Subject: Eng.

Math III

Class: BCV

Semester: 3rd

D’ Alembert’s ratio test

Statement: Suppose ∑ 𝑢𝑛 be an infinite series of positive terms. Then this series
is convergent if the ratio of each term to the preceding term is less than unity, the
series is divergent if the ratio of each term to the preceding term is greater than
unity. The ratio test fails if the ratio is equal to unity.
𝑢𝑛+1
Proof : Let ∑ 𝑢𝑛 be an infinite series of positive terms. Suppose =𝑟
𝑢𝑛

𝑢2 𝑢3 𝑢4
i.e. = 𝑟, = 𝑟, = 𝑟 and so on
𝑢1 𝑢2 𝑢3

Case(i) If 𝑟 < 1

We have,

∑ 𝑢𝑛 = 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 + 𝑢4 + ⋯ + 𝑢𝑛

𝑢2 𝑢3 𝑢4
= 𝑢1 (1 + + + + ⋯)
𝑢1 𝑢1 𝑢1
𝑢2 𝑢3 𝑢2 𝑢4 𝑢3 𝑢2
= 𝑢1 (1 + + . + . . +⋯)
𝑢1 𝑢2 𝑢1 𝑢3 𝑢2 𝑢1

= 𝑢1(1 + 𝑟 + 𝑟. 𝑟 + 𝑟. 𝑟. 𝑟 + ⋯ )

= 𝑢1 (1 + 𝑟 + 𝑟 2 + 𝑟 3 + ⋯ )

Which is geometric series of with common ratio r and r is less than one. By
geometric series it is convergent for r < 1. Since 𝑢1 is first term which is finite and
the series within bracket is convergent. So the infinite series ∑ 𝑢𝑛 is convergent.

Case(ii): if r > 1
 𝑢2
i.e. > 1 → 𝑢2 > 𝑢1
𝑢1

𝑢3
> 1 → 𝑢3 > 𝑢2
𝑢2
𝑢4
> 1 → 𝑢4 > 𝑢3 and so on
𝑢3

Now, we have

∑ 𝑢𝑛 = 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 + 𝑢4 + ⋯ + 𝑢𝑛

≥ 𝑢1 + 𝑢1 + 𝑢1 + 𝑢1 + ⋯

≥ 𝑛𝑢𝑛

Which is divergent as n tends to ∞. So it is divergent series

Case(iii) if r = 1
𝑢𝑛+1
The test fails when lim = 1 and we can not say whether the series is
𝑛→∞ 𝑢𝑛
convergent or divergent.
1 1
For example consider the two series ∑ and ∑
𝑛 𝑛2

1
Taking series ∑
𝑛

1 1
𝑢𝑛 = → 𝑢𝑛+1 =
𝑛 𝑛+1
1
𝑢𝑛+1
lim = lim 𝑛 + 1
𝑛→∞ 𝑢𝑛 𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛
𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛+1

=1
1
Similarly, taking series ∑
𝑛2
 1 1
𝑢𝑛 = → 𝑢𝑛+1 =
𝑛2 (𝑛 + 1)2
1
𝑢𝑛+1 (𝑛 + 1)2
lim = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑢𝑛 𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛2
𝑛2
= lim
𝑛→∞ (𝑛+1)2

𝑛2
= lim 2
𝑛→∞ 𝑛2 (1+ 1 )
𝑛

=1

1
Thus in both cases the limiting value is 1. But we know that ∑ is divergent
𝑛
1
while ∑ is convergent by p-test. Hence we conclude that
𝑛2

In ratio test, r < 1 implies convergent, r >1 implies divergent and r = 1 implies test
fails.

EX 2.3: Test the convergent and divergent of the series

22 32 42
(1)1 + + + +⋯
2! 3! 4!
𝑛2 (𝑛+1)2
Solution: Here general term (𝑢𝑛 ) = then 𝑢𝑛+1 =
𝑛! (𝑛+1)!
(𝑛+1)2
𝑢𝑛+1 (𝑛+1)!
Now, lim = lim 𝑛2
𝑛→∞ 𝑢𝑛 𝑛→∞
𝑛!

