INFINITE SERIES

Sequence:
If a set of real numbers

u1 ,u 2 , , un

called a sequence denoted by

Or

occur according to some definite rule, then it is

{ Sn }={ u1 ,u 2 , , un } if n is finite

{ Sn }={u1 ,u 2 , , un , . } if n is infinite.

Series:
n

u1 +u2 + +u n is called a series and is denoted by S n= u k

k=1

Infinite Series:
If the number of terms in the series is infinitely large, then it is called infinite series and is
un=u 1+u 2+ +un +
denoted by
and the sum of its first n terms be denoted by

S n= u k =u1 +u2 + + un .
k=1

Convergence:
An infinite series

un

is said to be convergent if

lim S n=k

, a definite unique number.

1 1
Example: 1+ 2 + 4 + ..
1
1
(
2 )
1
=
=2

1 1
S n=1+ + 2 + ..+ n1
2 2
2

1
1
2

( )

, finite.

Therefore given series is convergent.

Divergence:
lim S n

Example:
S n=

tends to either

u n=1+2+3+ ..

n ( n+1 )
2

then the infinite series

un

is said to be divergent.

lim S n=

un

Therefore

is divergent.

Oscillatory Series:
lim S n

If

un

tends to more than one limit either finite or infinite, then the infinite series

is said to be oscillatory series.

Example:1.

u n=11+11+ ..

S n= 1, n is odd
0, n is even
Therefore series is oscillatory.

u n=1+(3)+(3)2+ ..

2.

S n=

1(1) 3
1+3

lim S n= , nis odd

, n is even

Properties of infinite series:

1. The convergence or divergence of an infinite series remains unaltered on
multiplication of each term by c o .
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

r n=1+r +r 2 +r 3 + + r n+
n=0

b.

Converges if |r|<1
Diverges if r 1

c.

Oscillates finitely if r=1 and oscillates infinitely if r <1

a.

Proof:

Let S n be the partial sum of

2

S n=1+r + r + +r
Case 1: |r|<1
S n=

n=0

n1

i.e. 1<r < 1

1r n
1r

lim S n=

rn

1
1r

Therefore the series is convergent.

Case 2i: r >1

i.e.

lim r n=

r n1
S n=
r1
lim S n=

Therefore the series is divergent.

S n=1+1+1+1+ .+1=n

Case 2ii: r=1 ,

lim S n=

. Therefore the series is divergent.

Case 3i: r <1

S n=

i.e.

Let r=m

n n
1r n 1(1) m
=
1r
1+m

lim S n= , nis odd

n
, n is even
Therefore the series is oscillatory.
Case 3ii: r=1
i.e. S n=11+ 11+ .

lim S n= 1, n is odd
0, nis even

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:
f ( 1 ) + f ( 2 ) + .+ f ( n ) + .

A positive term series

Where

f (n)

decreases as n

increases, converges or diverges according as the integral

f ( x ) dx
1

is finite or infinite.

p-series or Harmonic series test:

1

i)

Convergent if

ii)

Divergent if

u n= n p =1+ 2 p + 3 p + + n p + .

A positive term series

p>1

p 1

Proof:
1
Let f ( x )= x p

xp +1
, For p 1
f ( x ) dx= x1p dx= p+
11
1
1

{
{

,if p+1>0
1
,if p+1<0
p1

,if p<1
1
,if p> 1
p1

When

Thus

p=1 ,

np

Theorem:

f ( x ) dx= 1x dx=[ logx ] 1 =

1
1
converges if

p>1 and diverges if

p 1 .

is

 un

Let

un

be a positive term series. If

is convergent then

lim un=0

Proof:
If

un

is convergent then

lim S n=k

un=( u1+ u2+ +un ) ( u1 +u2 + +u n1 )

S nSn 1
lim S n1=k

lim un=lim Sn lim S n1

k k=0
Note:
Converse need not be always true. i.e. Even if

lim un=0

, then

un

need not be

convergent.
1 1 1

u n=1+ 2 + 3 + 4 + ...

Example 1:

1
un= lim = 0
n n
is divergent by integral test. But
lim

1
u n= n

Hence

un

lim un=0

is a necessary condition but not a sufficient condition for convergence of

Example 2

Test the series for convergence,

Solution: Consider
Therefore
Example 2

un

1
nlogn
n=2

1
dn= [ log ( logn ) ] 2 =
nlogn

is divergent by Integral test.

