Lecture 27

Alternating Series Alternating Series test Notes Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Error of Estimation
Alternating Series
The integral test and the comparison test given in previous lectures, apply only
to series with positive terms.
Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series
P∞ n P∞ n+1
I A series of the form
n=1 (−1) bn or n=1 (−1) bn , where bn > 0 for
all n, is called an alternating series, because the terms alternate between
positive and negative values.

Alternating Series
P∞ n P∞ n+1
I Example
∞
X (−1)n 1 1 1 1
= −1 + − + − + . . .
n=1
n 2 3 4 5
∞
X n 1 2 3 4
(−1)n+1 = − + − + ...
n=1
2n + 1 3 5 7 9

Alternating Series
P∞ n P∞ n+1
I Example
∞
X (−1)n 1 1 1 1
= −1 + − + − + . . .
n=1
n 2 3 4 5
∞
X n 1 2 3 4
(−1)n+1 = − + − + ...
n=1
2n + 1 3 5 7 9
I We can use the divergence test to show that the second series above
diverges, since
n
lim (−1)n+1 does not exist
n→∞ 2n + 1

Alternating Series test

We have the following test for such alternating series:
Alternating Series test If the alternating series
∞
X
(−1)n−1 bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . bn > 0
n=1
satisfies
(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then the series converges.


∞
X
(−1)n−1 bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . bn > 0
n=1
satisfies
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
I we see from the graph that because the values of bn are decreasing, the
partial sums of the series cluster about some point in the interval [0, b1 ].


∞
X
(−1)n−1 bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . bn > 0
n=1
satisfies
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
I we see from the graph that because the values of bn are decreasing, the
partial sums of the series cluster about some point in the interval [0, b1 ].
I A proof is given at the end of the notes.

Notes

∞
X
(−1)n−1 bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . , bn > 0
n=1
satisfies
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

Notes

∞
X
(−1)n−1 bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . , bn > 0
n=1
satisfies
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

P∞ n
I A similar theorem applies to the series i=1 (−1) bn .

Notes

∞
X
(−1)n−1 bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . , bn > 0
n=1
satisfies
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

P∞ n
I Also we really only need bn+1 ≤ bn for all n > N for some N, since a finite
number of terms do not change whether a series converges or not.

Notes

∞
X
(−1)n−1 bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . , bn > 0
n=1
satisfies
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

P∞ n
I Also we really only need bn+1 ≤ bn for all n > N for some N, since a finite
number of terms do not change whether a series converges or not.
I Recall that if we have a differentiable function f (x), with f (n) = bn , then
we can use its derivative to check if terms are decreasing.

Example 1
P ∞ n−1
n=1 (−1) bn = b1 − b2 + b3 − b4 + . . . bn > 0 satisfies
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
Example 1 Test the following series for convergence
∞
X 1
(−1)n
n=1
n

Example 1
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
∞
X 1
(−1)n
n=1
n
I We have bn = n1 .

Example 1
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
∞
X 1
(−1)n
n=1
n
I We have bn = n1 .
I limn→∞ n1 = 0.

Example 1
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
∞
X 1
(−1)n
n=1
n
I We have bn = n1 .
I limn→∞ n1 = 0.
1 1
I bn+1 = n+1 < bn = n
for all n ≥ 1.

Example 1
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
∞
X 1
(−1)n
n=1
n
I We have bn = n1 .
I limn→∞ n1 = 0.
1 1
I bn+1 = n+1 < bn = n
for all n ≥ 1.
P∞ n1
I Therefore, we can conclude that the alternating series n=1 (−1) n
converges.

Example 1
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
∞
X 1
(−1)n
n=1
n
I We have bn = n1 .
I limn→∞ n1 = 0.
1 1
I bn+1 = n+1 < bn = n
for all n ≥ 1.
Therefore, we can conclude that the alternating series ∞ n1
P
n=1 (−1) n
I
converges.
I Note that an alternating series may converge whilst the sum of the
absolute values diverges. In particular the alternating harmonic series
above converges.
Example 2
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
Example 2 Test the following series for convergence ∞ n n
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1

Example 2
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1
n
I We have bn = n2 +1
.

Example 2
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1
n
.
n 1/n
I limn→∞ n2 +1
= limn→∞ 1+1/n2
= 0.

Example 2
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1
n
.
n 1/n
I limn→∞ n2 +1
= limn→∞ 1+1/n2
= 0.
I To check if the terms bn decrease as n increases, we use a derivative. Let
f (x) = x 2x+1 . We have f (n) = bn .

