AASTU - 2021 Chapter Three: Sequence and Series Chapter Three Sequence and Series

AASTU|2021 Chapter Three: Sequence and Series
CHAPTER THREE
Sequence and Series

3.1 Definition and Types of Sequences
Definition: A sequence is a function whose domain is the collection of all integers

greater than or equal to a given integer (usually 0 or 1) denoted
by * + , where n is index, m is initial index and , is the general
term of the sequence.
Note: A sequence does not depend up on the symbol used for the index.
Example: * + and * + are the same sequences.
Exercise: Find the first four terms of * +
Convergent sequences
Intuitive definition of Limit of a sequence
A sequence * + has the limit or lim , if we can make the terms

n
as close to as we like by taking sufficiently large. The sequence is convergent if

the limit of the sequence exists, otherwise it is divergent.
Example: Consider the sequence 2 3 .
The first few terms are
Thus, here we can see that for sufficiently large values of , the terms
becomes very close to a fixed number , that is, lim . / . Therefore,
n
the sequence 2 3 is convergent and it converges to 0 .
Theorem: Limit of a Sequence
Let be a real number, Let be a function of a real variable defined on

, ) such that lim ( ) .
x 
Department of Mathematics Page 1

If * + is a sequence such that ( ) for every , then * + is
convergent and .
Example: Find the limit of the sequence 2. / 3
Solution: The nth term of the sequence is . / .
Let ( ) . /
Then ( ) . / for all ,
That is the sequence * + agrees with a function at every positive integer .
In your elementary calculus course, you have learnt that
lim ( ) lim . /
x x 
So, by the above theorem, you can conclude that lim lim . /
n n
Thus, the infinite series 2. / 3 converges
Exercise: Show that the sequence * + diverges.
Remark: The geometric sequence * + is
i) Convergent if and
ii) Divergent if
Moreover, lim 2
n

Properties of limits of sequences
The following properties of limits of sequences are those given for limits of functions of real
variable.
Let * + and * + be two sequences such that lim lim

n n
1. lim ( )
n
2. lim ( )
n
3. lim ( )
n
4. lim for any real number .

n
lim
n
5. lim where ----------
n lim
n
6. lim ( ) 4 lim 5 for any exists.

n n
lim
n
7. lim ( ) , for any , if exists.
n
Theorem: (Bounded Monotonic Sequence)

Any bounded and monotonic sequence is convergent.
Example: The sequence 2 3 , is bounded, since, , Hence, by
above Theorem, the sequence 2 3 converges.
3.2 Definition of Infinite Series
Infinite series: Let * + be an infinite sequence. Then the sum



n  m
is called an Infinite Series (or simply a series).
Remark: If the sum of an infinite series exists, then it is unique.


Example: 1) 
n 0

2) 
n 1
, ( ) - ( ) ( ) ( ) are infinite series.
3.3 Convergence and Divergence of a series
Definition: Convergent and divergent series

 
For the infinite series  a n the sum
n 1
a
n 1
k is
called the nth partial sum of the series. If the sequence * + of partial sums is
convergent and lim exists as a real number, then we say that the infinite series
n
 
a
n 1
n is convergent and we write a
n 1
n
The number is called the SUM of the series. If the sequence * + is divergent,

then we say that the series a
n 1
n diverges.
Example: Show that the series
Converges and find its sum.
Solution : The series has the following partial sums.
and so on.
Then by simple inspection, from the pattern of the above partial sums, we can
write the nth partial sum as

It follow that lim lim . / has an indeterminate form .

n n
Then by L’Hopital’s Rule;
( )
lim lim ( )
lim =1
n n n
That is, lim exists.

n

Hence, the infinite series 
n 1
is convergent and has sum
 

n 1

n 1

Example: The series 
n 1
, where c has nth partial sum

n 1
and lim
n
lim
n

Therefore, the series 
n 1
c diverges.

Telescopic Series: A series of the form 
n  m
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) is called Telescopic Series.


