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INFINITE SERIES

Sequence:
If a set of real numbers , , ,
occur according to some definite rule, then it is called
a sequence denoted by { } = { , , , } if n is finite
Or {

}={

,,

, . } if n is infinite.

Series:
+

+ +

is called a series and is denoted by

Infinite Series:
If the number of terms in the series is infinitely large, then it is called infinite series and is
denoted by
= +
+ +
+ and the sum of its first n terms be denoted

by =
=
+
+ + .
Convergence:
An infinite series

is said to be convergent if lim

= , a definite unique number.

Example:1 + + + ..
=1+ +

+ ..+

= 2, finite.

Therefore given series is convergent.


Divergence:
lim

tends to either

Example:

then the infinite series

= 1 + 2 + 3 + ..
=

( + 1)
2

lim

Therefore

is said to be divergent.

is divergent.

Oscillatory Series:
If lim
tends to more than one limit either finite or infinite, then the infinite series
is said to be oscillatory series.
Example:1.

= 1 1 + 1 1 + ..:
=

Therefore series is oscillatory.


2.

= 1 + (3) + (3) + ..

1,
0,

=
lim

1 (1) 3
1+3
,
,

Properties of infinite series:


1. The convergence or divergence of an infinite series remains unaltered on
multiplication of each term by .
2. The convergence or divergence of an infinite series remains unaltered by addition or
removal of a finite number of its terms.
Positive term series:
An infinite series in which all the terms after some particular term are positive is called a
positive term series.
Geometric Series test:
The series
a.
b.
c.

=1+ +

+ +

Converges if | | < 1
Diverges if 1
Oscillates finitely if = 1 and oscillates infinitely if

< 1

Proof:
Let

be the partial sum of

.
=1+ +

Case 1:| | < 1

i.e. 1 <

+ +

<1
=
lim

1
1
=

1
1

Therefore the series is convergent.


Case 2i: > 1

i.e. lim

=
lim

1
1
=

Therefore the series is divergent.


Case 2ii: = 1,
series is divergent.
Case 3i: < 1

= 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + . +1 =
i.e.

lim

= .

Therefore the

1
1

=
lim

1 (1)
1+

,
,

Therefore the series is oscillatory.


Case3ii: = 1
i.e.

= 1 1 + 1 1 + .
lim

1,
0,

Therefore the series is oscillatory.


Note: If a series in which all the terms are positive is convergent, the series remains
convergent even when some or all of its terms are negative.
Integral Test:
A positive term series (1) + (2) + . + ( ) + . Where ( ) decreases as n
increases, converges or diverges according as the integral ( ) is finite or infinite.
p-series or Harmonic series test:
A positive term series
i)
ii)

=1+

+ +

+ .is

Convergent if > 1
Divergent if 1

Proof:
Let ( ) =
( )

=
= 1,

Thus

( )

converges if

+1

,
+1>0
1
,
+1 <0
1

When

,
1
,
1

=[

<1
>1

] =

> 1 and diverges if

1.

Theorem:
Let

be a positive term series. If

is convergent then lim

= 0.

Proof:
If

is convergent then lim


=(

= .

)(

++
=

+ +

lim

= lim

lim

=0

lim

Note:
Converse need not be always true. i.e. Even if lim
convergent.
Example 1:

= lim

=0

= 0 is a necessary condition but not a sufficient condition for convergence

Example 2

Test the series for convergence,


Solution:Consider
Therefore

=[

)] =

is divergent by Integral test.

Example 2
Test the series for convergence,
Solution: Let

= . Then 2

=
=

Therefore

1
2

is convergent.

Comparison test:
1. Let
and be two positive term series. If

a.
is convergent
b.
,
Then

need not be

= 1 + + + + . . ..

= is divergent by integral test. But lim

Hence lim
of .

= 0, then

is also convergent.

That is if a larger series converges then smaller also converge.

2. Let
and be two positive term series. If

c.
is divergent
d.
,
Then

is also divergent.

That is if a smaller series diverges then larger also diverges.


