IIT JAM

Mathematics (MA)
SAMPLE

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 Convergence of Series

1. TESTS OF CONVERGENCE OF SERIES

1.1. Comparison Test

Test I. First Comparison Test
Let  un and  vn be two positive term series such that
un  k vn  n  m. ...(1)
(k being a fixed positive number and m a fixed positive integers)
Then (i)  vn converges    un converges.
(ii)  un diverges    un diverges.
Proof : Let Sn and Tn be the sequence of partial sums of the series  un and  vn, respectively.
For n  m, we have
Sn – Sm = (u1 + u2 + ... + um + um + 1 + um + 2 + ... + un) – (u1 + u2 + ... + um)
or Sn – Sm = um + 1 + um + 2 + ... + un. ...(2)
Similarly, Tn – Tm = vm + 1 + vm + 2 + ... + vn. ...(3)
From (1) and (2), we obtain
Sn – Sm  k (vm + 1 + vm + 2 + ...vn)
or Sn – Sm  k (Tn – Tm), using (3)
or Sn  k Tn + a, ...(4)
where a = Sm – k Tm is a fixed number.
(i) Suppose  vn converges.
The sequence Tn of partial sums of  vn is bounded above i.e., there exists a positive real
number t such that
Tn  t  n. ...(5)
From (4) and (5),
Sn  kt + a  n.
Thus the sequence Sn of partial sums of  un is bounded above and so  un is convergent.
(ii) Suppose  un diverges.

Then lim Sn  . ...(6)

n

From (4) and (6), we obtain

1
Tn  (Sn  a)  lim Tn   ( k  0).
k n

It follows that the sequence Tn of partial sums of the series  un diverges and so  vn diverges.
Example : Test for convergence the series :

1 
1
(i)  , (ii) n 2
n2 logn n2 logn
Solution : (i) We know log n < n for all n  2.

1 1 1 1
 
 logn n  n  2 or n logn  n  2.

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

1 
1
Since  n diverges, so by First Comparison Test,  log n diverges.
n2

1 1
(ii) We know n2 logn  n2  n  3.

1 
1
Since
 n converges, so by First Comparison Test, n 2
converges
n2 logn
Example : Test for the convergence of the series :

1 1 1

1
(i) 1 +  + ...+ + ... . (ii)  .
2! 3! n! n 1 n!
Solution : (i) We that n !  2n–1  n  2.

1 1
  n1  n  2.
n 2

1 1 1 1
Now 2 n1
 1  2 + ... being a geometric series with common ratio < 1 is
n 1 2 2 2
1
convergent. Hence, by First Comparison Test,  n! is convergent.
(ii) Let

1
un =
n!
By applying ratio test –

un1 n! n! 1
  
un (n  1)! (n  1)n! n 1

1 1
lim   0  1   un converges.
n 
n 1 


1
 u n  
n 1 n!
is convergent.

Test II. Second Comparison Test

If  un and  vn are two positive term series such that
un v
 n  n  m, ...(1)
un  1 v n  1
Then (i)  vn converges     un converges,
(ii)  un diverges     vn diverges,
Proof : For n  m, we have

um u um  1 um  2 un  1
 m . . ......
un um  1 um  2 um  3 un

vm vm  1 vm  2 vn  1
 . . ..... , by (1)
vm  1 vm  2 vm  3 vn

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

vm
 .
vn

um v m u v
Thus  or n  n  nm
un v n um v m
 un  k vn  n  m, ...(2)
where k = um/vm is a fixed positive number.
(i)  vn converges   un converges,
(ii)  un diverges   vn diverges.
Test III. Limit Form Test
Let  un and  vn be two positive term series such that
un
lim = l, (l is finite and non-zero).
vn
n  

Then  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

un u
Proof : Since v > 0 for all n, so lim n  0.
n n v
n

Thus l > 0, as l  0
Let  > 0 be some number such that l –  > 0.

un
Since lim = l, so there exists a positive integer m such that
n vn

un
l <   n  m
vn

un
or l –  < v < l +   n  m, where vn > 0  n.
n

 (l – ) vn < un < (l + ) vn  n  m. ...(1)

