Pensyarah:Nur Asiah Mohd Makhatar; FSKM, Tingkat 3-63

MAT455- CHAPTER1

1.2.2 Tests for Convergence

We have discussed the method of determining the convergence and divergence of a

particular series by first writing the nth partial sum, Sn, of the series in closed form,
and then investigate the lim S n .
n →∞

However, some series cannot be written in the closed form. Thus, the following tests
are used to determine the convergence and divergence of these series.

A) The Divergence Test (page 599)

Theorem
i) If lim 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 ≠ 0 , the series ∑𝑛𝑛=∞
𝑛𝑛=1 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 diverges.
𝑛𝑛→∞

ii) If lim 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 0 , the series ∑𝑛𝑛=∞

𝑛𝑛=1 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 may either converge or
𝑛𝑛→∞
diverge. (try another test)
∞
Note: If the series ∑a
n =1
n convergent, then lim an = 0 .
n →∞

** if you can see at a glance that lim a n ≠ 0 , then the Divergence Test should be used.
n →∞

Example 1.2 (d)

Determine if the following series is divergent or convergent.

∞ ∞
1 en
∞ ∞
n ∞
n2
a) ∑2 n
b) ∑ n c) ∑ d) ∑ e) ∑ 2
n =1 n =1 2 n =1 n n =1 ln( n + 1) n =1 5n + 4

IMPORTANT NOTE :
Sequence : 𝑎𝑎1 , 𝑎𝑎2 , 𝑎𝑎3 , … … . . 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝑛𝑛→∞𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 number / finite value : Convergent
±∞ : Divergent

Series : 𝑎𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑎3+ , … … . . +𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝑆𝑆𝑛𝑛

𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
i. 𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑆𝑆𝑛𝑛 number / finite value : Convergent
±∞ : Divergent

ii. Divergence Test

𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝑛𝑛→∞𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 0 : No Conclusion
≠0: Divergent
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Pensyarah:Nur Asiah Mohd Makhatar; FSKM, Tingkat 3-63
MAT455- CHAPTER1

Exam Question October 2007

𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
Given 𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 2 , 𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 = 0. Determine whether the following converges or diverges
or no conclusion can be made. Give reason.

{a n +b n}
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
a) ∑b n
b) c) n
∑ (−1) a d) ∑ ( a n + b n )
n =1 n =1 n =1 n n =1

B) The Integral Test (page 605)

Theorem
Suppose f is a continuous, positive, decreasing function on [1 , ∞) and let an =
f(n). Then the series ∑𝑛𝑛=∞
𝑛𝑛=1 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 is convergent if and only if the improper integral
∞
∫1 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 is convergent. In other words
∞
i) If ∫1 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 is convergent, then ∑𝑛𝑛=∞
𝑛𝑛=1 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 is convergent.

∞
ii) If ∫1 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 is divergent, then ∑𝑛𝑛=∞
𝑛𝑛=1 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 is divergent.
∞
Note: i) an = f(n), where If ∫1 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 is easily evaluated, the the Integral Test is effective.
∞ 𝑡𝑡
ii) If ∫𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 ∫𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑡𝑡→∞

Example 1.2 (e)

Determine if the following series is convergent or divergent.
∞
1 ∞
ln n ∞
n ∞
1
a) ∑ 3 b) ∑ c) ∑ n d) ∑
n =1 n n =1 n n =1 e n =1 ( n + 1) ln( n + 1)

** Look at example 1 & example 2, Page 606

Exam Question October 2004

2
∞
e k
Use integral test to determine ∑k
k =1
2
converges or diverges.

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Pensyarah:Nur Asiah Mohd Makhatar; FSKM, Tingkat 3-63
MAT455- CHAPTER1

C) The Direct Comparison Test (page 612)

- The idea is to compare a given series with a series that is known be convergent
or divergent (4 types of known series: p-series, geometric series, harmonic
series and telescopic series)

Theorem
Suppose that ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 are series with positive terms and suppose that 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 ≤ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 .

i) If larger series , ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 converges, then the smaller series, ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 must also
converges.

ii) If smaller series , ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 diverges, then the larger series, ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 must also
diverges.