The nth partial sum of a telescopic series 
n  m
( ) is given by
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Thus, lim lim ( ) 4 lim 5

n n n

Example: Show that 
n 1
( )

Solution: By method of partial fractions can be written as

( )
.
( )
Now, the nth partial sum of the series is
n n

k 1
( ) 
k 1
. /
Then lim lim . / lim

n n ( ) n

Hence, the infinite series 
n 1
( )
converges and has sum
n 1
 ( )
lim
n

Example: Find the sum of the series 
n 1
.
Solution: Let
Using partial fractions,
Let ( )( )
Then, ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
It follow that
Solving the above system of linear equations, we obtain
Thus, we can write as

Which shows that the given series is telescopic series? From this telescopic
form, we can see that the nth partial sum of the series is
n n

k 1
. / 
k 1
. /
. / . / . / . /
Then lim lim . /

n n

Therefore, the telescopic series 
n 1
converges and the sum is

n 1
lim
n

Note: The series 
n 1
is called Harmonic Series
Example: Show that the harmonic series

1
n
n 1
is divergent.
Solution: For this particular series it is convenient to consider the partial

sums and show that they become large
. / since
. / .
/

In a similar manner, we can write
and so on.
In general,

This show that lim
n
and so the series 
n 1
is divergent.
Note: Geometric Series


The series having the form 
n  m
Where and are constants and is called a Geometric Series.


Theorem : (Geometric Series Theorem): A geometric series 
n  m
i) Converges if and has sum .

ii) Diverges if .
Exercise: Check the convergence or divergence of the following geometric series. If it

converges, find the sum.
 
a) 
n  0
c) 
n  2
. /
 
b) 
n  1
. / d) 
n  0
Remark: The formula for the sum of a convergent geometric series can be used to
write a repeating decimal as a rational number of the form .
Example: Use a geometric series to write the decimal number ̅̅̅̅ as a ratio .
Solution: ̅̅̅̅ can be write as
̅̅̅̅

. /
Which is the geometric series with
Since , the series converge to the sum
( )
̅̅̅̅ . /
Thus, ̅̅̅̅
Theorem: Divergence Test


a) If the series 
n  m
is convergent, then lim
n
.

b) If lim
n
does not exist or lim
n
then the series 
n  m
is divergent.
You can easily see that part (a) and part (b) of the theorem are contrapositive to
each other, hence they are logically equivalent.
Note: The converse of the above theorem generally is not true.

For example, lim . /
n
but the series 
n  1
. / is divergent.
Thus, lim , does not tell us anything about the convergence or

n

divergence of the series 
n  1
.

Example: Show that the series 
n  1
diverges.

Solution: Let Then
⁄
lim lim lim
n n n ⁄
4 5

By the Divergence Test, the series 
n  1
is divergent.

n 0
( ) is divergent.
Solution: Let ( ) for Then * + * +

which oscillates ⁄
Hence lim lim ( ) does not exist.

n n

By the Divergence Test, the series 
n 0
( ) diverges.

n 0
diverges.
Solution: Let
⁄
lim lim ⁄
. Letting we have
n n
lim lim , since whenever

n m0

By Divergence Test, the series 
n 1
diverges.

Properties of Convergent Series

 
If 
n  m
and 
n  m
are convergent series, then so are
    

n  m

n  m

n  m

n  m
and 
n  m
( ), where is constant, and
  
1. 
n  m
( ) 
n  m

n  m
  
2. 
n  m
( ) 
n  m

n  m
 
3. 
n  m
( ) 
n  m
 
4. a
n m
n
  amn
n 0

n 1
. ( )
/
 
Solution: The series 
n 1

n 1
. / is convergent geometric series, since
 
and | | , and has sum 
n 1

n 1
. / , where
, and
. / ⁄
⁄

The series 
n 1
( )
is telescopic series, and as seen in example above, we
 
know that
n 1
 ( ) 
n 1
Then, we have

  

n 1
. ( )
/ 
n 1
( ) 
n 1
 

n 1
( ) 
n 1
( )

n 2
. /
( )
Solution: . / . /
. / . /
Since < both series
 

n 2
. / 
n 2
. / are convergent geometric series and the sum is

n 2
. / where and
. / ⁄
and
⁄

n 2
. / where and
. / ⁄
⁄

Therefore, the series
n 2
 . / converges and has sum
  

n 2
. / 
n 2
. / 
n 2
. /
. / = .