Example 2
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1
n
.
n 1/n
I limn→∞ n2 +1
= limn→∞ 1+1/n2
= 0.
f (x) = x 2x+1 . We have f (n) = bn .
(x 2 +1)−x(2x) 1−x 2
I f 0 (x) = (x 2 +1)2
= (x 2 +1)2
< 0 for x > 1.

Example 2
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1
n
.
n 1/n
I limn→∞ n2 +1
= limn→∞ 1+1/n2
= 0.
f (x) = x 2x+1 . We have f (n) = bn .
(x 2 +1)−x(2x) 1−x 2
I f 0 (x) = (x 2 +1)2
= (x 2 +1)2
< 0 for x > 1.
I Since this function is decreasing as x increases, for x > 1, we must have
bn+1 < bn for n ≥ 1.

Example 2
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1
n
.
n 1/n
I limn→∞ n2 +1
= limn→∞ 1+1/n2
= 0.
f (x) = x 2x+1 . We have f (n) = bn .
(x 2 +1)−x(2x) 1−x 2
I f 0 (x) = (x 2 +1)2
= (x 2 +1)2
< 0 for x > 1.
I Since this function is decreasing as x increases, for x > 1, we must have
bn+1 < bn for n ≥ 1.
Therefore, we can conclude that the alternating series ∞ n n
P
n=1 (−1) n2 +1
I
converges.
Example 3
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P∞ n 2n2
Example 3 Test the following series for convergence: n=1 (−1) n2 +1

Example 3
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P∞ n 2n2
2n2
.

Example 3
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P∞ n 2n2
2n2
.
I Here we can use the divergence test (you should always check if this
applies first)

Example 3
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P∞ n 2n2
2n2
.
applies first)
2n2 2
I We have limn→∞ n2 +1
= limn→∞ 1+1/n2
= 2 6= 0.

Example 3
P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
P∞ n 2n2
2n2
.
applies first)
2n2 2
I We have limn→∞ n2 +1
= limn→∞ 1+1/n2
= 2 6= 0.
2
I Therefore limn→∞ (−1)n n2n
2 +1 does not exist and we can conclude that the
series
∞
X 2n2
(−1)n 2
n=1
n +1
diverges.
Example 4

P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then the series converges. P∞ n 1

Example 4 Test the following series for convergence: n=1 (−1) n!

Example 4

P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

1
I We have bn = n!
.

Example 4

P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

1
I We have bn = n!
.
1
I Since 0 ≤ bn = n·(n−1)·(n−2)·····1
≤ n1 , we must have limn→∞ 1
n!
= 0.

Example 4

P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

1
I We have bn = n!
.
1
I Since 0 ≤ bn = n·(n−1)·(n−2)·····1
n!
= 0.
1 1 1 1
I bn+1 = (n+1)·n·(n−1)·(n−2)·····1
= (n+1)
· n·(n−1)·(n−2)·····1
= n+1
· bn < bn if
n > 1.

Example 4

P ∞ n−1
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞

1
I We have bn = n!
.
1
I Since 0 ≤ bn = n·(n−1)·(n−2)·····1
n!
= 0.
1 1 1 1
I bn+1 = (n+1)·n·(n−1)·(n−2)·····1
= (n+1)
· n·(n−1)·(n−2)·····1
= n+1
· bn < bn if
n > 1.
I Therefore
P∞ by the Alternating series test, we can conclude that the series
n 1
n=1 (−1) n! converges.

Example 5
P∞ n ln n
Example 5 Test the following series for convergence: n=1 (−1) n2

Example 5
P∞ n ln n
ln n
I We have bn = n2
.

Example 5
P∞ n ln n
ln n
I We have bn = n2
.
1/x
I limn→∞ ln n
n2
= limx→∞ ln x
x2
= (L0 Hop) limx→∞ 2x
= limx→∞ 1
2x 2
= 0.

Example 5
P∞ n ln n
ln n
I We have bn = n2
.
1/x
I limn→∞ ln n
n2
= limx→∞ ln x
x2
= limx→∞ 1
2x 2
= 0.
I To check if bn is decreasing as n increases, we calculate the derivative of
f (x) = lnx 2x .

Example 5
P∞ n ln n
ln n
I We have bn = n2
.
1/x
I limn→∞ ln n
n2
= limx→∞ ln x
x2
= limx→∞ 1
2x 2
= 0.
f (x) = lnx 2x .
2
I f 0 (x) = (x )(1/x)−2x
x2
ln x
= x−2x
x2
ln x
= x(1−2
√ x2
ln x)
< 0 if 1 − 2 ln x < 0 or
ln x > 1/2. This happens if x > e, which certainly happens if x ≥ 2.