Example 2
Test the series for convergence,

Solution:
Let

and

=
log n n
1
1

log n n
u n vn

But

= is a p-series with

Therefore

= 1.

is divergent.

By comparison test

is also divergent.

Example 2
Test the series for convergence,

Solution:
Let

and

2 n 2n 1
1
1
n
n
2
2 1
vn u n
But

Therefore

is a geometric series with


is convergent.

By comparision test

is also convergent.

Another form of comparison test is


Limit test

= < 1.

Statement:If

and

Then

behave alike.

and

That is if
If

be two positive term series such that lim

converges then

diverges then

also converge.

also diverge.

Examples 3.
Test the series for convergence,

. .

. .

. .

+ .

:
2 1
( + 1)( + 2)

=
Choose
But

Therefore

then lim

with

= 2 > 1.

=2

is convergent. By limit test

is also convergent.

Examples 4.

Test the series for convergence,

Solution:
=

+1

+1

=
Let

= ( = 1)
lim

But

is divergent. By limit test

is also divergent.

Examples 5.
Test the series for convergence,
Solution:

1
2

+1

( 0).

u n n 3 1 3 n
a 3 b 3 (a b)(a 2 ab b 2 )
ab

a 3 b3
a 2 ab b 2
n3 1 n3

u n n 3 1 3 n

1 3 (n 3 1) 3 n n 2
1

1
n 1 3
n

Let

=
lim

But

is convergent. By limit test

with
=

1
1 3

1 3 1
n

= 2 > 1.

1
3

is also convergent.

Example 6.
Test the series for convergence,

Solve

Solution:

1
1
n 1

n
n
n 1 1

un

3
n 2 1 n 3 1 2 3 1

n n

Let

=
lim

But

is convergent. By limit test

Solution:

tan

We know that lim


Let

. Then lim

=1

=1

= > 1.

=1

is also convergent.

Example 7
Test the series for convergence,

with

tan

But

is convergent. By limit test

is also convergent.

Example 8

Test the series for convergence,


=

Solution:

1+
=

Let

But

. Then lim

1
1
+

2
6

1
1

+
2
6

is convergent. By limit test

is also convergent.

Exercises
Test for convergence of the series
1.
2. 1 +

3.

. .

. .

. .

+ ..

4.
5. (
6.

INFINITE SERIES

DAlemberts Ratio Test: If

is a series of positive terms, and

lim

u n 1
=
un

then the series is convergent if < 1 , is divergent if > 1 and the test fails if = 1.
If the test fails, one should apply comparison test or the Raabes test, as given below:

If

Raabes Test:
lim

is a series of positive terms, and

1 = (

), then the series is convergent if

> 1 , is divergent if

< 1 and the test fails if = 1.


Remark: Ratio test can be applied when (i)
(ii) nth term has

does not have the form 1

etc.

(iii) nth term has !, ( + 1)!, ( !) ect.


(iv) the number of factors in numerator and denominator increase steadily, ex: ( +
. .
. .

+ )

Example : Test for convergence the series


1+

22
32
42
+
+
+ .
2!
3!
4!

>> The given series is of the form


Therefore u n+1 =

12
22
32
3
n2
+
+
+
+ whose nth term is u n =
.
1!
2!
3!
4!
n!

(n 1) 2
n 1!

u n 1
(n 1) 2
(n 1) 2 n!
n!
n 1
=
=
.
= 2
2
2
un
n 1! n
n
( n 1)(n! )
n

.
.

Therefore lim

u n 1
n 1
1 1
= lim 2 = lim 2 = 0 < 1
n
un
n n n n

Therefore by ratio test, u n is convergent.