Note: A finite number of terms does not affect the convergence and divergence of a
series.

n 4
( )
Solution: From the example before, we know that
 

n 1
( ) 
n 1
( )
( )
 
We have, 
n 1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 
n 4
( )

Then
n 4
 ( )
is convergent and has sum

n 4
( )
0 ( )
. /1 . /
3.4 Non negative Term Series and Tests of Convergence
Integral Test
Let * + be a non-negative sequence and let be a continuous, decreasing

function defined on , ) such that
( )

Then the series 
n  m
is convergent if and only if the improper integral
∫ ( ) is convergent.
In other words the Integral Test states the following


i) If ∫ ( ) converges, then 
n  1
converges.

ii) If ∫ ( ) diverges, then 
n  1
diverges.

Example: Determine if the following series is convergent or divergent.
Solution: In this case the function we’ll use is,

( )
This function is clearly positive and if we make larger the denominator will get larger and so
the function is also decreasing. Therefore, all we need to do is determine the convergence of the
following integral.
∫ ∫
( )|
The integral is divergent and so the series is also divergent by the Integral Test

Exercise: For what values of p is the series 
n  1
convergent?
Comparison Test
Let * + be a non-negative sequence.
  
a. If 
n  1
converges and 0 an bn for all n 1, then 
n  1

n  1
and

n  1
converges.
 
b. If 
n  1
diverges and 0 bn an for all n 1, then 
n  1
diverges.

Example: Using comparison test, show that the series 
n  1
converges.
Solution: Let and .
 
an bn for all n 1 ,Since 
n  1
converges (integral test, p > 1), 
n  1
converges.


Example: Using comparison test, show that the series 
n  0
converges.
Solution: Let and .
an bn for all n 1, since cos2n .

n  0
converges because it is geometric series and r = 1/3.

By comparison test, 
n  0
converges.
Limit Comparison Test

 
Let 
n  1

n  1
be non-negative sequences. Suppose = L, where L is a
positive number.
 
a. If 
n  1
converges, then 
n  1
converges.
 
b. If 
n  1
diverges, then 
n  1
diverges.

√
Example: Using limit comparison test, show that the series converges.
n  4
√ √
Solution: Let and .
√
= √
= = 1.
√
But = and it is p- series (p = 3/2 >1), it converges.
 
 
√ √
Since, converges, then converges.
n  1 n  1

Ratio Test

Let 
n  1
be non-negative series. Suppose an for all n and = r,
(possibly )

a. If 0 r < 1, then a
n 1
n
converges.

b. If r > 1, then  a n diverges.
n 1
If r = 1, then from this test we cannot draw any conclusion.

Example: Using ratio test, show that the series 
n  0
diverges.
Solution: Let and an for all n.
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
= = =

Since r = >1, the series 
n  0
diverges.
Root Test

Let 
n  1
be non-negative series. Suppose √ = r, (possibly )

a. If 0 r < 1, then 
n  1
converges.

b. If r > 1, then 
n  1
diverges.
If r = 1, then from this test we cannot draw any conclusion.

Example: Using root test, show that the series 
n  1
. / converges.

Solution: Let ( ) .
√ = √( ) = = = r.

Since r = < 1, 
n  1
. / converges.
3.5 Alternating series and alternating series test
If the terms in the series are alternately positive and negative, we call the
series an alternating series.

  1
n 1
Examples: 1. 2 n = 2 – 4 + 8 – 16 + …
n  1
  1
1
2. = – + – + …
n
n  1 n!
Alternating Series Test
Let * + be a decreasing sequence of positive numbers such that
 
=0. Then the alternating series   1   1
n n 1
and converge.
n  1 n  1

n  1
( ) converges.
Solution: Let .
1
Since lim = 0, and the series is alternating series,
n n
By alternating series test,



n  1
( ) converges.

3.6 Absolute and Conditional Convergence
The convergence tests we studied so far cannot be applied directly to a series



n  1
which is neither non-negative nor alternating.
 
Theorem: If the series 
n  1
| | converges, then 
n  1
converges.

n  1
( ) converges.

n  1
converges.
Remark: The converse of the above theorem does not hold true.

