cheat sheet

1 2 3
Divergence or nth Term Test Geometric Series Test p - Series Test
Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 Series: ∑∞
𝑛=0 𝑎𝑟
𝑛
Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1
1
𝑛𝑝

Condition(s) of Convergence: Condition of Convergence:

Condition of Convergence:
None. This test cannot be used to |𝑟| < 1
𝑝>1
show convergence.
𝑎(1−𝑟 𝑛) 𝑎
Sum: 𝐒 = lim = Condition of Divergence:
Condition(s) of Divergence: 𝑛→∞ 1−𝑟 1−𝑟
𝑝≤1
lim 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0
𝑛→∞ Condition of Divergence:
|𝑟| ≥ 1
4 5 6
Alternating Series Test Integral Test Ratio Test
Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 (−1)
𝑛+1
𝑎𝑛 Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛
when 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑓(𝑛) ≥ 0
Condition of Convergence: and 𝑓(𝑛) is continuous, positive and Condition of Convergence:
0 < 𝑎𝑛+1 ≤ 𝑎𝑛 decreasing 𝑎𝑛+1
lim | |<1
lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0 𝑛→∞ 𝑎𝑛
𝑛→∞
or if ∑∞ Condition of Convergence:
𝑛=0 |𝑎𝑛 | is convergent ∞
∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 converges Condition of Divergence:
𝑎𝑛+1
Condition of Divergence: lim | |>1
𝑛→∞ 𝑎𝑛
None. This test cannot be used Condition of Divergence:
∞
to show divergence. ∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 diverges
* Test inconclusive if
𝑎𝑛+1
* Remainder: |𝑅𝑛 | ≤ 𝑎𝑛+1 * Remainder: 0 < 𝑅𝑁 ≤
∞
∫𝑁 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 lim | |=1
𝑛→∞ 𝑎𝑛
7 8 9
Root Test Direct Comparison Test Limit Comparison Test
(𝑎𝑛 , 𝑏𝑛 > 0) ({𝑎𝑛 }, {𝑏𝑛 } > 0)
Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛
Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛
Condition of Convergence:
𝑛
lim √|𝑎𝑛 | < 1 Condition of Convergence: Condition of Convergence:
𝑛→∞ 0 < 𝑎𝑛 ≤ 𝑏𝑛 𝑎𝑛
lim =𝐿>0
and ∑∞ 𝑛=0 𝑏𝑛 is absolutely 𝑛→∞ 𝑏𝑛
Condition of Divergence:
𝑛 convergent and ∑∞𝑛=0 𝑏𝑛 converges
lim √|𝑎𝑛 | > 1
𝑛→∞
Condition of Divergence: Condition of Divergence:
* Test inconclusive if 0 < 𝑏𝑛 ≤ 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛
lim =𝐿>0
𝑛
lim √|𝑎𝑛 | = 1 and ∑∞𝑛=0 𝑏𝑛 diverges
𝑛→∞ 𝑏𝑛
∞
𝑛→∞ and ∑𝑛=0 𝑏𝑛 diverges
10 NOTE: These tests prove
Telescoping Series Test NOTE: convergence and divergence, not
1) May need to reformat with partial the actual limit 𝐿 or sum S.
Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 (𝑎𝑛+1 − 𝑎𝑛 ) fraction expansion or log rules.
2) Expand first 5 terms. n=1,2,3,4,5. Sequence: lim 𝑎𝑛 = 𝐿
𝑛→∞
Condition of Convergence: 3) Cancel duplicates. (𝑎𝑛 , 𝑎𝑛+1 , 𝑎𝑛+2 , …)
lim 𝑎𝑛 = 𝐿 4) Determine limit L by taking the
𝑛→∞
limit as 𝑛 → ∞. Series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝐒
Condition of Divergence: None 5) Sum: 𝑆 = 𝑎1 − 𝐿 (𝑎𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛+1 + 𝑎𝑛+2 + ⋯ )
Choosing a Convergence Test for Infinite Series

Do
the individual No
terms approach 0? Series Diverges by
the Divergence Test

Yes

Use
Does Do individual
Yes Yes Ratio Test
the series terms have
alternate factorials or
signs? exponentials?

No
No

Is individual term Use

easy to integrate? Use
Alternating
Yes Integral Test Series Test
No

Do individual terms Yes Use Comparison Test

involve fractions with or Limit Comp. Test
powers of n? (Look at dominating
terms)
No