(𝑛 + 1)2 𝑛!
= lim
𝑛→∞ (𝑛 + 1)! 𝑛2

(𝑛 + 1)2
= lim
𝑛→∞ (𝑛 + 1)𝑛2
 (𝑛 + 1)
= lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛2

1
𝑛(1+ )
𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛2

1
=
∞
=0<1
By ratio test, it is convergent.
2! 3! 4!
5. + + +⋯
3 32 33
(𝑛+1)! (𝑛+2)!
Solution: 𝑢𝑛 = then 𝑢𝑛+1 =
3𝑛 3𝑛+1
Now,
(𝑛 + 2)!
𝑢𝑛+1 𝑛+1
lim = lim 3
𝑛→∞ 𝑢𝑛 𝑛→∞ (𝑛 + 1)!
3𝑛

(𝑛+2)!3𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 3𝑛+1 (𝑛+1)

(𝑛+1)
= lim
𝑛→∞ 3

=∞>1
Hence, it is divergent series.
𝑛
19. ∑∞
𝑛=1 2 𝑛 +1
Here
𝑛
General term(𝑢𝑛 ) =
𝑛2 +1
𝑛+1
𝑢𝑛+1 =
(𝑛 + 1)2 + 1
By ratio test,
 𝑛+1
𝑢𝑛+1 (𝑛 + 1)2 + 1
lim = lim 𝑛
𝑛→∞ 𝑢𝑛 𝑛→∞
2
𝑛 +1

(𝑛 + 1)(𝑛2 + 1)
= lim
𝑛→∞ {(𝑛 + 1)2 + 1}𝑛

1 1
𝑛3 (1+ )(1+ )
𝑛 𝑛2
= lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛(𝑛2 +2𝑛+2)

1 1
𝑛3 (1 + ) (1 + 2 )
𝑛 𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 2 2
𝑛3 (1 + + 2 )
𝑛 𝑛

=1
By ratio test, the test fails. Further test is needed
We have,
𝑛
𝑢𝑛 = 2
𝑛 +1
Taking limit n tends to infinity on both sides
𝑛
lim 𝑢𝑛 = lim 2
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛 + 1

𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛2 (1 + )
𝑛2

1
= lim
𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛(1 + )
𝑛2
=o
The series may be convergent. Let us choose another infinite series 𝑣𝑛 such
1
that 𝑣𝑛 = which is divergent by p-test (since p = 1)
𝑛
Again
 𝑢𝑛 1 𝑛
lim = lim .
𝑛→∞ 𝑣𝑛 1
𝑛(1 + 2 ) 1
𝑛→∞
𝑛
=1
which is finite and non zero
since 𝑣𝑛 is divergent and by comparison test 𝑢𝑛 is also divergent.
Hence given series is divergent.

Cauchy radical test or root test:

1
Statement: An infinite series ∑ 𝑢𝑛 of positive terms and (𝑢𝑛 ) = 𝑟 then
𝑛

(1) The series is convergent if r < 1

(2) The series is divergent if r≥ 1

Ex 2.4

Test the convergent and divergent of the series

1
1. ∑
(𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑛)𝑛

1
Solution: general term 𝑢𝑛 =
(log n)𝑛
Then
1 1
1 1
(𝑢𝑛 )𝑛 = ((log 𝑛
)𝑛 =
n) 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑛

1 1
lim (𝑢𝑛 )𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑛

=0<1
It is convergent.
𝑛+1 𝑛
3. ∑( )
3𝑛

𝑛+1 𝑛
General term (𝑢𝑛 ) = ( )
3𝑛
 1 𝑛+1
(𝑢𝑛 )𝑛 =
3𝑛

1 𝑛+1
lim (𝑢𝑛 )𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 3𝑛

1
𝑛(1 + )
= lim 𝑛
𝑛→∞ 3𝑛

1
= <1
3

It is convergent.
−1 −2 −3
23 2 33 3 44 4
6. ( 2
− ) +( 3
− ) +( 4
− ) +⋯
1 1 2 2 3 3