Infinite Series of Constant Terms

Christopher F. Santos

KEMATH3 / MATH115
De La Salle University
Special Term 2015

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 1/1

Infinite Series

The sum of the terms of an infinite sequence {an } is

called an infinite series.
It is usually written as
∞
X
an = a1 + a2 + . . . + an + . . .
n=1

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 2/1

Convergent vs. Divergent Series

∞
X
The nth partial sum of the series an is given by
n=1

sn = a1 + a2 + . . . + an .

and the sequence {sn } is called the sequence of

partial sums.
If {sn } converges to a real number S, then we say that
the series is convergent and its sum is S. If {sn }
diverges, then the series is divergent.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 3/1

Examples

1
The series
∞  n
X 1 1 1 1
= + + + ...
2 2 4 8
n=1

is a convergent geometric series and its sum is 1.

2
The series
∞ ∞  
X 1 X 1 1
= −
n(n + 1) n n+1
n=1 n=1

is a convergent telescoping series with sum = 1.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 4/1

Geometric Series Test

The geometric series

∞
X ∞
X
n−1
ar = ar n = a + ar + ar 2 + . . .
n=1 n=0

a
is convergent if |r | < 1 and its sum is given by .
1−r
If |r | ≥ 1, the geometric series is divergent.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 5/1

Example

The series
∞ ∞ n−1
(−4)n

X X −2
= 6·
6n−1 3
n=0 n=1

−2
is a geometric series with a = 6 and r = 3 .

Since |r | = 23 < 1, then it is convergent and its sum is

a
equal to 1−r = 18
5.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 6/1

Divergence Test

∞
X
If lim an 6= 0, then the series an is divergent.
n→∞
n=1

Examples: The series

∞ ∞
X n2 + n − 1 X n
and
3n2 − 2n 1 + ln n
n=1 n=1

are divergent by the Divergence Test.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 7/1

Combining Series

Theorem: If
X X
an = A and bn = B

are convergent series and k ∈ R, then

P P P
1
(an + bn ) = an + bn = A + B
P P
2
k · an = k an = kA

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 8/1

Combining Series

Corollary:
X X
1
If an is div, then so is k · an .
X X
2
If an is conv and bn is div, then
X
(an + bn ) is divergent.
X X
3
If an and bn are both div, then
X
(an + bn ) may be conv or div.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 9/1

Adding or Deleting Terms

Adding or deleting a finite number of terms does not

affect the convergence or divergence of a series,
although the sum of the conv series does change.
∞
X ∞
X
NOTE: an = a1 + a2 + . . . + ak −1 + an
n=1 n=k
X∞ ∞
X
=⇒ an = an − (a1 + a2 + . . . + ak −1 )
n=k n=1
∞ ∞  
X 1 X 1 1 1 3 1
Example: n
= n
− + =1− =
2 2 2 4 4 4
n=3 n=1

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 10 / 1

Reindexing

As long as we preserve the order of its terms, we can

reindex any series without changing its convergence
or divergence.
∞
X ∞
X ∞
X
NOTE: an = an−h = an+h
n=1 n=h+1 n=1−h
∞ ∞ ∞
X 1 X 1 X 1
Example: = =
2n 2n−2 2n+3
n=1 n=3 n=−2

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 11 / 1

Infinite Series of Nonnegative Terms

For series with nonnegative terms, we determine their

convergence or divergence by applying any of the
following tests:

1
Integral Test 3
Comparison Test
2
p-Series Test 4
Limit Comparison Test

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 12 / 1

Corollary of the Monotone Convergence Theorem

P
A series an of nonnegative terms converges if and
only if its sequence of partial sums is bounded above.

This corollary was used to prove the following

theorem: The harmonic series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
=1+ + + + ...
n 2 3 4
n=1

is divergent.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 13 / 1

The Integral Test

Let {an } be a sequence of positive terms and let f be

a function of x such that f (n) = an and continuous
and decreasing on [k , ∞) for some k ∈ N.
X∞ Z ∞
Then the series an and the integral f (x) dx
n=k k
both converge or diverge.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 14 / 1

Example
The series ∞
X 1
n(ln n)2
n=2
is convergent by the Integral Test.
1
The function f (x) = is continuous, positive,
x(ln x)2
Z ∞ decreasing on [2, ∞), and the improper integral
and
1 1
2
dx converges to .
2 x(ln x) ln 2
∞
1 X 1
NOTE: is not the sum of .
ln 2 n(ln n)2
n=2
Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 15 / 1
p Series Test

The p series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
= + + + ...
np 1p 2p 3p
n=1

converges if p > 1 and diverges if p ≤ 1.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 16 / 1

Examples
1
The series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
= 1 + + + + ...
n2 4 9 16
n=1
is a p series with p = 2 > 1 and, therefore,
convergent.
2
The series
∞ ∞
X 1 1 1 1 X 1
2
= + + + ... = −1
(n + 1) 4 9 16 n2
n=1 n=1
∞
X 1
is convergent since is convergent.
n2
n=1
Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 17 / 1
Examples

3. The series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
= + + + ...
n2 + 1 2 5 10
n=1

is not a p series but it is convergent by the Integral

1
Test since f (x) = 2 is continuous, positive,
x +1 Z ∞
1
and decreasing on [1, ∞) and 2
dx
1 x +1
π
converges to .
4

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 18 / 1

Comparison Test

P P
Let an and bn be series of nonnegative terms.