Example: Consider the series 
n  1
( ) .
Definition:

Let 
n  1
convergent series.
 
a. If 
n  1
| | converges, then the series 
n  1
is called absolutely

convergent or we say that 
n  1
converge absolutely.
 
b. If 
n  1
| | diverges, then the series 
n  1
is called conditionally

convergent or we say that 
n  1
converge conditionally.
Example: Determine whether the following series diverges, converges absolutely or
converges conditionally.
  
  
( )
a. ( ) b. c. ( )
√
n  1 n  1 n  1

3.7 Generalized Convergence test
a. Generalized Comparison Test

  
Let 
n  1
be a series and | | | | for all n 1.If 
n  1
| | converges, then 
n  1
converges (absolutely).
b. Generalized Limit Comparison Test:
Let ∑ and ∑ be two series. Suppose | | , where L is

fixed positive number. If ∑ converges, then ∑ converges (absolutely).
c. Generalized Ratio Test:
Let ∑ be a series and assume that for all . Let | |

(possibly r= )
 If then ∑ converges(absolutely).
 If ,then ∑ diverges.
 If , then from the ratio test alone we cannot draw any conclusion
about the convergence of ∑
d. Generalized Root Test:
Let∑ be a series. Let √ =r (possibly )
 If then ∑ converges(absolutely).
 If ,then ∑ diverges.
 If , then from the ratio test alone we cannot draw any conclusion
about the convergence of ∑
Example: Determine whether the following series converges or diverges.
a. ∑
. / ( )
b. ∑

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AASTU|2021 Chapter Three: Sequence and Series

Sequence and Series

Definition: A sequence is a function whose domain is the collection of all integers

Example: * + and * + are the same sequences.

Exercise: Find the first four terms of * +

Intuitive definition of Limit of a sequence

A sequence * + has the limit or lim , if we can make the terms

as close to as we like by taking sufficiently large. The sequence is convergent if

Example: Consider the sequence 2 3 .

The first few terms are

the sequence 2 3 is convergent and it converges to 0 .

Theorem: Limit of a Sequence

Let be a real number, Let be a function of a real variable defined on

Department of Mathematics Page 1

If * + is a sequence such that ( ) for every , then * + is

Example: Find the limit of the sequence 2. / 3

Solution: The nth term of the sequence is . / .

Then ( ) . / for all ,

That is the sequence * + agrees with a function at every positive integer .

In your elementary calculus course, you have learnt that

Thus, the infinite series 2. / 3 converges

Exercise: Show that the sequence * + diverges.

Remark: The geometric sequence * + is

Department of Mathematics Page 2

Properties of limits of sequences

Let * + and * + be two sequences such that lim lim

4. lim for any real number .

6. lim ( ) 4 lim 5 for any exists.

Theorem: (Bounded Monotonic Sequence)

Example: The sequence 2 3 , is bounded, since, , Hence, by

above Theorem, the sequence 2 3 converges.

3.2 Definition of Infinite Series

Infinite series: Let * + be an infinite sequence. Then the sum

is called an Infinite Series (or simply a series).

Remark: If the sum of an infinite series exists, then it is unique.

Department of Mathematics Page 3

3.3 Convergence and Divergence of a series

Definition: Convergent and divergent series

Example: Show that the series

Converges and find its sum.

Solution : The series has the following partial sums.

Department of Mathematics Page 4

It follow that lim lim . / has an indeterminate form .

Then by L’Hopital’s Rule;

That is, lim exists.

( ) ( ) is called Telescopic Series.

Thus, lim lim ( ) 4 lim 5

Department of Mathematics Page 5

Solution: By method of partial fractions can be written as

Now, the nth partial sum of the series is

Then lim lim . / lim

Using partial fractions,

Solving the above system of linear equations, we obtain

Thus, we can write as

Department of Mathematics Page 6

Then lim lim . /

Example: Show that the harmonic series

Solution: For this particular series it is convenient to consider the partial

Department of Mathematics Page 7

In a similar manner, we can write

Note: Geometric Series

Where and are constants and is called a Geometric Series.

i) Converges if and has sum .