From (1), we consider
un < (l + ) vn  n  m. ...(2)
(Here l +  is a fixed positive number)
Applying First Comparison Test in (2), we obtain

 vn converges   un converges,
 un diverges   vn

diverges.  ...(A)

From (1), we consider

(l – ) vn < un  n  m
or vn < kun   n  m, ...(3)

1
where k = > 0 is a fixed number..
l 
Applying First Comparison Test in (3), we obtain

 un converges   v n converges,
 vn diverges   un

diverges.  ...(B)

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

From (A) and (B), it follows that

 un converges   vn converges,
 vn diverges   vn diverges.
Hence the two series  un and  vn converge or diverge together.
Remark
 In order to apply the Limit form test to a given series u n , we have to select a series

v n (which is usually a p-series) in which the nth term of v n behaves as un , for large
values of n.
Example : Test each of the following series for convergence :

1 3 5 1 1 1
(i)    ... (ii)    ...
1.2.3 2.3.4 3.4.5 1.2 2.3 3.4
Solution :

1 3 5
(i)    ...
1.2.3 2.3.4 3.4.5
2n  1
The nth term of this series of un = .
n(n  1)(n  2)

2n 2
For large values of n, un ~  2.
n.n.n n

1 un (2n  1)n2
Let vn = 2 . Then 
n v n n(n  1)(n  2)

un  n   2n  1  1 2  (1/ n)
or      . .
v n  n  1   n  2  1  (1/ n) 1  (2 / n)

un
Now lim = 2  0 and finite.
n vn

1
So un and vn converge or diverge together (Limit From Test). Since vn = 
n2
converges, so un converges.
1 1 1
(ii)    ...
1.2 2.3 3.4

1 1 1
The nth term is un = ~  .
n(n  1) n.n n

1 un n 1
Let vn = . Then v  n  1  .
n n 1  (1/ n)

un
Now lim = 1  0 and finite.
n vn
So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

1
Since  vn =  diverges, so  un diverges.
n

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

Example : Test for convergence the series

1 1 1
   ...
2 3 3 4 4 5
Solution. We have

1 1 1
un  ~  .
n1 n 2 n n 2 n

1 un n
Let vn = . Then  .
n vn n1 n  2

un 1 1
Now lim  lim  .
n vn n   1  (1/ n)  1  (2 / n) 2

So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

Example : Test for converges the series

1 1 1 1
    ...
3.7 4.9 5.11 6.13
Solution. We have

1 1 1
un  ~  2.
(n  2)(2n  5) n.2n 2n

1
Let vn  . Then
n2

un n n 1 1
 .  . .
v n n  2 2n  5 1  (2 / n) 2  (5 / n)

un 1
lim   0 and finite.
n vn 2
So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.
Since  vn =  1/n2 converges, so the given series  un also converges.
Example : Test for convergence the series whose nth term is

n 1 n 1
.
n
Solution.

n  1  n  1 ( n  1  n  1)( n  1  n  1)
un  
n n( n  1  n  1)

(n  1)  (n  1)
or un 
n( n  1  n  1)

2 2 1
 ~  .
n( n  1  n  1) n( n  n) n n

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

1 1
Let vn =  , so that  vn converges.
n n n3 / 2

un 2 n
Now lim  lim
n vn n  
( n  1  n  1)

2
 lim  1  0.
n
1  (1/ n)  1  (1/ n)

So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

Since  vn converges, so the given series  un also converges.
Example : Test for the convergence of the series :


( n3  1  n3 ),
n 1

Solution.

