TYPES OF SERIES

1. Telescoping [collapsing] series

A series is called telescoping series if there is internal translation (cancellation in the partial
sum.

Example 1

1
Show that the series 
n 1 k k
2
converges and find its sum

Solution

Using partial fractions

1 1 1
 
k  k k k 1
2

n
1 1 
Sn     
k 1  k k 1 
 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
 1                ..............    
 2  2 3 3 4  4 5  n n 1 
 1 1  1 1  1 1  1 1 1
 1                 ..............      
 2 2  3 3  4 4  n n  n 1

1 1
Sn  
n n 1

 1 
Lim Sn  Lim 1   1
n  n 
 n 1 

The series converges with a sum of 1

2. Geometric Series

Geometric series is of the form



ar
k 0
k
with a  0

This series diverges if r  1 and converges if r  1

Example 1

a
Proof the sum to infinity is given by S 
1 r

Proof

a  r n  1
Sn  r 1
r 1

a 1  r n 
Sn  r 1
1 r

From the convergence of series r n  0 and so

a 1  r n  a
Lim Sn  Lim Sn 
n  n  1 r 1 r

Example 2

Determine whether each of the following geometric series diverges or converges. If the series
converges find the sum

 2 
k k k 1
  
13  1
a) 
n 0
 
72
b) 
n2
3  
 5
c) 
n2 3k 1

Solution
k
13
an  U n   
72
2 3
1 1 3 1 3 1 3
              .......
7 7 2 7 2 7 2

3
r  1 Hence the series diverges
2
3 4 5
3  1  1  1
an  U n   3     3     3     .......
25  5   5  5

1
r   1 Hence the series converges
5
 3
a 3 5 1
S   25   
1  r 1  15 25 6 10

1
 S 
10
k 1
2
an  U n  k 1
3
8 16 32
    .......
27 81 243

2
r 1 Hence the series converges
3

8 2
a , r
27 3

8
a 8 3 8
S   27   
1  r 1  3 27 1 9
2

8
 S 
9

Exercise

Determine whether convergent or not

 1 2k 1
k
 
3k
a) 
k 1 4k  2
b) 
k 2 3k 1

3) P- Series

1
P – Series is defined by 
k 1 k
p

The series converges if p  1

And diverges if p  1

This concept will be confirmed by the integral test.

4) Harmonic Series

1
This is of the form
k 1 k

This is generated from the P – Series with p = 1
The Harmonic series diverges always
This will be confirmed by the integral test.

CONVERENCE TESTS
1) Ratio Test

Statement
Ratio test states that
a
If lim k 1  L
k  a
k

Then the series an

i) Converges if L  1
ii) Diverges if L  1
iii) Test fails if L  1

Example 1
 1
k 1

Using ratio test investigate the convergence of ak 

k!
Solution
 1
k 2

Find ak 1 
 k  1!
 1  k !
k 2
ak 1
 ak 1 
ak  k  1!  1k 1

 1  1
k 2
k!
 
 k  1 k !  1  1
k

 1 k !   1
1


 k  1 k ! k  1
 1
Lim 0  L  0  1 Hence ak converges.
k  k 1

Example 2
k2
Using ratio test to investigate the convergence of ak 
3k
Solution
 k  1
2
k2
ak  k and ak 1 
3 3k 1
ak 1  k  1 3k
2

  2
ak 3k 1 k

k 2  2k  1

3k 2

ak 1 k 2  2k  1
Lim  Lim
k  ak k  3k 2
1 2 1
 Lim   2
k  3 3k 3k
1

3

1
 L  1 Hence ak converges.
3

Example 3
n!
Using ratio test investigate the convergence of an 
4n
Solution

Find an 1 
 n  1!
4n 1
an 1  n  1! 4n
 an 1  n 1 
an 4 n!


 n  1 n ! 4n
 
n 1
4 4
n
n! 4

n 1
Lim   1  L  0  1 Hence ak diverges.
n  4

Example 4

Using ratio test to investigate the convergence of

n2
a) an  [converges]
 2n  1!
9n
b) an  [diverges]
 2 
n 1
n

2) Root Test
If the given series is of the form ak p k then try the root test
Root test states that
If lim k ak  L
k 

