Introduction to infinite series

S Sial
Dept of Mathematics
LUMS

Fall 2022

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Outline

Outline
1 Infinite series
Definition of infinite series
2 Some examples
Example of a convergent series
Example of a divergent series
Example
Example
Example
3 Geometric series
Definition Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
S Sial (LUMS)
 Infinite series

Infinite series

Infinite series

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Infinite series Definition of infinite series

What is an infinite series?

Given real numbers {ak }∞

k=1
Does
∞
X
ak
k=1
mean anything?

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Infinite series Definition of infinite series

Consider the partial sums

S1 = a1
S2 = a1 + a2
...
Sn = a1 + a2 + · · · + an
...

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Infinite series Definition of infinite series

Convergence

P
ak = S means

lim Sn = S
Limits don’t always exist, so some series diverge.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Infinite series Definition of infinite series

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples

Some examples

Some examples

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example of a convergent series

Example of a convergent series

∞
X
0
n=1

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example of a convergent series

Example contd

The partial sums are

{S1 = 0, S2 = 0, S3 = 0, · · · , Sn = 0, · · · }

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example of a convergent series

Example contd

The limit of partial sums is

S = lim Sn = lim 0 = 0

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example of a divergent series

Example of a divergent series

∞
X
1
n=1

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example of a divergent series

Example contd

The partial sums are

{S1 = 1, S2 = 2, S3 = 3, · · · , Sn = n, · · · }

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example of a divergent series

Example contd

The limit of partial sums is

S = lim Sn = lim n
which does not exist.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example

This geometric series converges

∞
X 1 1 1
= 1 + + + ··· = 2
2k 2 4
k=0
We’ll see how to calculate the result later.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example

Gregory series

The Gregory series (1671) / Madhava (1300s)

π = 4 [1 − 1/3 + 1/5 − 1/7 · · · ]

We’ll see how to do this later.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example

The harmonic series diverges

∞
X 1 1 1 1
= + + ···
k 1 2 3
k=1
We’ll see how to determine this later.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Some examples Example

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series

Geometric series

Geometric series

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Definition

Definition

Geometric series have the form

∞
X
rn = 1 + r + r2 + r3 + · · ·
n=0

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Partial sums of the geometric series

Examine the partial sums

Sn = 1 + r + r 2 + · · · + r n
rSn = r + r 2 + · · · + r n + r n+1
(1 − r )Sn = 1 − r n+1
1 r n+1
Sn = −
1−r 1−r

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Partial sums of the geometric series

Limit of the partial sums if |r | < 1

1
Sn →
1−r
otherwise diverges.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Example

Geometric series example

Evaluate
∞  n
X 1
n=0
3

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Example

Example contd

We apply the formula

1 3
S = =
1 − (1/3) 2

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Example

Example

If we replace r with x then the formula gives us

1
= 1 + x + x2 + x3 + · · ·
1−x
for |x| < 1.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Example

Example contd

Then

1 1
= = 1 − x + x2 − x3 · · ·
1+x 1 − (−x)
for |x| < 1.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Example

Example contd

Then

x 1
= x = x − x2 + x3 − x4 · · ·
1+x 1 − (−x)
for |x| < 1.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Geometric series Example

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Telescoping series

Telescoping series

Telescoping series

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Telescoping series Definition

Telescoping series

These have the form

X X
an = (bn − bn+1)
= (b1 − b2) + (b2 − b3) + · · ·

Note that the middle terms will cancel.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Telescoping series Convergence

Convergence of telescoping sereis

Convergence depends on last term of partial

sums.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Telescoping series Example

Telescoping series example

∞ ∞  
X 1 X 1 1
= −
n=1
n2 + n n=1
n n+1

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Telescoping series Example

Example contd
Take a look at the partial sums

S1 = 1 − 1/2
S2 = (1 − 
1/2)


+ (  − 1/3)
1/2

...
1
Sn = 1 −
n+1

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Telescoping series Example

Example contd

Evaluate the limit of the partial sums

S = lim Sn = 1

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Telescoping series Example

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Important properties of series

Important properties of series

Important properties of series

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Important properties of series Linearity property

Linearity property

P P
If an = A and bn = B then
X
(αan + βbn ) = αA + βB

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Important properties of series Exercise

Exercise

Evaluate
∞
X 5
n=0
2n

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
 Important properties of series Property

Property

If one of the terms in the linear combination

diverges, then the combination diverges. e.g.
∞  
X 5 1
+
n=0
2n n + 1
diverges.

S Sial (LUMS) Introduction to infinite series MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202