Module 2: Lecture 10a Comments: Typically used for a series similar to a geometric p-

series. It can sometimes be difficult to find an appropriate

infinite series: Tests for Convergence or
series
divergence of a Series
Limit Comparison Test
Divergence Test
For with positive terms, compare with a series

For any series , evaluate lim 𝑎𝑛 . by evaluating

𝑛→∞

Conclusions: Conclusions:
» lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0, the test is inconclusive
𝑛→∞
» lim 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0, the series diverges » If 𝐿 is a real number and 𝐿 ≠ 0, then and both
𝑛→∞
converge or both diverge.
Comments: This test cannot prove convergence of a series.
Geometric Series » If 𝐿 = 0 and converges, then converges.

» If 𝐿 = ∞ and diverges, then diverges.

Conclusions: Comments: Typically used for a series similar to a geometric or

» If |𝑟| < 1, the series converges to

𝑎 p-series. Often easier to apply than the comparison test.
1−𝑟
» If |𝑟| ≥ 1, the series diverges. Integral Test
If there exists a positive, continuous, decreasing function 𝑓
Comments: Any geometric series can be reindexed to be ∞
such that 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑓(𝑛) for all 𝑛 ≥ 𝑁, evaluate ∫𝑁 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 .
written in the form 𝑎 + 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 2 + ⋯, where a is the initial
term and r is the ratio. Conclusions:

P-Series ∞
» ∫𝑁 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 and both converge or both diverge.

Comments: Limited to those series for which the corresponding

function 𝑓 can be easily integrated.

Conclusions: Alternating Series

» If 𝑝 > 1, the series converges.
» If 𝑝 ≤ 1, the series diverges.

Comments: For 𝑝 = 1 , we have the harmonic series Conclusions:

Comparison Test » If 𝑏𝑛+1 ≤ 𝑏𝑛 for all 𝑛 ≥ 1 and 𝑏𝑛 → 0, then the series

converges.
For with nonnegative terms, compare with a known
Comments: Only applies to alternating series.
Ratio Test
series

Conclusions: For any series with nonzero terms, let

» If 𝑎𝑛 ≤ 𝑏𝑛 for all 𝑛 ≥ 𝑁 and converges, then

converges. Conclusions:

» If 0 ≤ 𝑝 ≤ 1, the series converges absolutely

» If 𝑎𝑛 ≥ 𝑏𝑛 for all 𝑛 ≥ 𝑁 and diverges, then
diverges. » If 𝑝 > 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑝 = ∞, the series diverges.
» If 𝑝 = 1, the test is inconclusive. In this section we use a different technique to prove the
divergence of the harmonic series. This test, called the integral
Comments: Often used for series involving factorials or
test, compares an infinite sum to an improper integral.
exponentials.
Root Test It is important to note that this test can only be applied when
we are considering a series whose terms are all positive.
For any series , let

Suppose is a series with positive terms 𝑎𝑛 . Suppose

Conclusions:
there exists a function 𝑓 and a positive integer 𝑁 such that the
» If 0 ≤ 𝑝 ≤ 1, the series converges absolutely following three conditions are satisfied:

» If 𝑝 > 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑝 = ∞, the series diverges. i. 𝑓 is continuous.

» If 𝑝 = 1, the test is inconclusive. ii. 𝑓 is decreasing, and

iii. 𝑓(𝑛) = 𝑎𝑛 for all integers 𝑛 ≥ 𝑁.
Comments: Often used for series where

Then both converge or both diverge.

Test for convergence or divergence of a series

Theorem A: Divergence Test

If lim 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑐 ≠ 0 or lim 𝑎𝑛 does not exists, then the series ∞

𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ Although convergence of ∫𝑁 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 implies convergence of

diverges. the related series , it does not imply that the value of
the integral and the series are the same. They may be
Example:
different, and often are. For example

Solution: 1
Is a geometric series with initial term 𝑎 = and ratio 𝑟 = ,
1
𝑒 𝑒
𝑛 1 which converges to
Since lim = ≠ 0, by the divergence test, we can
𝑛→∞ 3𝑛−1 3
conclude that the series diverges.
∞ 1 𝑥
However, the related integral ∫1 ( ) 𝑑𝑥 satisfies
𝑒

1
Solution: Since → 0 , the divergence test is inconclusive.
𝑛3
Example: Using the Integral Test

1
Solution: Since 𝑒 𝑛2 → 1 ≠ 0 , the divergence test, the series
diverges.
Compare
We have

Integral Test
∞ 1
In the previous section, we proved that the harmonic series Thus the integral ∫1 𝑑𝑥 converges, and therefore so does
𝑥3
diverges by looking at the sequence of partial sums {𝑆𝑘 } and
𝑘
showing that {𝑆2𝑘 } > 1 + for all positive integers 𝑘. the series .
2
Compare
Since

∞ 1
The integral ∫1 𝑑𝑥 diverges, and therefore
√2𝑥−1

diverges.

The P-series
For any real number p, the series

is called a p-series
We know the p-series converges if 𝑝 = 2 and diverges if 𝑝 = 1.

Example: Testing for Converge of p-series

Solution: This is a p-series with 𝑝 = 4 > 1 , so the series

converges.

2
Solution: Since 𝑝 = < 1, the series diverges.
3