Pan ≤ bn for all n ≥

(i) If Pk for some k ∈ N and
bn is conv then an is also conv

Pan ≥ bn for all nP≥ k for some k ∈ N and

(ii) If
bn is div then an is also div

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 19 / 1

Examples

∞
1 1 X 1
1. Since 2 < for all n ≥ 1 and is conv
n + 1 n2 n2
n=1
then the series
∞
X 1 1 1 1
= + + + ...
n2 + 1 2 5 10
n=1

is also convergent by Comparison Test.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 20 / 1

Examples
∞
X 1
2. Determine if is conv/div.
n!
n=1
∞
1 1 X 1
It is true that ≤ for all n ≥ 1. But since
n! n n
n=1
is div then the Comparison Test is not applicable.
∞
1 1 X 1
However, ≤ n−1 for all n ≥ 1 and is
n! 2 2n−1
n=1
∞
X 1
conv then is also conv by Comparison Test.
n!
n=1

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 21 / 1

Limit Comparison Test

P P
Let an and bn be series of positive terms and let
an
lim = L.
n→∞ bn

(i) If L > 0 then either both series conv or both series

div.
P P
(ii) If L = 0 and bn is conv then an is also conv
P P
(iii) If L = ∞ and bn is div then an is also div

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 22 / 1

Examples

∞
X 4n2 + 3n − 1
1. The series is conv by LCT
3n5 + n
n=1
∞
X 1 an 4
since is conv and lim = >0
n3 n→∞ bn 3
n=1
4n2 + 3n − 1 1
where an = and bn = .
3n5 + n n3

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 23 / 1

Examples

∞
X ln n
2. The series √ is div when compared with
n=3
n−1
∞
X 1
√ either by Comparison Test or LCT.
n=3
n

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 24 / 1

Infinite Series of Positive and Negative Terms

For series with nonnegative terms, we determine their

convergence or divergence by applying any of the
following tests:

1
Alternating Series Test 3
Ratio Test
2
Abs Conv Test 4
Root Test

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 25 / 1

Alternating Series Test

The alternating series

∞
X ∞
X
n
(−1) bn or (−1)n+1 bn
n=1 n=1

is convergent if the ff. 3 conditions are satisfied:

1
bn > 0 for all n ≥ 1
2
bn+1 ≤ bn for all n ≥ k for some k ∈ N
(i.e. {bn } is eventually decreasing)
3
lim bn = 0
n→∞

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 26 / 1

Examples

The alternating harmonic series

∞
X 1 1 1 1
(−1)n+1 = 1 − + − + ...
n 2 3 4
n=1

and the series

∞
X (−1)n 1 1 1
= − + − + ...
n2 + n 2 6 12
n=1

are convergent by the AST.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 27 / 1

Absolutely Conv vs. Conditionally Conv
P P
A series an is absolutely convergent if |an | is
convergent.
P P P
If an is conv but |an | is divergent then an is
conditionally convergent.

Examples:
∞
X 1
1
(−1)n+1 is conditionally convergent.
n
n=1
∞
X (−1)n
2
is absolutely convergent.
n2 + n
n=1

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 28 / 1

Theorem

P P
If |an | is convergent then an is convergent.
(i.e. absolute convergence implies convergence)

Hence, there are 3 possibilities:

P P
1
|an | conv =⇒ an conv (absolutely conv)
P P
2
|an | div but an conv (conditionally conv)
P P
3
|an | div and an div (divergent)

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 29 / 1

Example
∞
X 2 cos n
Discuss the convergence of the series 3 .
n=1
3n 2 + n
 
 2 cos n 
Since  3  < 2 3 for all n ≥ 1 and
3n 2 + n 3n 2 

∞ ∞ 
X 2 X  2 cos n 
3 is conv then
 3  is also conv
3n 3n + n
2
 2 
n=1 n=1
by Comparison Test.
∞
X 2 cos n
Therefore, 3 is absolutely convergent and,
n=1
3n 2 + n
hence, convergent.
Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 30 / 1
Ratio Test

P
Suppose
  an is a series with nonzero terms and
 an+1 
lim   = L.
n→∞ an 

(i) If L < 1 then the series is abs conv and, thus,

conv.

(ii) If L > 1 or L = ∞ then the series is div.

(iii) If L = 1 then no conclusion can be made from this

test.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 31 / 1

Examples

The series ∞
X 4n n
(−1)
(2n + 1)!
n=1
is absolutely convergent while the series
∞
X 1 · 3 · 5 · · · (2n − 1)
n!
n=1

is divergent by Ratio Test.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 32 / 1

Example
The Ratio Test fails for the series
∞ 2
nn + 1
X
(−1) .
n3
n=1
However,
∞  2
 X∞ 2 ∞  
X
(−1)n
 n + 1 
= n + 1 X 1 1
3
= +
 n  n3 n n3
n=1 n=1 n=1
∞
X n2 + 1
is divergent while (−1)n is conv by AST.
n3
n=1
∞ 2
X n +1
Thus, (−1)n is conditionally convergent.
n3
n=1
Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 33 / 1
Root Test

P
Suppose
p an is a series with nonzero terms and
n
lim |an | = L.
n→∞

(i) If L < 1 then the series is abs conv and, thus,

conv.

(ii) If L > 1 or L = ∞ then the series is div.

(iii) If L = 1 then no conclusion can be made from this

test.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 34 / 1

Examples

The series ∞
X 2nn
(−1)
n=1
(tan−1 n)n
is divergent while the series
∞
X ln2n n
nn
n=1

is absolutely convergent by Root Test.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 35 / 1

Rearranging Series

P
Theorem: If an is abs conv and b1 , b2 , . . . , bn ,P
. . . is
any rearrangement of the sequence {an } then bn is
abs conv and
∞
X ∞
X
bn = an .
n=1 n=1

i.e. We can always rearrange the terms of an

abs conv infinite series.

Christopher F. Santos Infinite Series of Constant Terms KEMATH3 / MATH115 36 / 1