Test the series for convergence,

xe

2
x =t . Then 2 x dx=dt

Solution: Let

n en

[ ]

et
et
1
dx=
dt =
=
2 1 2 e
1 2

Therefore

un

is convergent.

Comparison test:
1. Let
a.

u n and v n be two positive term series. If

v n is convergent
un v n , n

b.

un

Then

is also convergent.

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

2. Let
c.

u n and v n be two positive term series. If

v n is divergent

d.
Then

un v n , n

un

is also divergent.

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

Example 2

Test the series for convergence,

1
logn
n=2

Solution:
1
Let un= log n

1
and v n = n
log n n
1
1

log n n
u n vn

v n= n

But

Therefore

p=1 .

is a p-series with

vn

is divergent.

un

By comparison test

is also divergent.

Example 2
1

2n +1

Test the series for convergence,

Solution:
1
Let un= 2n +1

1
and v n = 2n
2n 2n 1
1
1
n
n
2
2 1
vn u n
1

1
is a geometric series with r= 2 < 1 .

v n = 2n

But

Therefore

vn

is convergent.

By comparision test

un

is also convergent.

Another form of comparison test is

Limit test

un

and

un
=k ( 0) . Then
vn

un

Statement: If
lim

That is if
If

un

un

and

converges then

diverges then

Examples 3.

vn

vn

be two positive term series such that

vn

vn

behave alike.
also converge.

also diverge.

1
3
5
+
+
+.
1.2 .3 2.3 .4 3.4 .5

Test the series for convergence,

Solution :
un=

2n1
n(n+1)( n+2)
vn =

Choose

v n = n2

But

Therefore

vn

1
n2

with

then

lim

un
=2
vn

p=2>1 .

un

is convergent. By limit test

is also convergent.

Examples 4.

( n 2+1n )

Test the series for convergence,

n=1

un=( n2+ 1n )

Solution:

Let
lim

But

( n2 +1+n )
( n2 +1+n )

n2 +1n 2
n2 +1+n
1

n ( 1+n +1 )
2

v n= n ( p=1 )
un 1
=
vn 2

vn

is divergent. By limit test

un

is also divergent.

Examples 5.
Test the series for convergence,

n3 +1n

Solution:
u n n 3 1

a 3 b3 (a b)(a 2 ab b 2 )
ab

a 3 b3
a 2 ab b 2

u n n 1
3

n3 1 n3

lim

(n 3 1) 3 n n 2

1
n 1 3
n

1

v n = n2

1
1
3

p=2>1 .

with

un 1
=
vn 3

vn

But

1
2

Let

un

is convergent. By limit test

is also convergent.

Example 6.
Test the series for convergence,

21 + 31 + 41 +

Solve

331

4 31

531

Solution:

un

Let

lim

But

n 1 1

n 2

v n=

n3

1
1

n
n
3
2
1
1 3
n
n

1
n

5
2

with

5
p= > 1 .
2

un
=1
vn

vn

is convergent. By limit test

Example 7

un

is also convergent.

Test the series for convergence,

n3 tan n

1
1
Solution: un= n3 tan n
tan
We know that

lim

Let

v n= n4

But

vn

1
n

1
n

=1

lim

. Then

un
=1
vn

is convergent. By limit test

un

is also convergent.

Example 8
Test the series for convergence,

1n log ( n+n 1 )

1
1
Solution: un= n log 1+ n

( )

1 1 1
1
2 + 3
n n 2n 6 n

1
1
3 +
2
2n 6 n

Let

v n= n2

But

vn

. Then

lim

Test for convergence of the series

1.

24 nn5+1
+1
n=0

un 1
=
vn 2

is convergent. By limit test

Exercises

un

is also convergent.

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

2.

1+

3.

1
3
5
+
+
+ ..
1.2 .3 2.3 .4 3.4 .5

3n1
n
2 +1

4.

5.

n
( n+1
)n+ 1

6.

1 1+2
1+2+3
+ 2 2 + 2 2 2 +
2
1 1 +2 1 +2 +3

INFINITE SERIES

DAlemberts Ratio Test: If

un

is a series of positive terms, and l(a finite value)

then the series is convergent if l<1 , is divergent if l>1

and the test fails if l=1 .

If the test fails, one should apply comparison test or the Raabes test, as given below:

Raabes Test:

lim n

un

If

un
1 =l ( finite ) ,
un+ 1

is a series of positive terms, and

then the series is convergent if

l>1 , is divergent if

l<1

and the test fails if l=1 .

