UMTYMP Calculus I Rogness Name: Max K

Sequences and Series Toolbox

During the sections on Sequences and Series you learned a lot of definitions and a lot of theorems. This
workbook will help you to keep track of your growing toolbox! Fill this out as a first step towards reviewing
for the exam. Answers can all be found in your textbook.

Due: on Gradescope by 4pm on Monday, May 8, 2023. This will be counted as your 8 point
professional problem for the Section 11.9 assignment.

Definitions (from §11.1 through §11.6)

Sequence (p.690) A sequence can be thought of as a list of numbers written in a sequential

order : a 1 , a2 , a3 , a4 , . . . , a n , . . .

Convergent Sequence (p.692) A sequence {an } has the limit L and we write

lim an = L or an ! L as n ! 1
n!1

if we can make the terms an as close to L as we like by taking n sufficiently large.

If limn!1 an exists, we say the sequence converges (or is convergent ). Otherwise, we say the
sequence diverges (or is divergent).

Diverges to infinity (p. ): lim an = 1 means that for every positive number M there
n!
is an integer N such that
whenever

Increasing sequence (p. ) A sequence {an } is called increasing if for

all n 1, that is, a1 < a2 < a3 < · · · .

What if the inequality is only true for n 10? We can call that “eventually
increasing.” Think about why that is still a useful property.
It is called decreasing if for all n 1.

What if the inequality is only true for n 10? We can call that “ eventually
decreasing.” Think about why that is still a useful property.
It is called monotonic if it is either increasing or decreasing .
an
How can the ratio help you determine if the sequence is monotonic?
an+1
Warning: The book’s definitions of “increasing/decreasing” are really “strictly increasing/decreasing.”
In our class, “increasing/decreasing” means “monotonically increasing/decreasing,” where an  an+1 or
an an+1 for all n. See the lecture videos/notes for details. If we mean strictly, we’ll say so.
Factorial For any integer n 1, the factorial n! = n(n-1)(n-2)…(3)(2)(1) .

Bounded sequence (p.697) A sequence {an } is bounded above if there is a number M such that

for all n 1

It is bounded below if there is a number m such that

for all n 1

If it is bounded above and below, then {an } is a bounded sequence .

Infinite series (p.704) If we try to add the terms of an infinite sequence {an } we get an expression of
the form
a1 + a2 + · · · + an + · · ·
which is called an in nite series (or just a series ) and is denoted, for short,
by the symbol
1
X X
an or an
n=1

P1
Partial sum (p. 705) Given a series n=1 an = a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · , let sn denote its nth partial sum:
n
X
sn = ai =
i=1
P
If the sequence {sn } is convergent and limn!1 sn = s exists as a real number, then the series an is
called convergent and we write
1
X
a1 + a2 + · · · + an + · · · = s or an = .
n=1

The number s is called the limit of the series. Otherwise, the series is called convergent .

P1
Geometric series (p.706) The geometric series is n=1 . It is convergent only when
.

P1
Harmonic series (p.708) n=1 =

What is the harmonic series famous for? diverging despite

the sequence
approaching 0.
 P1
p-series (p. ) The p-series 1
n=1 np is convergent if p>1 and divergent if
p≤1 .

Alternating series (p.727) An alternating series is a series whose terms are alternately positive and
negative. We write it as
1
X
( 1)n 1
bn = (bn > 0).
n=1

How is the notation bn in an alternating series di↵erent from an in other series?

P
Absolute convergence, conditional convergence (pp.732–733)
P A series an is called absolutely
convergent if the series of absolute P values is convergent.
It is called conditionally convergent if an is convergent but not absolutely convergent .

Additional review: Give an example of. . .

• A series which converges: .

• A series which diverges: .

• A series which converges absolutely: .

• A series which converges conditionally: .

• A sequence {an } and a function f (x) for which an = f (n) for every n 1, such that lim an
n!1
converges but lim f (x) diverges: an = , f (x) = .
x!1

P
• A sequence {an } which converges, but an diverges: .

More on the next pages!

Theorems for Sequences
These theorems are useful for determining if a sequence converges. Do not use them on series!!

(p.693) If limx!1 f (x) = L and f (n) = an when n is any integer, then limn!1 an = L.

Limit Laws for Sequences (p.693) If {an } and {bn } are convergent sequences and c is a constant,
then

1. limn!1 (an + bn ) = +

2. limn!1 (an bn ) =

3. limn!1 (c an ) = limn!1 c = c

4. limn!1 (an bn ) = (limn! an ) ·

an limn!1 an
5. limn!1 bn = limn!1 bn if

6. limn!1 apn = [ ]p if p > 0 and p is nite .

The Squeeze Theorem (p.694) If an  bn  cn for n n0 and

= =L

then lim bn = L.
n!1

(p. ) If limn!1 |an | = , then limn!1 an = .

Is this true for any limit?

rn (p.696) The sequence {rn } is convergent if 1 < r  1 and divergent for all other values
of r. ⇢
0 if 1<r<1
lim rn =
n!1 1 if r=1

Monotonic Sequence Theorem Every bounded, monotonic sequence is convergent.

