Infinite Series

Department of Mathematics,
DSU

October 19, 2015

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 1 / 25

Infinite series

Definition
Given a sequence of numbers {an }, an expression of the form
a1 + a2 + a3 + ... + an + ... is an infinite series. The number an is the n-th
term of the series. The sequence {sn } defined by

s1 = a1
s2 = a1 + a2
..
.
sn = a1 + a2 + . . . + an
..
.

is the sequence of partial sums of the series, the number sn being the n-th
partial sum.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 2 / 25

Infinite series

Definition
Given a sequence of numbers {an }, an expression of the form
a1 + a2 + a3 + ... + an + ... is an infinite series. The number an is the n-th
term of the series. The sequence {sn } defined by

s1 = a1
s2 = a1 + a2
..
.
sn = a1 + a2 + . . . + an
..
.

is the sequence of partial sums of the series, the number sn being the n-th
partial sum.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 2 / 25

Convergence of infinite series

If the sequence of partial sums converges to a limit L, we say that the

series converges and that its sum is L. In this case, we also write

X
al + a2 + a3 + ... + an + ... = an = L
n=1

If the sequence of partial sums of the series does not converge, we say that
the series diverges.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 3 / 25

Geometric series

Geometric series are series of the form

a + ar + ar 2 + ... + ar n1 + ...

in which the first term a and common ratio r are fixed real numbers and
a 6= 0. The ratio r can be positive or negative. The series can also be

X
written as ar n1 .
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 4 / 25

Geometric series

Geometric series are series of the form

a + ar + ar 2 + ... + ar n1 + ...

in which the first term a and common ratio r are fixed real numbers and
a 6= 0. The ratio r can be positive or negative. The series can also be

X
written as ar n1 .
n=1
If |r | < 1, the geometric series a + ar + ar 2 + ... + ar n1 + ... converges
a
to 1r . If |r | 1 the series diverges.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 4 / 25

Geometric series

Geometric series are series of the form

a + ar + ar 2 + ... + ar n1 + ...

in which the first term a and common ratio r are fixed real numbers and
a 6= 0. The ratio r can be positive or negative. The series can also be

X
written as ar n1 .
n=1
If |r | < 1, the geometric series a + ar + ar 2 + ... + ar n1 + ... converges
a
to 1r . If |r | 1 the series diverges.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 4 / 25

The nth-Term Test for a Divergent Series

Let S represent the series sum and sn = a1 + a2 + . . . + an the n-th partial

sum. When n is large, both sn and sn1 are close to S, so their difference,
an is close to zero. More formally,

an = sn sn1 S S = 0

Remark
P
1. The lim an must equal zero if the series n=1 an converges.
n

or

X
an diverges if lim an fails to exist or is different from zero.
n
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 5 / 25

The nth-Term Test for a Divergent Series

The nth-Term Test for Divergence

X
an diverges if lim an fails to exist or is different from zero.
n
n=1

Remark
If lim an is equal to zero then nth-Term Test is inconclusive.
n

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 6 / 25

The nth-Term Test for a Divergent Series
EXAMPLE:
Use the nth-Term Test for divergence to show that the series is divergent,
or state that the test is inconclusive

X n
1
n+1
n=1

X n(n + 1)
2
(n + 2)(n + 3)
n=1

X
3 n2
n=1

X n
4
2n + 5
n=1

X 1
5 (n th Term Test is inconclusive)
n
n=1of Mathematics,
Department DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 7 / 25
Combining Series

Theorem

X
X
If an = A and bn = B are convergent series, then
n=1 n=1

X
X
X
1. Sum Rule: (an + bn ) = (an ) + (bn ) = A + B.
n=1 n=1 n=1

X
X
X
2. Difference Rule: (an bn ) = (an ) (bn ) = A B.
n=1 n=1 n=1

X
X
3. Constant Multiple Rule: (kan ) = k (an ) = kA (any number k).
n=1 n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 8 / 25

Combining Series

Remark
As corollaries of above Theorem , we have the following results:
1. Every nonzero constant multiple of a divergent series diverges.

X
X X
2. If an converges and bn diverges, then (an + bn ) and
n=1 n=1 n=1

X
(an bn ) both diverge.
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 9 / 25

Adding or Deleting Terms of series

We can always add a finite number of terms to a series or delete a finite

number of terms without altering the series convergence or divergence,
although in the case of convergence this will usually change the sum. If
X X
an converges, then an also converges for any k > 1 and conversely.
n=1 n=k

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 10 / 25

Series of Nonnegative Terms

Tests for checking the Convergence and Divergence of the Series of

Nonnegative Terms.
1 Integral Test
2 Ratio Test
3 Root Test
4 Comparison Test

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 11 / 25

The Integral Test

1. The Integral Test

Let {an } be a sequence of positive terms. Suppose that an = f (n), where
f is a continuous, positive, decreasing function of x for all x N (N
X Z
a positive integer). Then the series an and the integral f (x)dx
n=N N
both converge or both diverge.