Remark: Ratio test can be applied when (i) v n

(ii) nth term has

xn , x2 n

does not have the form

1
np

etc.

2
(iii) nth term has n ! , ( n+1 ) ! ,(n !)

ect.

(iv) the number of factors in numerator and denominator increase steadily,

1 1.2 1.2 .3
+
+
+
3 3.5 3.5 .7

Example : Test for convergence the series

1+

22
2!

32
3!

42
4!

+ .

ex: (

12
1!

>> The given series is of the form

Therefore un+1 =

u n 1
un

lim

Therefore

32
3!

3
4!

+ whose nth term is un =

(n 1) 2
n 1!

(n 1) 2 n!
n 1! n 2

22
2!

u n 1
un

(n 1) 2
n2

n!
(n 1)( n! )

n 1
2
n

lim

n 1
n2

1 1
lim n n 2

=0 <1

Therefore by ratio test, un is convergent.

Example : Discuss the nature of the series

x
1.2

x2
2.3

>> un =

x3
3.4

+ .

xn
n(n 1)
x n 1

Therefore un+1 =

Now

u n 1
un

Therefore

(n 1)( n 1 1)

x n 1
(n 1)( n 2)

u n 1
lim u
n
n

lim

x n 1
(n 1)( n 2)

n(n 1)
xn

n
n2

x=

n
n2

1
lim (1 2 / n)
n

Therefore by DAlemberts ratio test un is

x=x

convergent if x 1

divergent if x 1

n2
n!

And the test fails if x = 1

But when x = 1, un =

1n
n( n 1)

1
n(n 1)

1
n n
2

un is of order 1/n2 (p = 2 > 1) and hence un 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 +

x
2

x2
5

x3
10

+ .

>> Omitting the first term, the given series can be written in the form
x1
12 1

x2
22 1

x3
32 1

+ so that un =

xn
n2 1

n 2 (1 1 / n 2 )
x n 1
n2 1
lim n 2 (1 2 / n 2 / n 2 )
n 2 2n 2 n 2 2 n 2
n
Therefore un+1 =
.
x=
.x

That is,

u n 1
lim u
n
n

=x

Hence by ratio test un is

convergent if x 1

divergent if x 1

and the test fails if x = 1.

But when x = 1, un =

1n
n2 1

1
n 1
2

is of order

1
n2

(p = 2 > 1)

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

x2

1
2 1

Example: Find the nature of the series

3 2

x4
+

4 3

+
x 2n

>> omitting the first term, the general term of the series is given by un =
x 2 (n 1)

x 2n 2

(n 1 2) (n 1) 1

(n 3) n 2

Therefore un+1 =

u n 1
un

x 2n 2

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

n 1 2
x
n2

n2
n3

lim

u n 1
un

lim

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

x2

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

. x2 = x2

convergent if x 2 1

Hence by ratio test un is

divergent

if x 2 1

and the fails if x2 = 1.

(1) n

When x2 = 1, un =

(n 2) n 1

(n 2) n 1

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

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

Example : Discus the convergence of the series

x+

x3
2.3

3
2 .4

x5
5

3. 5
2 .4 .6

x7
7

+ (x > 0)

( n 2) n 1

>> We shall write the given series in the form

x +

1
2

x3
3

1 .3 x 5
1 .3 .5 x 7
2 .4 5
2 .4 .6 7
+
.
+
.
+ .

Now, omitting the first term we have

un =

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

x 2 n 1
2n 1

1.3.5...[2( n 1) 1]
x 2 ( n 1) 1
2.4.6...2(n 1)
2(n 1) 1
un+1 =
.
1.3.5...(2n 1)
2.4.6....( 2n 1)

That is, un+1 =

That is, un+1 =

Therefore

That is,

Therefore

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

u n 1
un

u n 1
un

x 2n3
2n 3

x 2n3
2n 3

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

x 2 n 3
2n 3

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

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

u n 1
lim u
n
n

n ( 2 1 / n) n( 2 1 / n ) x 2
lim n(2 2 / n)n(2 3 / n)
n

= x2

convergent if x 2 1

Hence by ratio test, un is

divergent

if x 2 1

And the test fails if x2 = 1

When x2 = 1,

u n 1
un

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

and we shall apply Raabes test.