( n3  1  n3 )( n3  1  n3 )
un = n3  1  n3 
n3  1  n3

(n3  1)  n3 1 1
or un   ~ .
3 3 3 3
n 1 n n 1 n 2 n3

1 1
Let vn =  3/2 , so that  vn converges.
n 3 n

un n3
Now lim  lim
n v n n n3  1  n3

1 1
 lim   0 and finite.
n 
1  (1/ n)3  1 2

So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

Since  vn converges, so the given series  un converges.
Example : Test for the convergence of the series whose nth term is
{(n3 + 1)1/3 – n}.
1/ 3
3 1/3
 1 
Solution. Let un = (n + 1) – n = n  1  3   1
 n  

 1 1  
or un  n  1  3  6  ...   1
 3n 9n  

1 1
or un  2
 5  ...
3n 9n

1
Let vn = , so that  vn converges.
n2

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

un 1
Now lim   0 and finite.
n vn 3
So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.
Since  vn converges, so  un converges.
Example : Test for convergence the series

2 1 3 1 4 1
   ...
33  1 43  1 53  1
Solution. The nth term of the given series is

n 11
un 
(n  2)3  1

n 1
Let vn  3
 5/3 .
n n

un  n 1 1  1
lim  lim    nlim
n vn n   n n     n  2 3 1  

    3 
  n  n  

 1 1
 lim 1    . lim 3
 1.
n
n n  
  2 
1   n  
  

So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

1
Since  vn =  5/2 converges, so the given series converges.
n

1
Example : Test the convergence of the series S 1 (1/ n) .
n

1 1
Solution. We have un = 1 (1/ n) . Let vn = .
n n

un 1
Then lim  lim 1/ n  1.
n vn n   n
Thus the two series  un and  vn converge or diverge together. Since  vn =  1/n diverges,
so the given series  un diverges.

1.2 3.4 5.6

Example : Show that the series 2 2
 2 2  2 2 + ... converges.
3 .4 5 .6 7 .8
Solution. The nth term of the given series is

(2n  1) . 2n 1 1
un  2 2
~ 2 Let v n  2 . Then
(2n  1) (2n  2) n n

un 2n3 (2n  1) 4  (2 / n)
 2 2
 .
v n (2n  1) (2n  2) (2  1/ n)2 (2  2 / n)2

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

un
 lim = 1, so that  un and  vn converge or diverge together..
n vn

Since  vn =  1/n2 converges, so the given series  un also converges.

Example : Show that the series 1 + a + b + a2 + b2 + a3 + b3 + ..., 0 < a < b < 1 is convergent.
Solution. Since 0 < a < b < 1, an < bn   n  0.
Since  bn is a geometric series with common ratio b, 0 < b < 1 ;  bn is convergent. Hence,
by First comparison test, the given series  un is convergent.
1.2 Ratio Test
Test IV. D’Alembert’s Ratio Test
Let  un be a positive terms series such that
un
lim  l. ...(1)
n   un  1
Then (i)  un converges if l > 1,
(ii)  un diverges if l < 1.
Test fails if l = 1.
Proof. Case I. Let l > 1.
We can choose some  > 0 such that l –  > 1 or  > 1,  = l – .
Using (1), there exists a positive integer m1 such that

un
 l <    n  m1
un  1

un
l –  < < l +   n  m1.
un  1

Consider

un
> (l – ) =   n  m1
un  1

un n  1 un v
or  n or  n  n  m1, ...(2)
un  1  un  1 v n  1

1 1 1 1
where  vn =  n
  2 + ..., being a geometric series with common ratio < 1, is convergent.
   
Hence  un is convergent (by Second Comparison Test is applied in (2)).
Case II. Let l < 1.
We can choose another  > 0 such that l +  < 1
 < 1,  = l + .
Using (1), there exists a positive integer m2 such that

un
l <   n  m2
un  1

un
or l –  < u < l +   n  m2.
n 1

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

Consider

un n  1
l n  n  m2
un  1 

vn u
or  n  n  m2 , ...(3)
v n  1 un  1

1 1
where  vn =  n , being a geometric series with common ratio > 1, is divergent. Hence, by
 
Second Comparison Test as applied in (3),  un is divergent.
Case III. We shall give examples of two series : one convergent and the other divergent but both
satisfying

un
lim  1.
n un  1

1
The series  un =  is divergent, but
n

un n 1  1
lim  lim  lim  1    1.
n un  1 n   n n  
 n

1
The series  un =  is convergent, but
n2
2
un (n  1)2  1
lim  lim 2
 lim  1    1.
n u n n n   n
n1 

Remark 1 : Another equivalent form of Ratio Test is as follows :

If  un is a positive term series such that

un  1
lim  l. ...(1)
n un

Then (i)  un is convergent if l < 1.