Example : Discuss the nature of the series

x2
x3
x
+
+
+ .
1. 2
2.3 3.4
>> un =

xn
n(n 1)

Therefore u n+1 =

Now

x n 1
( n 1)(n 1 1)

x n 1
(n 1)(n 2)

u n 1
x n 1
n( n 1)
n
=
.
=
x
n
un
(n 1)(n 2)
n2
x

Therefore lim

u n 1
1
n
= lim
x = lim
x=x
n n 2
n (1 2 / n)
un

convergent if x 1
Therefore by DAlemberts ratio test un is
divergent if x 1
And the test fails if x = 1
But when x = 1, un =

1
1n
1
=
= 2
n(n 1)
n(n 1) n n

un is of order 1/n2 (p = 2 > 1) and hence u n is convergent (when x = 1). Hence we


conclude that un is convergent x 1 and divergent if x > 1

Example : Find the nature of series 1 +

x2
x3
x
+
+
+ .
2
5
10

>> Omitting the first term, the given series can be written in the form

x3
xn
x1
x2
+
+
+

so
that
u
=
n
n2 1
12 1 2 2 1 3 2 1
Therefore u n+1 =

That is, lim

x n1
n2 1
n 2 (1 1 / n 2 )
.
x
=
.x
lim
n n 2 (1 2 / n 2 / n 2 )
n 2 2n 2 n 2 2n 2

u n1
=x
un

convergent if x 1
Hence by ratio test u n is
divergent if x 1
and the test fails if x = 1.
But when x = 1, un =

1n
1
1
= 2
is of order 2 (p = 2 > 1)
2
n 1 n 1
n

Therefore un is convergent if x 1 and divergent if x > 1.

Example: Find the nature of the series

2 1

x2
3 2

x4
4 3

>> omitting the first term, the general term of the series is given by un =

Therefore u n+1 =

x 2 ( n 1)

( n 1 2) ( n 1) 1

x 2n2
( n 3) n 2

u n 1
( n 2) n 1
x 2n 2
=
un
x 2n
( n 3) n 2

n2
n3

lim

n 1 2
x =
n2

u n 1
= lim
n
un

( n 2)( n 1)
( n 3)

x2

n(1 2 / n) n (1 1 / n)
n(1 3 / n )

. x2 = x2

x 2n
( n 2) n 1

convergent if x 2 1
Hence by ratio test u n is
divergent if x 2 1
and the fails if x2 = 1.
When x2 = 1, u n =

(1) n

( n 2) n 1

( n 2) n 1

un is of order 1/n3/2 (p = 3/2 > 1) and hence u n is convergent.


Therefore un is convergent if x2 1 and divergent if x2> 1.

Example : Discus the convergence of the series


x+

x3
x5
x7
3
3.5
+
+
+
.
+ (x > 0)
2.3 2.4
5
2.4.6
7

>> We shall write the given series in the form


x +

1 x3
1.3 x 5
1.3.5 x 7
.
+
.
+
.
+ .
2 3
2.4 5
2.4.6 7

Now, omitting the first term we have


un =

un+1 =

1.3.5...(2n 1) x 2 n 1
.
2.4.6...2n
2n 1

1.3.5...[2(n 1) 1]
x 2( n1) 1
.
2.4.6...2(n 1)
2(n 1) 1

That is, u n+1 =

1.3.5...(2n 1)
x 2 n 3
.
2.4.6....(2n 1) 2n 3

That is, u n+1 =

1.3.5...(2n 1)(2n 1) x 2 n 3
.
2.4.6....(2n)(2n 2)
2n 3

Therefore

That is,

u n 1
1.3.5...(2n 1)(2n 1) x 2 n 3
2.4.6...2n
2n 1
=
.

. 2 n 1
un
2.4.6....(2n)(2n 2) 2n 3 1.3.5...(2n 1) x

u n 1
(2 n 1)(2n 1) x 2
=
un
(2n 2)(2 n 3)

Therefore lim

u n 1
n( 2 1 / n) n( 2 1 / n) x 2
= lim
= x2
n

un
n( 2 2 / n) n( 2 3 / n)

convergent if x 2 1
Hence by ratio test, u n is
divergent if x 2 1
And the test fails if x2 = 1
When x2 = 1,

u n 1
(2n 1)(2n 1)
=
and we shall apply Raabes test.
un
(2n 2)(2n 3)

( 2n 2)( 2n 3)
lim n n 1 = lim n
1
n
( 2n 1) 2
u n 1
n

( 4n 2 10 n 6) ( 4n 2 4n 1)
= lim n

n
( 2n 1) 2

6n 5
= lim n
2
n
( 2 n 1)

n 2 (6 5 / n ) 6
3
= lim 2
= >1
n n ( 2 1 / n) 2 4
2

Therefore un is convergent (when x2 = 1) by Rabbes test.


