Series 03

Alternating series, Conditional
and Absolute convergence
S Sial
Dept of Mathematics
LUMS
Fall 2022
S Sial (LUMS) Alt, Abs, Cond Conv MATH 102 Fall semester 2022-202
Outline
Outline
1 Alternating series
Definition
Example
Theorem: Alternating series test
Example
Caveat
Error bound for convergent alternating
series
Example
Example
Alternating series
Alternating series
Alternating series
Alternating series Definition
Alternating series
An alternating series is one whose terms

alternate in sign.
Alternating series Example
Example
x2 x4
cos(x) = 1 − + · · ·
2! 4!
Alternating series Theorem: Alternating series test
Theorem: Alternating series test
P
If an is an alternating series and an → 0 then
the series converges.
Alternating series test example
The alternating harmonic series
1 − 1/2 + 1/3 − 1/4 · · ·

converges because it is an alternating series with
terms that converge to zero.
Alternating series Caveat
Be careful!
Just an → 0 not enough for convergence in

general.
Recall harmonic series
1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + · · ·
Alternating series Error bound for convergent alternating series
Error bound when estimating with

first N terms
If ∞
P
n=1 is a convergent alternating series then
the error by estimating using the first N terms is
bounded by
∞
X N
X
an − an ≤ |aN+1|
n=1 n=1
Example
Consider the alternating series

1 3 1 5
sin(x) = x − x + x ···
3! 5!
which converges for all x. Get an error bound for
the approximation sin(x) ≈ x.
Example

1 2 1 4
cos(x) = 1 − x + x ···
2! 4!
which converges for all x. Get an error bound for
the approximation cos(x) ≈ 1 − x 2/2.
Absolute and conditional convergence
Absolute and conditional

convergence
Absolute and conditional convergence
Absolute and conditional convergence Definition
Absolute convergence
P P
If an is a series and |an | converges, then
P
an is said to be absolutely convergent.
Absolute and conditional convergence Absolute convergence and convergence
Absolute convergence and

convergence
P
If an is absolutely convergent, then it is
convergent.
Absolute and conditional convergence Absolute convergence and convergence
A way of proving convergence
Sometimes it is easier to prove absolute

convergence of a series, and therefore
convergence, than to prove convergence directly.
Absolute and conditional convergence Example
Example
∞
X (−1)n
n=1
n2
We can show that is convergent by noting that
1
→ 0
n2
and applying the alternating series test.
Example contd
Is the alternating series absolutely convergent?
This is the same as asking if

∞ ∞
X (−1)n X 1
2
= 2
n=1
n n=1
n
converges.
Example contd
∞
X 1
n 2
n=1
is a p-series with p = 2 > 1, so we know that it
converges.
Then the original series is absolutely convergent.
Example
Consider the series

∞
X sin(n)
n=1
n3
Do you think this series is absolutely convergent
( and therefore convergent )?
Conditional convergence
Conditional convergence Definition
P P
If an is a convergent series and |an | is
P
divergent, then an is said to be conditionally
convergent.
Conditional convergence Example
Example
Alternating harmonic series
Conditional convergence Conditional convergence is strange
Conditional convergence is a
strange business
The terms of a conditionally convergent series

can be rearranged to give any result that you
want.
Conditional convergence Conditional convergence is strange
Problems
Problems
Problems
Problems Problem
Problem 1
Investigate convergence of
−1 + 1/2! − 1/3! + 1/4! · · ·
Problems Problem
Problem 2
∞
X 7
(−1)n+1
n=1
3n
Problems Problem
Problem 3
∞
X 7
(−1)n+1 5
n=1
3n
Problems Problem
Problem 4
−x + x/2! − x/3! + x/4! · · ·
Problems Problem
Problem 4
∞
X 1
(−1)n+1 p
n=1
n
Problems Problem
Problem 5
True or false?
∞
X ∞
X
an diverges ⇒ an2 diverges
n=1 n=1
Problems Problem
Problem 6
∞ √
X n + sin n
(−1)n+1
n=1
n + 137
Problems Problem
Problem 7
∞
X 3/n + n + (−1)n+3
n=1
n + 137
Problems Problem
Problem 7
∞
X 1
n=1
log(3n + 5)
Problems Problem
Problem 8
∞
X n!
n=1
nn

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Alternating series, Conditional

and Absolute convergence

An alternating series is one whose terms

Theorem: Alternating series test

Alternating series test example

The alternating harmonic series

1 − 1/2 + 1/3 − 1/4 · · ·

Just an → 0 not enough for convergence in

Recall harmonic series

1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + · · ·

Error bound when estimating with

Consider the alternating series

Consider the alternating series

Absolute and conditional

Absolute and conditional convergence

Absolute convergence and

A way of proving convergence

Sometimes it is easier to prove absolute

Is the alternating series absolutely convergent?

This is the same as asking if

Then the original series is absolutely convergent.

Consider the series

Alternating harmonic series

The terms of a conditionally convergent series

−1 + 1/2! − 1/3! + 1/4! · · ·

−x + x/2! − x/3! + x/4! · · ·

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