Nanyang Technological University

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Division of Mathematical Sciences

MH1811 Mathematics 2 Tutorial 7

Topics: Series: Partial Sums, Geometric series, Telescoping series, Divergence Test, Alternating
Series test, Integral Test, p-series.

1. Determine whether the series converges or diverges. If it converges, find the sum.

9 9 9 9
(a) 9 + + 2
+ 3
+ ··· + + ···
100 100 100 100n
(b) 1 − 2 + 4 − 8 + · · · + (−1)n−1 2n−1 + · · ·
P∞ 1
(c) n
n=1 5
∞ (−3)n−1
 
P
(d)
n=1 4n+1
P∞ 1
(e) 2
n=2 n − 1
∞  
X 3 3
(f) −
n2 (n + 1)2
n=1
X∞
(g) (sin(n) − sin(n + 1))
n=1
1 1 1
(h) + + + ···
1·3 3·5 5·7
∞ Z n+2 
X 1
(i) dx
n 1 + x2
n=1

n ∞ ∞
X X n−1 X
2. If the nth partial sum sn = ak of a series ak is sn = , find ak and ak .
n+1
k=1 k=1 k=1

3. Express the repeating number 0.234 = 0.234234234 . . . as the ratio of two integers. (Hint:
Rewrite the decimal as a geometric series or refer to an example in Thomas’ Calculus.)

4. Find the value of c if

∞
(1 + c)−n = 2.
X

n=2

1
5. Which of the following series converge, and which diverge? Justify your answers. If a series
converges, find its sum.
∞
X n(n + 1)
(a)
(n + 2)(n + 3)
n=1
∞
X en
(b)
en + n
n=1
X∞
(c) cos nπ
n=1
∞
X cos nπ
(d)
5n
n=0
∞
X 1
(e) ln
3n
n=1
∞
X 2n + 3 n
(f)
4n
n=1
∞ 
1 n
X 
(g) 1−
n
n=1
∞
X nn
(h)
n!
n=1
∞
X n
(i) ln
2n + 1
n=1
∞
X enπ
(j)
π ne
n=0
P∞ en
(k)
n=1 n

6. Determine whether the following alternating series converge or diverge.

∞ (−1)n−1 ∞ 3n − 1 ∞ ln n
(−1)n−1 (−1)n−1
P P P
(a) √ (b) (c)
n=1 n n=1 2n + 1 n=1 n

7. Determine if the p-series is convergent or divergent.

∞ 1 ∞ ∞ 1
n−2/3
P P P
(a) 3
(b) (c) π
n=1 n n=1 n=1 n

8. Use the Integral Test to determine if each of the following series converges or diverges. Be sure
to check the conditions of the Integral Test are satisfied.
P∞ 1 ∞ n2
P P∞ n−4
(a) 2
(b) n/3
(c) 2
n=3 n(ln n) n=1 e n=2 n − 2n + 1