Hence we conclude that, u n is convergent if x2 1 and divergent if x2> 1.

Example : Examine the convergence of

2 n 1 2 n
2
6 2 14 3
1+ x+
x +
x + + n 1
x + .
5
9
17
2 1
>> un =

2 n 1 2 n
x.
2 n 1 1

Therefore u n+1 =

2 n 2 2 n+1
x
2 n2 1

u n 1
2 n 2 2 n+1 2 n 1 1 1
= n2
x n 1
.
un
2 1
2 2 xn
u n 1
2 n 2 (1 2 / 2 n 2 )
2 n1 (1 1 / 2 n1 )
= n2
.x.
un
2 (1 1 / 2 n 2 )
2 n1 (1 2 / 2 n1 )

(1 1 / 2 n 1 )
(1 1 / 2 n 1 )
.x
.
(1 1 / 2 n 2 )
(1 1 / 2 n )

Therefore lim

u n 1
(1 0)
(1 0)
=
.x.
= x.
un
(1 0)
(1 0)

convergent if x 1
Therefore by ratio test un is
and the test fails if x = 1.
divergent if x 1
When x = 1, u n =

2 n 1 2
2 n 1 1

Therefore lim un = lim


n

2 n 1 (1 1 / 2 n )
=1
2 n1 (1 1 / 2 n1 )

Since lim un = 1 0, un is divergent (when x = 1)


n

Hence u n is convergent if x < 1 and divergent if x 1.

Example : test for convergence of the infinite series

1+

2!
3!
4!
+ 3 + 4 +
2
3
2
4

>> the first term of the given series can be written as 1!/11 so that we have,
un =

(n 1)!
( n 1)(n! )
n!
n!
and un+1 =
=
=
n
n 1
n 1
n
(n 1)
(n 1)
(n 1) n

Therefore

lim

u n 1
n!
nn
nn
nn
=
.
=
=
un
(n 1) n n!
(n 1) n
n n (1 1 / n) n

u n 1
1
1
= lim
= <1
n
n

un
e
(1 1 / n)

Hence by ratio test u n is convergent.


Cauchys Root Test: If

is a series of positive terms, and

= (

),

then, the series converges if < 1, diverges if

> 1 and fails if

= 1.

Remark: Root test is useful when the terms of the series are of the form
We can note : (i) lim
(ii) lim

(1 + 1 )

(iii) ) lim

=1

(1 + )

1
Example : Test for convergence 1

n
n 1

1
>> un = 1

n3 / 2

1/n
Therefore (u n) = 1

1
= 1

lim (u n)
n

= lim

1/n

n 1/ 2

1
n

Therefore as n ,

3/2

1
= 1

1
= lim 1

n
n

1
1

n3 / 2

1/ n

1
< 1.
e

n also

Therefore by Cauchys root test, un is convergent.

= [ ( )]

( )

Example : Test for convergence 1


n
n 1
3

>> un = 1
n

n2

Therefore (u n)

n2

1/n

3
= 1
n

1/ n

= 1
n

-3
lim (un)1/n = lim 1
=e .
n
n
4

Therefore lim 1 = ex
n
n

That is, lim (u n)1/n =


n

1
< 1, therefore e = 2.7
e3

Hence by Cauchys root test, un is convergent.

1
Example : Find the nature of the series 1

n
n 1

1
>> un = 1

Therefore (u n)

1/n

n3 / 2

= 1

1
= 1

lim (un)
n

1/n

n 1/ 2

3/2

1
= 1

1
= lim 1

n
n

1/ n

n3/ 2

= lim

1
1

1
< 1, since as n ,
e

n also

Therefore by Cauchys root rest, un is convergent.