Tips for applying the direct comparison test

1. Delete the constant in the denominator of an (as this will not affect the
convergence or divergence of the series).

2. If the numerator or the denominator of an appears in a polynomial form,

eliminate all except for the term with the highest power.

3. Make a guess as to whether the series converge or diverge.

- if the guess is convergence, then, choose a bigger series for comparison.
- if the guess is divergence, then choose a smaller series for comparison.

The Comparison Test works well for comparing “messy” algebraic series to a p-
series, geometric series or any other series that is known to converge. In choosing
an appropriate p-series, we must choose one with an nth term of the same
magnitude as the nth term of the given series.
1 1
Eg: 1. If ∑ 3𝑛𝑛2 −4𝑛𝑛+5 , compare with ∑ 𝑛𝑛2 .
1 1
2. If ∑ , compare with ∑ 𝑛𝑛1/2 .
√3𝑛𝑛−2
𝑛𝑛2 −10 1
3. If ∑ 4𝑛𝑛5+𝑛𝑛3 , compare with ∑ 𝑛𝑛3 .
√𝑛𝑛 1
4. If ∑ √𝑛𝑛3 , compare with ∑ 𝑛𝑛 .
+3
1 1
5. If ∑ , compare with ∑ 2𝑛𝑛 .
2𝑛𝑛 +1

Example 1.2 (f)

Use the Direct Comparison Test to determine if the series converges or diverges.
∞
1 ∞
5
a) ∑ b) ∑ 2
n =1 2 + 3
n
n =1 2n + 4n + 3

∞
5n + 1 ∞
1
c) ∑
n =1 2 − 1
n
d) ∑ 2+
n =1 n

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Pensyarah:Nur Asiah Mohd Makhatar; FSKM, Tingkat 3-63
MAT455- CHAPTER1

D) The Limit Comparison Test (page 614)

More practical because we do not always get bigger or smaller series as desired by the
theorem.Theorem is not true for 𝒄𝒄 = 𝟎𝟎 or 𝒄𝒄 = ∞.

Theorem
Let ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 is the original series and ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 is the compared series where the
convergence/divergence is known.

Supposed that ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 are series with positive terms. If
𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛
lim = 𝑐𝑐
𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛
Where c is a finite number and c > 0, 𝑐𝑐 = 0 or 𝑐𝑐 = ∞. then either both series converge
or both diverge.

Example 1.2 (g)

Use the Limit Comparison Test to determine whether the series converge or diverge.

1 2𝑛𝑛2 + 3𝑛𝑛 1 1+ 2𝑛𝑛

a) ∑∞
𝑛𝑛=1 2𝑛𝑛 −1 b) ∑∞
𝑛𝑛=1 c) ∑∞
𝑛𝑛=1 √𝑛𝑛2 d) ∑∞
𝑛𝑛=1 1 + 3𝑛𝑛
�5 + 𝑛𝑛5 +1
e) Example 5, page 615

E) The Ratio Test (page 627)

Theorem
∞
an +1
Let ∑a
n =1
n be a series with positive terms such that lim
n →∞ an
=L
∞
i) If |L| < 1, then the series ∑a
n =1
n is convergent.
∞
ii) If |L| > 1 or ∞, then the series ∑a
n =1
n is divergent.

iii) If |L| = 1, then the Ratio test is inconclusive; that is no conclusion can be
∞
drawn about the convergence or divergence of the series ∑a
n =1
n .

Note: this test is usually used when 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 involves factorials or 𝑛𝑛𝑡𝑡ℎ power.

Example 1.2 (h)

Use the Ratio Test to determine if the following series is convergent or divergent.
∞
n2
b) ∑
∞
1 ∞
( n + 1)! d) ∞ n ! ∞
2n −1
a) ∑ n
n =1 2 n =1 ( 2n ) !
c) ∑ n 2
n =1 2 n
∑n =1 ( 2n + 1) !
e) ∑
n =1 3 ( n + 1)
n

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