(ii)  un is divergent if l > 1.

un 1
Proof : We have lim = m, where m = .
n un  1 l

Then  un converges if m > 1  1/l > 1  l < 1,

and  un converges if m < 1  1/l < 1  l < 1.
Remark 2 : If  un is a positive term series such that

un
lim = , then  un is convergent.
n un  1

 un 
Proof : It is given that the sequence  u  diverges to .
 n  1 

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

So there exists a positive integer m such that

un
> 2  n  m.
un  1

un 2n  1 u v
or  n or n  n  n  m,
un  1 2 un  1 v n  1

1 1
where  vn =  n , being a geometric series with common ratio < 1, is convergent. Hence,
2 2
by Second Comparison Test,  un is convergent.
Remark 3 : If  un is a positive term series such that

un  1
lim = 0, then  un is convergent.
n un

1
Proof : For  = , there exists a positive integer m such that
2

un  1 1 un
0   n  m or  2  n  m.
un 2 un  1

The result now follows by Remark 2.

Example : Test for convergence the series

1 2! 3! 4!
    ...
5 52 53 54

n! (n  1)!
Solution. We have un = n and un + 1 =
5 5n  1

un 5.n ! 5
 lim   lim  0  1.
n un  1 (n  1)! n   n 1

By Ratio Test, the given series diverges.

Example : Test for convergence the series

x x2 x3 x4
(i)     ... (x > 0)
1.3 2.4 3.5 4.6

x x2 x3
(ii)    ... (x > 0)
2 3 3 4 4 5

xn xn  1
Solution. (i) un = and un + 1 = .
(n  2) (n  1)(n  3)

un 1  n  1  n  3  1
lim  lim   .
 n un  1 n   x  n   n  2  x

By Ratio Test,  un converges of 1/x > 1 i.e., x < 1 and  un diverges if 1/x < 1 i.e., x >
1. The test fails for x = 1.

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

1 1 1
For x = 1, un = ~ 2 . Let v = 2 .
n(n  2) n n
n
un n
 lim  lim  1.
n vn n   n2
So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

1
Since  vn =  converges, so  un converges (for x = 1).
n2
Hence the given series converges for x  1 and diverges for x > 1.
(ii) We have

xn xn  1
un = , un  1 .
(n  1) n  2 (n  2) n  3

un 1n 2 n 3 1
lim  lim   .
 n un  1 n   x  n  1  n  2 x

By Ratio Test, the given series converges if 1/x > 1 i.e., x < 1 and diverges if 1/x < 1 i.e.,
x > 1. The test fails for x = 1.

1 1
For x = 1, un = – ~ .
(n  1) n  2 n n
1 1
Let vn = , so that  vn =  3/2 converges.
n n n

un n n
Now lim  lim
n vn n   n 1 n  2

1
 lim  1.
n
 1 2
1  n  1  n
 

So  un and  vn converge or diverge together. Since  vn converges, therefore  un also

converges (for x = 1).
Hence the given series converges for x  1 and diverges for x > 1.
Example : Test for the convergence of the series :

x x3 x5
(i)    ... (x > 0)
5 7 9

x2 x3 x4
(ii)    ... (x > 0)
2 1 3 2 4 3

x x2 x3
(iii)    ... (x > 0)
2 3 3 2 4 5
Solution.

x 2n  1 x 2n  1
(i) un = , un  1  .
2n  3 2n  5

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

un 1 2n  5 1
 lim  2 lim  2.
n un  1 x n   2n  3 x

By Ratio Test,  un converges if 1/x2 > 1 i.e., x2 < 1 i.e., x < 1 and diverges if x2 > 1 i.e.,
x > 1. The test fails if x = 1.

