Series Convergence/Divergence Flow Chart

TEST FOR DIVERGENCE

P
Does limn→∞ an = 0? NO an Diverges

YES P
p-SERIES an Converges
YES
Does an = 1/np , n ≥ 1? YES Is p > 1?
NO P
an Diverges
NO
a
P∞
GEOMETRIC SERIES n=1 an = 1−r
YES
Does an = arn−1 , n ≥ 1? YES Is |r| < 1?
NO P
an Diverges
NO
ALTERNATING SERIES
Does an = (−1)n bn or Is bn+1 ≤ bn & lim bn = 0?
P
YES YES an Converges
an = (−1)n−1 bn , bn ≥ 0? n→∞

NO
TELESCOPING SERIES P
Do subsequent terms cancel out previous terms in the Does an = s
YES
sum? May have to use partial fractions, properties YES lim sn = s
n→∞ NO
of logarithms, etc. to put into appropriate form.
P
s finite? an Diverges

NO
TAYLOR SERIES
P∞
n=0 an = f (x)
f (n) (a)
YES
Does an = n! (x
n
− a) ? YES Is x in interval of convergence?
NO P
an Diverges
NO

Try one or more of the following tests:

P
Is 0 ≤ an ≤ bn ? YES an Converges
COMPARISON TEST YES
P
Pick {bn }. Does bn converge? NO
NO P
Is 0 ≤ bn ≤ an ? YES an Diverges

LIMIT COMPARISON TEST P

an Converges
lim an
∞
Pick {bn }. Does =c>0 X YES
n→∞ bn YES Does bn converge?
c finite & an , bn > 0? n=1 NO P
an Diverges
INTEGRAL TEST P∞
Does an = f (n), f (x) is contin- Z ∞ n=a an Converges
YES
uous, positive & decreasing on YES Does f (x)dx converge?
[a, ∞)? a NO P
an Diverges

P
RATIO TEST an Abs. Conv.
YES
 
Is limn→∞ |an+1 /an | =
6 1? YES Is lim  aan+1  < 1?
 
n→∞ n
NO P
an Diverges

P
ROOT TEST an Abs. Conv.
p p
Is lim n |an | < 1? YES
Is limn→∞ n |an | 6= 1? YES n→∞ NO P
an Diverges