If {an } is increasing, it is bounded below by 0 ; if it is decreasing, it is bounded above by
0 .
If an increasing sequence is bounded below, must it necessarily diverge?
Theorems for Series
The following theorems are useful for determining if a series converges. Don’t use them on sequences or
integrals or anything other than a series!! They are listed from easiest to use to hardest, not in the
order they appear in the book. Always make sure your series satisfies all of the hypotheses, and that you
know what the conclusion really says! §11.7 has some useful advice about when to use which theorem.

P P
Constant Multiple / Sum / Di↵erence P (Limit) Laws for Series
P (p.709) If a
P n and bn are
convergent series, then so are the series can (where c is a constant), (an + bn ), and (an bn ), and
1
X X1
(i) can = c an
n=1 n=1
1
X
(ii) (an + bn ) = +
n=1
1
X 1
X
(iii) = an bn
n=1 n=1
P P P P P
Don’t use these if they don’t apply. If an converges and bn diverges, don’t write (an + bn ) = an + bn .

P1
(p. 708) If the series n=1 an is convergent, then limn!1 an = .

The TestP for Divergence (p.709) If limn!1 an does not exist or if limn!1 an 6= , then
the series 1n=1 an is divergent .
If limn!1 an = 0, can the series diverge?

Hypotheses: limn!1 an 6= 0 or does not exist.

P1
Conclusion: k=1 ak diverges

What can you never conclude from the test for divergence? If a series is convergent

P1
Alternating series test (p.727) If the alternating series n=1 ( 1)n 1b
n satisfies
(i) bn+1  bn for all n
(ii) limn!1 bn = 0
then the series is convergent.
Hypotheses:

Conclusion:

Don’t get carried away and try to use this test on a non-alternating series!
Integral test(p. )PSuppose f is a continuous, positive, and decreasing functionR on [1, 1)
1
and let an = f (n). Then the series 1 n=1 an is convergent if and only if the improper integral 1 f (x)dx
is convergent
R1 . In other words: P
(i) If R1 f (x)dx is convergent, thenP 1n=1 an is convergent .
1 1
(ii) If 1 f (x)dx is divergent, then n=1 an is divergent .
Hypotheses:

f is continuous, positive, decreasing, on [k,inf].

Conclusion:

The convergence or divergence of is the same as that of

Come up with some examples to help you remember when you cannot use this test.

P P
The Comparison Test (p.722) Suppose that an and bn are series with positive terms.
P P
1. If bn is convergent and an  bn for all n, then an is also convergent .
P P
2. If bn is divergent and an bn for all n, then an is also divergent .
Hypotheses:

Conclusion:

Think about why we require 0  an and 0  bn .

P P
Limit Comparison Test (p. ) Suppose that an and bn are series with positive
terms. if
an
lim = c,
n!1 bn
where c is a nite number and c > 0, then either both series converge or both series diverge.
Hypotheses:

Conclusion:

If your comparison test fails, try a limit comparison test instead with the same bn .
 P
Absolute convergence (p.733) if a series an is absolutely convergent, then it is convergent.

Hypotheses:

Conclusion:

is convergent.

This lets you use the Comparison Tests because |an | 0 automatically! But it does not help you if the
series is only conditionally convergent.

Ratio test (p.734)

an+1 P
(i) If lim = L < 1, then the series 1n=1 an is absolutely convergent (and therefore
n!1 an
convergent).
an+1 an+1 P
(ii) If lim = L > 1 or If lim = 1, then the series 1n=1 an is divergent .
n!1 an n!1 an
an+1
(iii) If If lim = 1, the Ratio Test is inconclusive; that is, no conclusion can be drawn about the
n!1 an P
convergence or divergence of an .

Hypotheses:

exists and is positive and is equal to L.

Conclusion:

Warning: sometimes this test gives you no information at all! This sort of test is easiest to do when an
involves things that cancel nicely in the ratio, such as 3n and n!.
Root test(p. )
p P
(i) If lim n
|an | = L < 1, then the series 1 n=1 an is absolutely convergent (and therefore
n!1
convergent ).
p p P
(ii) If lim n |an | = L > 1 or If lim n |an | = 1, then the series 1
n!1 n!1 n=1 an is divergent .
p
(iii) If lim n |an | = 1, the Root Test is inconclusive.
n!1

Hypotheses:
exists and is positive and is equal to L.

Conclusion:

Warning: sometimes this test gives you no information at all! This test is useful when every part of an
is raised to the power n.

The Ratio Test and Root Test give the same information about a series, because

an+1 p
lim = lim n |an |.
n!1 an n!1

Write a short reminder to yourself about when it is worth choosing the Ratio Test, and when you should
use the Root Test instead:

If there is nth powers on every part of the expression,

use the root test. If there is factorials or powers or not
all nth powers, use ratio test.

P
Power Series. Explain how to find the radius of convergence of a power series cn (x a)n using
the Ratio Test or Root test.

By the professional problem of week 15,

After finding the radius of convergence, how do you find the interval of convergence?