EXERCISE:

X 1
Using integral test show that the p-series defined as where p is a
np
n=0
real constant converges if p > 1, and diverges if p 1.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 12 / 25

The Ratio Test
2. The Ratio Test

X
Let an be a series with positive terms, and suppose that
n=1

an+1
lim =p
n an

Then

a) the series converges if p < 1,

b) the series diverges if p > 1 or p is infinite,
c) the test is inconclusive if p = 1.

Remark
The Ratio Test is often effective when the terms of a series contain
factorials of expressions involving n or expressions raised to a power
involving n.
Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 13 / 25
The Ratio Test

EXERCISE:
Investigate the convergence of the following series.

X 2n + 5
a.
3n
n=1

X (2n!)
b.
n!n!
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 14 / 25

The Root Test

3.The nth-Root Test

X
Let an be a series with non negative terms, and suppose that
n=1

lim (an )1/n = p

n

Then

a) the series converges if p < 1,

b) the series diverges if p > 1 or p is infinite,
c) the test is inconclusive if p = 1.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 15 / 25

The Ratio Test

EXERCISE:
Which of the followiog series converge, and which diverge?

X n2
a.
2n
n=1

X 2n
b.
n3
n=1

X 1
c. ( )n
1+n
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 16 / 25

The Comparison Test

4.The Comparison Test

X
X
X
Let an , cn and dn be series with nonnegative terms. Suppose
n=1 n=1 n=1
that for some integer N > n, dn an cn then

X
X
(a) If cn converges, then an also converges.
n=1 n=1
X
X
(b) If dn diverges, then an also diverges.
n=1 n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 17 / 25

The Comparison Test

Theorem

X
X
(Comparison Test) Let an , bn be series with nonnegative terms,
n=1 n=1
then


an XX
1. If lim = c > 0, then an and bn both converge or both
n bn
n=1 n=1
diverge.

an X X
2. If lim = 0 and bn converges, then an converges.
n bn
n=1 n=1

an X X
3. If lim = and bn diverges, then an diverges.
n bn
n=1 n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 18 / 25

Alternating series

A series in which the terms are alternately positive and negative is an

alternating series.
EXAMPLE:
1 1 1 (1)n+1
Alternating harmonic series: 1 2 + 3 4 + ... + n + ...

Does the above series converge?

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 19 / 25

Alternating series

A series in which the terms are alternately positive and negative is an

alternating series.
EXAMPLE:
1 1 1 (1)n+1
Alternating harmonic series: 1 2 + 3 4 + ... + n + ...

Does the above series converge?

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 19 / 25

The Alternating Series Test

Theorem ( (Leibnizs Theorem))

The series

X
(1)n+1 un = u1 u2 + u3 u4 + . . .
n=1

converges if all three of the following conditions are satisfied:

1 The un are all positive.
2 un+1 un , for all n > N for some integer N.
3 lim un = 0
n

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 20 / 25

EXAMPLE:
The alternating harmonic series:

1 1 1 (1)n+1
1 + + ... + + ...
2 3 4 n
satisfies the three requirements of Leibnizs Theorem with N = 1; it
therefore converges.

EXERCISE:
Test the convergence of

X 1
(1)n+1 n
2
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 21 / 25

Absolute convergence

Definition
X
X
A series an converges absolutely if |an | converges.
n=1 n=1

Definition
A series that converges but does not converge absolutely converges
conditionally.

The alternating harmonic series converges conditionally.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 22 / 25

The Absolute Convergence Test

Theorem

X
X
If |an | converges, then an converges.
n=1 n=1

EXERCISE:
Check the convergence and absolute convergence of alternating p-series

X (1)n+1
.
np
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 23 / 25

Theorem (The Rearrangement Theorem for Absolutely Convergent Series)

X
If an converges absolutely, and b1 , b2 , . . . , bi , .. is any arrangement of
n=1

X
the sequence {an }, then bn converges absolutely.
n=1

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 24 / 25

Further Reading and Problems

READING ASSIGNMENT: Section 8.3 - Section 8.7 of Chapter 8

Infinite Series from Thomas Finney Calculus , 9th edition.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS: Infinite series exercices 1 .pdf, Infinite series
exercices 2 .pdf, Infinite series exercices 3 .pdf, Infinite series exercices 4
.pdf

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Series October 19, 2015 25 / 25