lim

un

1
u n 1

6n 5
2
(2n 1)

lim

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

(2n 1) 2

lim

(2n 2)( 2n 3)
1

(2n 1) 2

lim

n 2 (6 5 / n ) 6
lim n 2 ( 2 1 / n) 2
n
4

3
2

>1

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

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

Example : Examine the convergence of

1+

2
5

x+

>> un =

6
9

x2 +

2 n 1 2
2 n 1 1

Therefore un+1 =

u n 1
un
u n 1
un

2 n2 2
2 n 2 1

14
17

x3 + +

xn + .

xn.
2 n2 2
2 n 2 1

xn+1

xn+1

2 n 1 1
2 n 1 2

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

2 n 1 2
2 n 1 1

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

.x .

.x.

1
xn

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

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

Therefore

u n 1
lim u
n
n

(1 0)
(1 0)

Therefore by ratio test un is

lim

= x.

convergent if x 1

divergent if x 1

and the test fails if x = 1.

2 n 1 2
2 n 1 1

When x = 1, un =

Therefore

.x.

(1 0)
(1 0)

un =

2 n 1 (1 1 / 2 n )
lim 2 n 1 (1 1 / 2 n 1 )
n

=1

lim

Since

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

Hence un is convergent if x < 1 and divergent if x 1.

Example : test for convergence of the infinite series

1+

2!
22

3!
33

4!
44

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

un =

n!
nn

and un+1 =

Therefore
lim

u n 1
un

u n 1
un

(n 1)!
(n 1) n 1

n!
(n 1) n

1
lim (1 1 / n) n
n

nn
n!

(n 1)(n! )
(n 1) n 1

=
1
e

nn
(n 1) n

<1

Hence by ratio test un is convergent.

n!
(n 1) n
nn
n n (1 1 / n) n

 un

Cauchys Root Test: If

is a series of positive terms, and

u
1
n

( n) =l (finite) ,
lim
n

then, the series converges if l<1 , diverges if l>1

and

fails if

Remark: Root test is useful when the terms of the series are of the form
1

lim n n =1

We can note : (i)

1
(1+ ) n =e
(ii) nlim
n

x 1n x
lim
(1+
) =e
(iii) ) n
n

n 1

1
Example : Test for convergence

1
>> un =

n3/ 2

1/n

Therefore (un) =

n1/ 2

1
1

1/ n

n3/ 2

n3 / 2

l=1.

un=[f ( n ) ] g(n) .

lim 1
n

lim

(un)

1/n

lim 1
n

1
e

< 1.

Therefore as n ,

also

Therefore by Cauchys root test, un is convergent.

Example : Test for convergence

3
1
n

Therefore (un)1/n =

(un)1/n =

3
lim 1 4

Therefore

x
lim 1 n

lim

That is,

n2

(un)1/n =

1/ n

n2

3
1
n

lim

3
1

n
n 1

n2

>> un =

3
1
n

= e-3.

1
e3

= ex

< 1, therefore e = 2.7

Hence by Cauchys root test, un is convergent.

n 1

1
Example : Find the nature of the series

>> un =

Therefore (un) =

(un)1/n =

lim 1
n

1/ n

n3/ 2

lim

n1/ 2

1/n

n3/ 2

n3/ 2

lim 1
n

1
e

< 1, since as n ,

also

Therefore by Cauchys root rest, un is convergent.

Example : Test for convergence

>> un =

3
1
n

3
1

n
n 1

n2

n2

1/n

Therefore (un) =

3
1
n

1/ n

n2

3
1
n

lim

3
lim 1 n

(un)1/n =
lim

That is,

(un)1/n =

1
e3

= e-3, since

x
lim 1 n

< 1, since e = 2.7.

Hence by Cauchys root test, un is convergent.

= ex

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

u1 u2 u3 u4 ... 1

n 1

n 1

i.e.,

un

LEBINITZS SERIES

u1 u2 u3 u4 ... 1
n 1

An alternating series
(i)

n 1

un
converges if

each term is numerically less than its preceding term

lim un 0
n

(ii)

lim un 0

Note: If

then the given series is oscillatory.

1
6

Q Test the convergence of

Solution:

Here un =

then un+1 =

1
7(n 1) 1

1
20

1
27

1
7n 1
1
7n 6

1
7n 1

therefore, un un+1 =

1
13

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

1
7n 6

7
(7n 1)(7n 6)

>0

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

lim

Also,

lim

un =

1
7n 1

lim

1
1
n (7 1 / n )

=0

Therefore by Leibnitz test the given alternating series is convergent .

