Comparison Tests

Direct comparison test

Suppose 0 ≤ 𝑎𝑘 ≤ 𝑏𝑘 for all k

If  b converges,
k then  a converges.
k

If a k diverges, then b k diverges.

 Aside:
To use any of the Comparison Tests,
the terms must be positive.
 ln k
 k
1
ln k

1 and  diverges
k
k k

Diverges by the
Direct Comparison Test.

3

k
3 1
k 1 4  5
k
 3  
4 5
k
4
k
1
and  3   converges
4

Converges by the
Direct Comparison Test.
 
1
 4 k 3
1

1
k 2
4 k 3 4 k

1
and  4 k
diverges

Diverges by the
Direct Comparison Test.
 1
 4 k 3

1 1

4 k 3 4 k
 Limit Comparison Test
Suppose 𝑏𝑘 , 𝑎𝑘 > 0 and
ak
lim
k  b
is not zero or infinity,
k

then b kand  a k either both

converge or both diverge
 1

1
k 3
Looks like  k
1
k  3 k
lim  lim  1
k  1 k  k 3
k
1 1
So  and  do the same thing
k 3 k
1
1 So  k 3
The thing  does is diverge!
k diverges by the limit
comparison test.
 k
3 1
 4k  5 Looks like  3  4 
3
k
lim 4 k
 5  lim k
4
 1
k k  4  5
k 
 1
3 
4
k
3 1
So  4k  5 and  3  4  do the same thing
 
3
 4k  5converges by
the limit comparison
test.
 2k  3k
3
1
 3k 4  5 Looks like  k
2k  3k
3

2k 3  3k k 2
lim 3k  5
4
 lim 
k  1 k  3k 4  5 1 3
k
2k 3  3k
So  3k 4  5 and
1
k do the same thing

2k 3  3k
So  3k 4  5
diverges by the limit
comparison test.
 3 k  1 Looks like 1
 k 2  3k  k 3/2

3 k 1
2
 3 k 1 k 3/2
lim k 3 k  lim 2  3
k  1 k  k  3k 1
k 3/ 2
3 k 1 1
So  k 2  3k and k 3/2 do the same thing

3 k 1
So  converges by the
k 2  3k
limit comparison test.
 Zero Infinity test

Suppose bk, ak > 0

If
ak
lim  0 and
k  b
b k converges,
a
k
then k converges.

b
ak
If lim   and kdiverges,
k  b

then  ak diverges.
k
 ln k 1
 k3 Compare with  2
k
ln k
2
3 ln k k
lim k  lim  0
k  1 k  k
3
1
2
k
ln k
So  3 is smaller than  2
1
k k
1
And  2 Converges
k
ln k
So  k 3 Converges by the Zero-Infinity Test.
 Log-q Series

ln k
 kq converges if and only if q>1

(just like p-series)