1)n1 bn , bn 0?

an Converges

NO

an Diverges

YES

an =

a
1r

an Diverges

an Converges

NO
TELESCOPING SERIES
Do subsequent terms cancel out previous terms in the
sum? May have to use partial fractions, properties
of logarithms, etc. to put into appropriate form.

YES

Does
lim sn = s
n
s finite?

YES
NO

NO
TAYLOR SERIES
Does an =

f (n) (a)
n! (x

a) ?

YES

YES

Is x in interval of convergence?

NO

NO

P
P

an Diverges

n=0

an = s

an = f (x)

an Diverges

Try one or more of the following tests:

COMPARISON TEST
P
Pick {bn }. Does
bn converge?

YES

Is 0 an bn ?

YES

Is 0 bn an ?

YES

NO
NO

LIMIT COMPARISON TEST

lim an
n bn

Pick {bn }. Does

c finite & an , bn > 0?

=c>0

INTEGRAL TEST
Does an = f (n), f (x) is continuous, positive & decreasing on
[a, )?
RATIO TEST
Is limn |an+1 /an | =
6 1?

ROOT TEST
p
Is limn n |an | 6= 1?

YES

Does

bn converge?

n=1

YES

Does

f (x)dx converge?

YES

YES

YES
NO

YES
NO





Is lim  aan+1
 < 1?
n

YES
NO

p
Is lim n |an | < 1?

YES
NO

an Converges

P
P

an Diverges

an Converges

P
P

an Diverges

n=a

P
P

an Diverges

an Abs. Conv.

P
P

an Converges

an Diverges

an Abs. Conv.

an Diverges

Problems 1-38 from Stewarts Calculus, page 784

X
n2 1
n2 + n
n=1

14.

2.

X
n1
2+n
n
n=1

15.

3.

1
2
n +n
n=1

16.

X
n2 + 1
n3 + 1
n=1

4.

17.

1.

(1)n1

n=1

5.

6.

7.

8.

18.

n

X
3n
1 + 8n
n=1

19.

20.

1
p
n=2 n ln(n)

10.

(1)n 21/n

X
(1)n1

n1
n=2

ln(n)
(1)n
n
n=1

X
k+5

23.

X
(2)2n
nn
n=1

29.

tan(1/n)

X
tan1 (n)

n n
n=1

j
(1)
30.
j+5
j=1

31.

k=1

3k

5k
+ 4k

32.

X
(2n)n
n2n
n=1

33.

X
sin(1/n)

n
n=1

34.

5k

k 2 ek

1
n + n cos2 (n)
n=1
2

n

X
n
35.
n+1
n=1

n=1

X
(1)n+1
11.
n ln(n)
n=2

n
12.
(1) 2
n + 25
n=1
13.

X
e1/n
28.
n2
n=1

n!
2

(3n + 2)
n=0

k=1

n=1

X
n2 1
22.
n3 + 2n2 + 5
n=1
3

X
k ln(k)
(k + 1)3

k=1

21.

n2 en

27.

n=1

2k k!
(k + 2)!

k=1

sin(n)

n=1

X
(3)n+1
23n
n=1

k=1

9.

n1
n2 + n

X
3 n n2
n!
n=1

X
cos(n/2)
24.
n2 + 4n
n=1

X
n!
25.
en2
n=1

26.

X
n2 + 1
5n
n=1

36.

1
(ln(n))ln(n)
n=2

37.

n
( 2 1)n

n=1

38.

n
( 2 1)

n=1