LESSON 2-1

TEST FOR CONVERGENCE

MAPUA UNIVERSITY
TESTS FOR CONVERGENCE
 Divergence Test
THEOREM:

a) If then the series diverges.

b) If then the series may either

converge or diverge.
 EXAMPLE

Determine whether the series converges∨diverges

1.)
Solution:
Let =
Applying limit on the series
(indeterminate)
Apply LHR:
0
Using the theorem, if then the series diverges.
:. diverges
 EXAMPLE

Determine whether the series converges∨diverges

2.)
Solution:
Let =
Applying limit on the series
(indeterminate)
Apply LHR:
0
Using the theorem, if then the series diverges.
:. diverges
 Integral Test

THEOREM: Let be a series with positive terms.

If f is a function that is decreasing and continuous on
an interval and such that for all

and

both converge or both diverge.

 EXAMPLE

Confirm that the Integral Test is applicable and use it to determine whether
the series converges.
To confirm if integral test is applicable, prepare tables values
1. of x and y x 1 2 3
Let y =
y 1/5 1/6 1/7
Solution:
Since the y values are decreasing, integral test is applicable.
.
Applying integration on the series,
Let u = x + 4, du = dx

the integral diverges, and consequently so does the series.

 EXAMPLE

Confirm that the Integral Test is applicable and use it to determine whether the
series converges.
∞
1
∑ 1+9 𝑘2
2. 𝑘=1
Solution:
x 1 2 3
To confirm if integral test is applicable, Let y =
prepare tables values of x and y . y 1/10 1/6 1/7
Applying integration on the series, Since the y values are decreasing, integral test is
∞ 𝑏
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 applicable.
∫ 1+9 𝑥
2
= lim ∫
𝑏 → ∞ 1 1+9 𝑥
2 Let u = 3x, du = 3dx
1
= =
.
=
Note:
= the integral converges, and
consequently so does the series.
 EXAMPLE

Confirm that the Integral Test is applicable and use it to determine whether
the series converges.
2.
Solution:
x 1 2 3
To confirm if integral test is applicable, prepare Let y =
y 1/2 4/9 9/28
tables values of x and y.
Applying integration on the series, Since decreasing values can be observed,
=; integral test is applicable

Since the integral diverges, then the series also diverges

 Comparison Test

THEOREM:
Let

terms and suppose that

a) If the “bigger series” converges, then the “smaller series”

also converges.

b) If the “smaller series” , then the “bigger series”

.
also diverges

.
 Comparison Test

INFORMAL PRINCIPLE

1. Constant terms in the denominator of can usually be deleted

without affecting the convergence or divergence of the series

2. If a polynomial in appears as a factor in the numerator or

denominator of , all but the leading term in the polynomial
can usually be discarded without affecting the convergence or
divergence of both series
.

.
 EXAMPLE

Determine if the following series is convergent or divergent.

1.

Solution:
Eliminating the cosine term gives us, a -series with.

And in -series if is less than or equal to one, the series

diverges.

So,. the series diverges.

.
 EXAMPLE

2.
Solution:
Find a series that can be compared with the given series
by dropping the constant term.
The series is
for

Using which is the “smaller series” and simpler than is a

geometric series. And its r = 1/3.
For geometric seriesthe series converges.
Thus,. the given series also converges.

.
 Limit Comparison Test

THEOREM: Let and be series with positive terms and

suppose that

If

.
 EXAMPLE

Use the limit comparison test to determine whether the series

converges.
1.
Solution:
Let and
Using the formula,

Apply LHR:
(finite)
using it is a harmonic series (diverges). Thus,
. also diverges.

.
 EXAMPLE
2.
Solution:
Let and
Using the formula,

= = = = 1 (finite)
Using
also diverges

.
 Ratio Test

THEOREM: Let be a series with positive terms and

suppose that

a) If the series converges.

b) If or the series diverges

c) If the series may converge or diverge, so

.
that another test must be tried.

.
 EXAMPLE

1. Use Ratio Test to determine whether the series converges.

Solution:
let and

Using
Dividing the numerator and
denominator by

Applying the limit,

. Since

The series converges

.
 EXAMPLE

2. Determine if the given series converges or diverges.

Solution:
Let and
and using

= = cancel and
= =0
:. converges

Since

.
 Root Test

THEOREM: Let be a series with positive terms and

suppose that

a) If the series converges.

b) If or the series diverges.

c) . If the series may converge or diverge, so

that another test must be tried.

.
 EXAMPLE

1. Determine if the following series

converges or diverges.
Solution: using the formula,
Divide both terms by

the series converges.

.
 EXAMPLE
2. Use the root test to determine whether the following
series converge or diverge.

Solution: Using the root test formula,

simplifying by cancelling k and applying limits

Since .

.
 SUMMARY OF CONVERGENCE TEST

.
 SUMMARY OF CONVERGENCE TEST