1 1
For x = 1, un = ~ .
2n  3 2n

1
Let vn = .
n

un n 1
Then lim  lim  .
n vn n   2n  3 2

1
Since  vn =  diverges, so  un diverges (for x = 1).
n
Hence the given series converges if x < 1 and diverges if x  1.

xn  1 xn  2
(ii) We have un = , un  1  .
(n  1) n (n  2) n  1

un 1 n  2 n1 1
lim  lim  .
 n un  1 x n    n  1  n x

By Ratio Test,  un converges if 1/x > 1 i.e., x < 1 and diverges if x > 1. The test fails
if x = 1.

1 1
For x = 1, un = ~ .
(n  1) n n n
1
Let vn  .
n n

un n 1
 lim  lim  lim  1.
n v n n   n  1 n   (1  1/ n)

1
Since  vn =  converges, so  un converges (for x = 1).
n n
Hence the given series converges if x  1 and diverges if x > 1.

xn xn  1
(iii) We have un = , un + 1 = .
(n  1) n  2 (n  2) n  3

un 1 n 2 n3 1
lim  lim    .
n un  1 x n  
 n 1 n  2 x
By Ratio Test,  un converges if 1/x > 1 i.e., x < 1 and diverges if x > 1. The test fails
if x = 1.
1 1
For x = 1, un  ~ .
(n  1) n  2 n n

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

1
Let vn  .
n n
As done in part (ii),  un converges if x = 1.
Hence the given series converges if x  1 and diverges if x > 1.
Example : Test for convergence the series :
x3 x5
(i) x+  + ... for all positive values of x.
3! 5!

nn xn
(ii)  (x  0).
n  1 n!

Solution.
x 2n  1 x 2n  1
(i) un = , un1  .
(2n  1)! (2n  1)!

un 1 (2n  1)!
Now  2
un  1 x (2n  1)!

1 (2n  1) . 2n .(2n  1)!

 .
x2 (2n  1)!

un 2n(2n  1)
 lim  lim  .
n un  1 n   x2

Hence, by Ratio Test,  un converges.

nn xn nn  1x n  1
(ii) We have un = and un + 1 =
n! (n  1)!

un  n  1 1  1 1 u 1
   .   1   and lim n  .
un  1  n  x  n x n   un  1 x

By Ratio test,  un converges if 1/x > i.e., x < 1 and diverges if 1/x < 1 i.e., x > 1. For
x = 1, we have
nn (n  1)n  1
un  and un  1 
n! (n  1) !
n
un  n  1 un 1
    n
 lim   1.
un  1  n  1  (1  1/ n) n   un  1 e

So the given series diverges for x = 1. Hence the given series converges if x < 1 and
diverges if x  1.
Example : Test for convergence the series :
x x2 xn
1   ...  2  ...
2 5 n 1
for all positive values of x.
Solution. Ignoring the first term of the series, we have

xn xn  1
un  , un 1  .
n2  1 (n  1)2  1


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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

un 1 (n  1)2  1 1
 lim  lim .  .
n un  1 n   x n2  1 x

By Ratio Test,  un converges if 1/x > 1 i.e., x < 1 and  un diverges if x > 1. Ratio Test fails
if x = 1.

1
For x = 1, un = 2.
n 1

1 1
Clearly, 2
 2  n  N.
n 1 n

1 1
Since  2 converges, so by First Comparison Test,  2 converges.
n n 1
Hence un converges for x  1 and diverges for x > 1.
Example : Test for convergence the series with nth term :

n xn
(i) (x > 0),
n2  1

n 1 n
(ii) x (x > 0).
n3  1
Solution.

n n 1
(i) un  x n , un  1  xn  1
2 2
n 1 (n  1)  1

un 1 n (n  1)2  1
 
un  1 x n  1 n2  1

1 (1  1/ n)2  1/ n2
 .
x 1  1/ n 1  1/ n2

un 1
 lim  . By Ratio Test, the given series converges if 1/x > 1 i.e., x < 1 and
n nn  1 x
diverges if x > 1. The test fails if x = 1.

n n
For x = 1, un = ~ .
2
n 1 n2

n 1
Let vn = 2
 , so that  vn diverges.
n n

un n2
lim  lim  1.
n vn n   n2  1

So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

Since  vn diverges, so  un diverges (for x = 1).
Hence the given series converges if x < 1 and diverges if x  1.