Q Find the nature of the series

log 2

log 3

Solution: Here un = 1 -

log 4

1
log( n 1)

1
log( n 2)

Therefore, un un+1 =

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

log 5

then un+1 = 1 -

1
log( n 2)

1
log( n 1)

< 0.

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

lim

further

lim

un =

1-

1
log( n 1)

= 1 0 = 1 0.

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

1 x n
n 2 n n 1
n 1

iv
v

for 0 x 1

1
1 n2

ABSOLUTELY & CONDITIONALLY CONVERGENT SERIES

a 1
n 1

An alternating series

series

n 1

n 1

n 1

an 1
a

(i)

is convergent.

n 1

un
is said to be conditionally convergent if

is divergent

n 1

n 1

an 1
(ii)

un
is said to be absolutely convergent if the positive

a1 a2 a3 a4 ... an

An alternating series

n 1

n 1

un
is convergent

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

a 1
Proof: Let

n 1

n 1

n 1

un
be an absolutely convergent series then

is

convergent.

We know,

a1 a2 a3 a4 ... a1 a2 a3 a4 ...

a
By comparison test,

n 1

is convergent.

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

a n2
(i) an ;
2

(ii)

1 a n2

; (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

a n2
1 a n2

an2

the convergence of an2 implies the convergence of

(iii)

an
1 an

| an |
| 1 an |

<

| an |
1 | a n |

a n2
1 a n2

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

This gives

an
1 an

< 2|an| for all n N.

an
1 an

Now, by comparison test,

That is,

an
1 an

converges absolutely.

Q. Test the convergence

an 1

1 1
1
1
3 1 2 3 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 4 ...
3
2 3
4
5

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

n
3
2
2 n 1
n 1

n 1

Solution: Here
un un 1
then

converges.

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

un 1 un & lim un 0
n

i.e.,

Thus by Lebinitz rule,

an

Also,
lim

Then
Since is

1 n
2 n2 1

is convergent.

vn

. Take

1
n

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
lim

Therefore,

un an x n

a
un 1
lim n 1 x
n

un
an

an 1
l
n
a
n

lim

If

, then by ratio test, the series (i) converges when

1
l

and diverges for

other values.

Thus the power series (i) has an interval

1
1
x
l
l

within which it converges and diverges

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

un 1
Solution: Here
lim

Therefore,

n 1

xn
n

un 1 1

and

x2 x3 x 4 x5
x ....
2 3 4 5

x n 1
n 1

un 1
n
lim
x x
n n 1
un

x 1
By Ratio test the given series converges

When x=1 the series reduces to

convergent.

x 1
for and diverges for

1 1 1
1 ...
2 3 4

, which is an alternating series and is

When x=-1 the series becomes

1 1 1

1 ...
2 3 4

, which is divergent (by comparison with

p-series when p=1)

Hence the interval of convergence is

1 x 1

xn

(1) n1

2n 1

Q. Show that the series

is absolutely convergent for | x | < 1,

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

xn
2n 1

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

(1) n x n 1
2n 3

Therefore un+1 =
u N 1
lim u
n
n

(1) n x n 1 2n 1
lim

=
lim

(1)

2n 1
x
2n 3

(1)

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

lim

2n 3 (1) n 1 x n

=|x|

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.
1
If x = 1 the given series becomes
1
Here un =

2n 1

, un+1 =

2n 3

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

lim

Also

lim

un =

1
2n 3

=0

1
-

1
+

1
-

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

1
3

But the absolute series

1

1
+ whose general term is u n =

2n 1

and is of

order

1/ 2

and hence un 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.
1
If x = -1, the series becomes
1

=-

1
5

1
7

- .

...

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

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

Thus we have established all the results.
Problems:

(i )

n 1

ii

n 1

n 1
n
n 1
n 2
1. Test the conditional convergence of
sin x sin 2 x sin 3 x

3 ....
13
23
3
2. Prove that
is absolutely convergent
3. For what values of x the following series are convergent
x2
x3 x 4
i x ....
2
3
4
2
3
4
x
x
x
ii x 2 2 2 ....
2 3 4
x
x2
x3 x 4
iii

....

1.2 2.3 3.4 4.5

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

x n ...

4. Test the nature of convergence

******

n 1

n n