Example : Test for convergence 1


n
n 1
3

>> un = 1
n

Therefore (u n)

n2

n2

1/n

= 1

n
3

n

1/ n

= 1
n

lim (un)
n

1/n

3
x

-3
x
= lim 1
= e , since lim 1 = e
n
n

n
n

That is, lim (u n)1/n =


n

1
< 1, since e = 2.7.
e3

Hence by Cauchys root test, un is convergent.

ALTERNATING SERIES
A series in which the terms are alternatively positive or negative is called an alternating
series.

i.e., u1 u2 u3 u4 ... 1

n 1

un

n 1

LEBINITZS SERIES

An alternating series u1 u2 u3 u4 ... 1

n 1

un converges if

n 1

(i)

each term is numerically less than its preceding term

(ii)

lim u n 0
n

Note: If lim un 0 then the given series is oscillatory.


n

Q Test the convergence of

Solution:

Here un =

then u n+1 =

1
1
1
1
+
+
6 13 20 27
1
7n 1

1
1
=
7(n 1) 1 7 n 6

therefore, un u n+1 =

1
1
7 n 1 7n 6

(7n 6) (7n 1)
7
=
>0
(7n 1)(7n 6)
(7n 1)(7n 6)

That is, u n un+1> 0, un> u n+1


Also, lim u n = lim
n

1
1
1
= lim
=0
n

7n 1
n ( 7 1 / n)

Therefore by Leibnitz test the given alternating series is convergent .


Q Find the nature of the series

1
1
1
1
1
- 1
+ 1
- 1
+
log 2
log 3
log 4
log 5

Solution: Here un = 1 -

1
1
log( n 2) log( n 1)

Therefore, un u n+1 =

1
1
then un+1 = 1 log( n 1)
log( n 2)

log( n 1) log(n 2)
< 0.
log( n 2) log(n 1)

Since (n + 1) < (n + 2)
un - u n+1< 0 u n< u n+1

1
further lim u n = lim 1 -
= 1 0 = 1 0.
n
n
log( n 1)

Both the conditions of the Leibnitz test are not satisfied. So, we conclude that the series
oscillates between - and + .
Problems:
Test the convergence of the following series
1
1
1

....
2
3
4
1
1
1
1

....
ii
log 2 log 3 log 4 log 5

i 1

(iii )
n 1

n 1

n 1
n 1

1 x n
n 2 n n 1

iv
v

for 0 x 1

1
1 n2

ABSOLUTELY & CONDITIONALLY CONVERGENT SERIES

An alternating series

a 1

n 1

n 1

un is said to be absolutely convergent if the positive

n 1

series a1 a2 a3 a4 ... an is convergent.

An alternating series

a 1
n

n 1

n 1

n 1

un is said to be conditionally convergent if

(i)

(ii)

a 1

is divergent

n 1

n 1

un is convergent

n 1

Theorem: An absolutely convergent series is convergent. The converse need not be true.

an 1

Proof: Let

n 1

n 1

un be an absolutely convergent series then

n 1

is

convergent.
We know, a1 a2 a3 a4 ... a1 a2 a3 a4 ...

By comparison test,

is convergent.

n 1

Q. Show that each of the following series also converges absolutely


(i) an2;

(ii)

a n2
1 a

2
n

; (iii)

an
1 an

Solution: (i) Since an converges, we have an 0 as n . Hence for some positive integer
N, |an| < 1 for all n N. This gives an2 |an| for all n N. As |an| is convergent it follows
an2 converges.
(as an2 is a positive termed series, convergence and absolute convergence are identical).
(ii) As 1 + an2 1 for all n, we get

the convergence of

(iii)

an2

a n2
1 a

2
n

an2

implies the convergence of

a n2
1 a n2

| an |
| an |
an
=
<
.
| 1 a n | 1 | a n |
1 an

As |an| converges, |an| 0 as n . Hence for some positive integer N, we have |a n| <
for all n N.
This gives

an
< 2|an| for all n N.
1 an

Now, by comparison test,

an
converges.
1 an

That is,

an
converges absolutely.
1 an
1 1
1
1
3 1 2 3 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 4 ...
3
2 3
4
5

Q. Test the convergence


Solution: Here an 1

then un un 1

n 1

1 2 ... n 1 n1 n 1 n 1 u

n
3
2
2 n 1
n 1

1
n2 n 1
0
2 n 1 2 n 2 2

i.e., un 1 u n & lim un 0


n

Thus by Lebinitz rule,

Since is

is convergent.