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

n 1 n n
(ii) un  3
x , un  1  x n  1.
n 1 (n  1)3  1

un 1 n  1 (n  1)3  1 1
 lim  lim  .
n   un  1 n   x n n3  1 x

By Ratio Test, the given series converges if 1/x > i.e., x < 1 and diverges if 1/x < 1 i.e.,
x > 1. The test fails if x = 1.

n 1 n 1
For x = 1, un = 3
~ 3  .
n 1 n n

n 1
Let vn =  , so that  vn diverges.
n 3 n

un n  1 n3
 lim  lim  1.
n vn n   n n3  1

So  un and  vn converge or diverge together.

1
Since  vn =  diverges, so  un diverges (for x = 1).
n
Hence the given series converges if x < 1 and diverges if x  1.
Example : Test for the convergence of the series

2p 3p 4p
1    ... (p  0).
2! 3! 4!
Solution : We have

np (n  1)p
un  and un  1  .
n! (n  1)!

p
un np (n  1)!  n  n 1
  p
.  (n  1).    .
un  1 (n  1) n!  n  1 (1  1/ n)p

un
lim = . Hence  un is convergent, by Ratio Test.
n un  1

Example : Test for the convergence of the series :

2 6 14 3 30 4
1 x  x2  x  x  ...
5 9 17 33
Solution : Ignoring the first term, we have

2n  1  2 2n  2  1 1 2n  1 2n  2  1
un  .  . .
2n  1  2 2n  1  1 x 2n  1  1 2n  1  1

un 1 2n  1  2 2n  2  1 1 2n  1 2n  2  1
  . n2 .  . .
un  1 x 2  2 2n  2  1 x 2n  1  1 2n  1  1

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 Mathematics (Sample Theory)

1 1  (1/ 2)n 2  (1/ 2)n  1

 . . .
x 2  (1/ 2)n 1  (1/ 2)n  1

un 1  1 0   2  0  1
lim     .
n un  1 x  2  0   1  0  x

By Ratio Test,  un converges if 1/x > 1 i.e., x < 1 and diverges if x > 1. Ratio Test fails if
x = 1.

2n  1  2 1  (1/ 2)n
For x = 1, lim un  lim  lim
n n 2n  1  1 n   1  (1/ 2)n  1

i.e. lim un = 1  0. So  un diverges for x = 1.

n

Hence  un converges if x < 1 and diverges if x  1.

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 Sample Questions With Solutions

SECTION-(A) MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ)

1. Consider the series

1 1 1 1
1 + 2
 3  4  ...  n + ... then the series is
2 3 4 n
(A) Convergent (B) Divergent
(C) Geometric series (D) None

2. If p and q are positive real numbers, then the series

2p 3p 4p
  +...+  is convergent for
1q 2q 3q
(A) p <q – 1 (B) p <q – 1
(C) pq –1 (D) p q + 1

an
3. If  an is convergent, then  1 a (an  1) is
n
(A) Convergent (B) Divergent
(C) Oscillating (D) None

4. If  an2 and  bn2 converge, then  an bn is

(A) Convergent (B) Divergent
(C) Oscillating (D) None

1 2 1 2  3 1 2  3  4
5.   + ... is
23 33 43
(A) Convergent (B) Divergent
(C) Oscillating (D) None

SECTION-(B) MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTIONS (MSQ)

1. Let  an be a convergent series of positive terms then which of the following are TRUE?
2
(A)  an is convergent (B) a n is convergent

2
(C) a n is convergent a n is not (D) All the above

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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

2. The series

3x 2 4x 3 (n  1)x n
2x    ...   ...
8 27 n3
(A) Converges if x  1 (B) Diverges if x > 1
(C) Converges if x < 1 (D) Diverges if x  1

3. Geometric series

u n  1  r  r 2  r 3  ...  r n 1  r n  ... is

(A) Oscillating infinitely in (–, –1) (B) Oscillating infinitely in (–, –1]
(C) Oscillating finitely when r = –1 (D) Oscillating finitely when r = 1