Example 5
P∞ n ln n
ln n
I We have bn = n2
.
1/x
I limn→∞ ln n
n2
= limx→∞ ln x
x2
= limx→∞ 1
2x 2
= 0.
f (x) = lnx 2x .
2
I f 0 (x) = (x )(1/x)−2x
x2
ln x
= x−2x
x2
ln x
= x(1−2
√ x2
ln x)
< 0 if 1 − 2 ln x < 0 or
ln x > 1/2. This happens if x > e, which certainly happens if x ≥ 2.
This is enough to show that bn+1 < bn if n ≥ 2 and hence ∞ n ln n
P
n=1 (−1) n2
I
converges.

Example 6
P∞ “ ”
n π
Example 6 Test the following series for convergence: n=1 (−1) cos n

Example 6
P∞ “ ”
n π
“ ”
I We have bn = cos π . bn > 0 for n ≥ 2.
n

Example 6
P∞ “ ”
n π
“ ”
I We have bn = cos π . bn > 0 for n ≥ 2.
n
“ ” “ ”
π
I limn→∞ cos
n
= limx→∞ cos πx = 1 6= 0.

Example 6
P∞ “ ”
n π
“ ”
π
I We have bn = cos
n
. bn > 0 for n ≥ 2.
“ ” “ ”
I limn→∞ cos π = limx→∞ cos π = 1 6= 0.
n x
“ ”
I Therefore limn→∞ (−1)n cos π does not exist and the series
n
P∞ “ ”
n π
n=1 (−1) cos n diverges by the divergence test.

Error of Estimation
Estimating the Error
P∞ n−1
Suppose i=1 (−1) bn , bn > 0, converges to s. Recall that we can use the
partial sum sn = b1 − b2 + · · · + (−1)n−1 bn to estimate the sum of the series, s.
If the series satisfies the conditions for the Alternating series test, we have the
following simple estimate of the size of the error in our approximation
|Rn | = |s − sn |.
(Rn here stands for the remainder when we subtract the n th partial sum from
the sum of the series. )
Alternating Series Estimation Theorem If s = (−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
sum of an alternating series that satisfies
(i) bn+1 < bn for all n
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
A proof is included at the end of the notes.

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
Alternating Series Estimation Theorem If s =
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
P∞ n1
Example Find a partial sum approximation the sum of the series n=1 (−1) n
where the error of approximation is less than .01 = 10−2 .

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
Example Find a partial sum approximation the sum of the series ∞ n1
P
n=1 (−1) n
I We have bn = 1 . bn > 0 for n ≥ 1 and we have already seen that the
n
conditions of the alternating series test are satisfied in a previous example.

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
P
n=1 (−1) n
n
I Therefore the n th remainder, |Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 = 1 .
n+1

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
P
n=1 (−1) n
n
n+1

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
P
n=1 (−1) n
n
n+1

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
P
n=1 (−1) n
n
n+1
1 1
I Therefore, if we find a value of n for which n+1
≤ 102
, we will have the
error of approximation Rn ≤ 1012 .

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
P
n=1 (−1) n
n
n+1
1 1
≤ 102
, we will have the
I 1
n+1
≤ 1
102
if 102 ≤ n + 1 or n ≥ 101.

Example
(−1)n−1 bn , bn > 0 is the
P
(ii) lim bn = 0
n→∞
then
|Rn | = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .
P
n=1 (−1) n
n
n+1
1 1
≤ 102
, we will have the
I 1
n+1
≤ 1012 if 102 ≤ n + 1 or n ≥ 101.
I Checking
Pwith Mathematica,
P101 we get the actual error
R101 = ∞ n=1 (−1) n1
n
− n=1 (−1)n1
n
= 0.00492599 which is indeed less
than .01.

Lecture 27

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 27

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alternating Series Alternating Series test Notes Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Error of Estimation

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test

I A proof is given at the end of the notes.

Alternating Series test If the alternating series

then the series converges.

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test If the alternating series

then the series converges.

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test If the alternating series

then the series converges.

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test If the alternating series

then the series converges.

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

Alternating Series test If the alternating series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

then the series converges. P∞ n 1

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test If the alternating series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

then the series converges. P∞ n 1

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test If the alternating series

(i) bn+1 ≤ bn for all n

then the series converges. P∞ n 1

Annette Pilkington Lecture 27 :Alternating Series

Alternating Series test If the alternating series