1 n
1
. Take vn
2
2 n 1
n

Also, an
Then lim

an 1
0
vn 2

divergent, therefore

is also divergent.

Thus the given series is conditionally convergent.

POWER SERIES
A series of the form a0 a1 x a2 x 2 ... an x n ... (i ) where the ai s are
independent of x, is called a power series in x. Such a series may converge for some or all
values of x.

INTERVAL OF CONVERGENCE
In the power series (i) we have un an x n
Therefore, lim

a
un 1
lim n 1 x
n

un
an

a
1
If lim n 1 l , then by ratio test, the series (i) converges when x and diverges for
n
a
l
n

other values.

Thus the power series (i) has an interval

1
1
x within which it converges and diverges
l
l

for values of x outside the interval. Such interval is called the interval of convergence of the
power series.
Q. Find the interval of convergence of the series x
Solution: Here un 1
Therefore, lim

n 1

x 2 x3 x 4 x5
.... .
2 3 4 5

n 1
xn
n x
and un 1 1
n
n 1

un 1
n
lim
x x
n

un
n 1

By Ratio test the given series converges x 1 for and diverges for x 1 .
1 1 1
When x=1 the series reduces to 1 ... , which is an alternating series and is
2 3 4

convergent.

1 1 1

When x=-1 the series becomes 1 ... , which is divergent (by comparison with
2 3 4

p-series when p=1)


Hence the interval of convergence is 1 x 1 .

(1)

Q. Show that the series

n 1

xn
2n 1

is absolutely convergent for | x | < 1,

conditionally convergent for x = 1 and divergent for x = -1.


Solution. Here un = (-1)n-1

Therefore u n+1 =

lim

xn
2n 1

(1) n x n1
2n 3

(1) n x n1 2n 1
u N 1
= lim
n
un
2n 3 (1) n 1 x n
= lim (1)

2n 1
x
2n 3

= lim (1)

n( 2 1 / n)
x =|x|
n( 2 3 / n)

Therefore by generalized D Alemberts test the series is absolutely convergent if


| x | < 1, not convergent if | x | > 1 and the test fails if | x | = 1.

Now for |x | = 1, x can be +1 or 1.

If x = 1 the given series becomes


Here u n =

1
2n 1

1
9

, u n+1 =

2n 3

But 2n + 1< 2n + 3 un> un+1


Also lim un = lim
n

1
2n 3

=0

Therefore by Leibnitz test the series is convergence when x = 1.


But the absolute series
order

1
n

1
n

1/ 2

1
3

1
5

+ whose general term is u n =

1
2n 1

and is of

and hence u n is divergent

Since the alternating series is convergent and the absolute series is divergent when x = 1, the
series is conditionally convergent when x = 1.
If x = -1, the series becomes

1
3

1
5

1
7

- .

1
1
= -

... where the series of positive terms is divergent as shown already.


5
7
3

Therefore the given series is divergent when x = -1.


Thus we have established all the results.
Problems:

1. Test the conditional convergence of (i)


n 1

2. Prove that

n 1

ii
n 2

n 1

sin x sin 2 x sin 3 x


3 3 .... is absolutely convergent
13
2
3

3. For what values of x the following series are convergent


x2
x3
x4

....
2
3
4
x 2 x3 x 4
ii
x

....

2 2 32 4 2
x
x2
x3 x4
iii

....

1.2 2.3 3.4 4.5

i x

iv 3x 34 x 4 39 x9 .... 3n

x n ...

n 1

4. Test the nature of convergence

******

n 1

n n

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