4. Which of the following series does not converge

3

2  n3

1 
In n
an =  7n e
n 1
; bn = 
n 1 n In(n)
; cn =  n
n 1

(A) only an does not converge (B) only bn and cn does not converge
(C) an , bn and cn does not converge (D) an , bn and cn converges

5. If we use the limit comparison test, then which of the following series is/are Convergent ?

2n 
 1
(A) 3n 1
n
1
(B)  sin  n 
n 1

1

 1 

(C)  sin  2  (D)  (e n  1)

n 1 n  n 1

SECTION-(C) NUMERICAL ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (NAT)


2n 2
1. The sum of the series 5 n2
 ______.
n 1 7

2. The value of the series


2n 2  3n1
 is _______.
n0 4n


2
3. Assume a
n 1
n is an infinite series with partial sums given by SN  4 
N
then a5 equals to______

1
4. Consider un where un = (n4  1)  (n4  1) . If we compare it with a series n p then the
minimum possible value of p so that the series un is convergent.

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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

4

1 4 
2
5. If the series  4  . Then the value of the series    is ________.
n 1 n 90 n2  n 

ANSWER KEY

SECTION-(A) MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ)

1 2 3 4 5
A A A A B

SECTION-(B) MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTIONS (MSQ)

1 2 3 4 5
B,C A,B,C A,C B A,C

SECTION-(C) NUMERICAL ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (NAT)

1 2 3 4 5
392 12.5 -0.1 2 -14.24

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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

SOLUTION
SECTION-(A) MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ)

1. (A) Clearly, nn > 2n, for n > 2.

1 1
 n
 n, for n > 2.
n 2

1 1 1 1 1 n
Since 2 n
  2  3 + ... is a geometric series with common ratio < 1, so
2 2 2 2
 1/ 2
n
is convergent. Hence by First Comparison Test,  1/ n is convergent.
2. (A) Here, given series is

2p 3p 4p
 
1q 2q 3q

p p
n  1  n  1 1
Let un =   . q p
nq  n  n

p
 1
 np  q  1  
 n

1
Take vn = np–q + q p
n
p
u  1
 lim n  lim  1  
n v n n
n 

= 1, finite and non-zero.

 By p-series test

1
v n 
n qp is convergent of q – p > 1

or p <q – 1
when un is convergent when p < q – 1, then un is also convergent when p < q –1.
3. (A) Since  an is convergent, lim an = 0.
n

an a
Let bn =  n. Then lim n  lim (1 – an) = 1 – 0 = 1.
1  an n b
n
n

Hence  an and  bn converge or diverge together. Since  an is convergent, so  bn n

an
 is convergent.
1  an

1 2
4. (A) (an – bn)2  0  anbn  (a + bn2).
2 n
Since  (an2 + bn2 is convergent,  an bn is convergent.]

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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

1
(1  2  3  ....  n) n(n  1) (n  1) 1  n  
5. (B) un =    .
n3 2n3 2n2 2n

1
Let vn =
n

un 1+ 1 n 1
 
lim = n
n v
 which is finite and non-zero so both the series will converge or
n 2n 1 2

diverge together. Since the series vn is divergent so the series un is also divergent.
So the given series is divergent.

SECTION-(B) MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTIONS (MSQ)

1. (B,C) We have an > 0  n. Since  an is convergent, nlim an = 0.



If follows that for  = 1, their exists some m  N such that

|an – 0| < 1 or an < 1  n  m  0  an2 < an  n  m.
Since  an is convergent, so by First comparison test,  an2 is convergent.
If  an2 is convergent, then  an may not be convergent.
Let  an =  1/n, so that  an2 =  1/n2.
We see that  an2 is convergent, but  an is not convergent.

(n  1) n n2
2. (A,B,C) Here un = x and un+1 = xn+1
n3
(n  1)3

un (n  1)4 1 un 1
  .  lim u  x .
un 1 (n  2)n3 x n 1

Hence the series is convergent if x < 1 and divergent if x > 1.

n 1
If x = 1, the test fails. In this case un = .
n3
We now apply comparison test.
1 un (n  1)
Let vn =  lim
2 , then lim v n = 1.
n n

1
But n 2 is convergent since p = 2 > 1. Hence un is also convergent. Thus the series

un is convergent if x  1 and divergent if x > 1.

