Calculus

Series Convergence Tests

Original Design: blackpenredpen

2019

Test Series Converges Diverges Remarks

For ∞
X CANNOT show lim an 6= 0 Should always
Divergence an n→∞
convergence check first!
(TFD) n=1

∞
X first term
Geometric arn−1 |r| < 1 |r| ≥ 1 Sum =
n=1 1−r

∞ 
X  lim bn+1 = L lim bn+1 Write out several terms
Telescoping bn − bn+1 n→∞ n→∞ and cancel a lot
n=1 L has to be finite D.N.E. or inf to find partial sum
∞
X 1
P-Series p
p>1 p≤1 -
n=1
n
∞ Z ∞ Z ∞
X f (x) is positive,
an f (x) dx f (x) dx
Integral 1 1 continuous and
n=1
an = f (n) ≥ 0 Converges Diverges decreasing for x ≥ 1
∞
Direct X ∞ ∞ Try to use p-series or
an X a known X a known
Comparison an ≤ an ≥ geometric series to
n=1 convergent divergent
(DCT) an > 0 n=1 n=1 compare

an an
∞ lim = L > 0, and lim = L > 0, and
Limit X n→∞ bn n→∞ bn This version of LCT
an
Comparison ∞ ∞ is inconclusive if
n=1 X is known to X is known to
(LCT) an > 0 bn bn L = 0 or L = ∞
be convergent be divergent
n=1 n=1

∞
X
Alternating (−1)n−1 bn lim bn = 0, and Use TFD (−1)n−1

n→∞
(AST) n=1 limn→∞ (−1)n−1 bn 6= 0 = cos (n − 1)π
bn ≥ 0 bn+1 ≤ bn
∞    
X  an+1   an+1  Inconclusive if L = 1
Ratio an lim  =L<1 lim  =L>1
n→∞ a  n n→∞ a  n Great for ! and ( )n
n=1
∞
X
lim
p
n
|an | = L < 1 lim
p
n
|an | = L > 1 Inconclusive if L = 1
Root an
n→∞ n→∞ Great for ( )n
n=1

∞
X ∞
X ∞
X
If |an | converges, then an is absolute convergent (which implies an also converges)
n=1 n=1 n=1
X∞ ∞
X ∞
X
If an converges but |an | diverges, then an is conditional convergenent
n=1 n=1 n=1