3. (A,C) (i) is convergent, when |r|<1
(ii) is divergent, when r 1
(iii) is oscillating finitely, when r = –1
(iv) is oscillating infinitely, when r < –1

2  n3
4. (B) an =  7n e
n 1

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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

 3 N 3
Since  7x 2 e  x dx  lim  7x 2 e  x dx
1 N 1

N
7  x3
 lim e
N 3
1

7 N3 7 13
 lim e  e
N 3 3

7

3e
the series is convergent.

1
bn =  n In(n)
n 1

 1 N 1
Since  dx  lim  dx
2 x In(x) N  2 x In(x)

N
 lim In In x  2
N

 lim In(In N)  In(In 2)

N

= 
the series is divergent.
3

In n
cn = n 1 n

3 3

Since
 In x  dx  lim 
N In x  dx
 1 x N 1 x
4 N

 lim
In x 
N 4
1

4 4

 lim
In N 
In 1
N 4 4
= 
the series is divergent.
5. (A,C) Option (A)

2n 

Given un =  n
n 1 3  1

We will compare this series with the series

n
2

vn =   
n 1  3 

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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

un
Use Limit Comparison test nlim
 v
n

2n 3n 1
lim   lim 1
n  3n  1 2n n 1
1
3n

The limit is positive, so the two series converge or diverge together.

Since vn converges so un converges
Hence, the series is convergent.
Option (B)

 1
Given un =  sin  n 
n 1

We will compare this series with the series


1
vn = n
n 1

un
Use Limit Comparison test nlim
 v
n

 1
sin  
lim n 1
n 1
n

The limit is positive, so the two series converge or diverge together.

Since vn diverges so un diverges
Hence, the series is divergent
Option (C)

 1
Given un =  sin  n
n 1
2 

We will compare this series with the series


vn = n 2
n 1

 1
sin  2 
u n  1
lim n  lim
n v
n
n  1
n2
The limit is positive, so the two series converge or diverge together.
Since vn converges so un converges.
Hence, the series is convergent.
Option (D)

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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

 1

Given un =  (e n  1)
n 1

We will compare this series with the series



vn = n
n 1

1
u en  1
lim n  lim 1
n  v
n
n  1
n
The limit is positive, so the two series converge or diverge together.
Since vn diverges so un diverges.
Hence, the series is divergent

SECTION-(C) NUMERICAL ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (NAT)

n 1

2n  2 
23 2n 1 
2
1. 392 5 n  2  5 1 n 1  5 56  
n 1 7 n 1 7 7 n 1 7
Which is five times the geometric series with a = 56 and r = 2/7. Since r < 1, then the
geometric series converges to a/(1-r). Thus,
   

2n 2  56   56 
5 n  2  5    5   56(7)  392
n 1 7  1  2   5 
 7  7 
2. 12.5 This is two geometric series :

2n 2  3n1   2n 2    3n1 
   n    n 
n0 4n  n 0 4   n0 4 

  1  1 n    3 
n

      3   
 n0 4  2    n0  4  
   

 1/ 4   3 
  
 1  1/ 2   1  3 / 4 

1 25
  12 
2 2
3. -0.1 Note that

 2  2 2 1
a5 = S5 – S4 =  4     4     = –1/10
 5  4 5 2

4. 2 Here un = (n4  1)  (n4  1)

1/ 2 1/ 2
 1  1
 n2  1  4   n2  1  4 
 n   n 
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 Mathematics (Sample Questions)

 1 1   1 1 
 n2  1  4  8  ...    1  4  8  ...  
 2n 8n   2n 8n 

1 1
= 2 + higher powers of .
n n

1 un
Take vn = . Then lim v n = 1 = a finite non-zero quantity..
n2

1
But n 2 is convergent since p = 2 > 1.

Hence by comparison test, un is also convergent.

5. -14.24
Must take into account that our series starts at n = 2 instead of at n = 1.
4

2 
24 
1  
1   4 
  n    n4  16 n4  16  1   n4   16  1   = -14.24
90 
n2   n2 n2  n 1  

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