Or
lim  ak 
1
k
L
k 

Then
i) ak converges if L  1
ii) ak diverges if L  1
iii) ak diverges if L  
iv) ak inconclusive if L  1

Example 2
 k
 5k  3k 3 
Test for convergence   2 
 7k  2 

Solution
k
 5k  3k 3 
ak   2 
 7k  2 

Using root test

k1
k
5
3
l im k  ak   L im k
3

k  k  2
7 3
k
5
3
3
 L im k
k  2
7 3
k
5
3
3 3
 L im k 
k  2
7 3 7
k

1
L  1 Hence ak diverges
3

Example 2
1
Test for convergence 
 ln k 
k

Solution
1
ak 
 ln k 
k

Using root test

 1
 1  k

l im k  ak   L im  
k   
  ln k 
k  k

1
 L im 0
k  ln k

L  0  1 Hence ak diverges

Example 3
k
 k 
Test for convergence   
 3k  1 
Solution
k
 k 
ak   
 3k  1 
Using root test

k1
 k  k
l im k  ak   L im  
k  k 
 3k  1 
 k 
 L im  
k 
 3k  1 
 1  1
 L im  
k  
3 1  3
 k

1
L  1 Hence ak diverges
3

Exercise
Test for convergence

a) 
 3k !  k 2
2k

k! b)   
 3 k 
 

3k  k !
2
c)  k 3  2k  2 d)   2k  !
  k  2 ! k!
e)  4!k !2 f) 
 k  2
k 4

k5
g)  10k

INTEGRAL TEST
If f  x  is continuous positive and decreasing and ak  f  x  for all k then
 

 ak and the improper integral

k 1
 f  x  dx both diverge or converge if
1

 C

 f  x  dx  Lim  f  x  dx
x 
1 1

If the limit exist then ak converges

If the limit does not exist then ak diverges

The test can be applied when , ak involves logarithmic, trigonometric, exponential, and inverse
trigonometric functions.

Example 1

1
Investigate the convergence of the harmonic series given that k
k 1
using integral test.

Solution

1 1 1 1

k 1 k
 1     ..................
2 3 4

f  x  is positive , continuous and decreasing for all f  x   1

 C

 f  x  dx  Lim  f  x  dx
x 
1 1
C
1
 Lim  dx
x  x
1

 Lim  ln x 1  Lim  ln C  ln1

C

C  C 

 Lim ln C  
C 

Because the integral is not finite we conclude that the series diverges

Example 2
Investigate the convergence of the P-series using integral test

Solution

1 1

k 1 k
p
 ak 
kp
p 1 Series converges

p 1 Series diverges
1
f  x  is positive, continuous and decreasing for all x > 1
xp

 C

 f  x  dx  Lim  f  x  dx
x 
1 1
C
1
 Lim  dx
x 
1
xp
C
 x  p 1  1
 Lim    Lim C  p 1  1
C   p  1 C  1  p 
 1
1
 Lim C  p C 1  1
C  1  p

1 C 
 Lim   1
1 p C
C  p

1 1
  1 
1 p p 1

If p >1 then the integral is finite hence P – series converges

If p  1 P – series is diverges
Example 3

Use integral test to verify the convergence of the series k e
k 1
2 k3

Solution
ak  k 2 2 k f  x   x 2 2 x
3 3

 C

 f  x  dx  Lim  f  x  dx
1
x 
1
C
 Lim  x 2 e  x dx
3

x 
1
C
 1 3  1 3 1 
 Lim   e  x   Lim   e  C  e 1 
C 
 3 1 C   3 3 
1 1 
 Lim   C 3 

C  3e
3e 

The limit exists therefore the series converges

Example 4
Use integral test to verify the convergence of the series

n

k 1 n  1
2

Solution
n x
ak  2 f  x 
n 1 x 1
2

Clearly the function is positive. n  1

It is a rational function and continuous everywhere and it is decreasing
 C

 f  x  dx  Lim  f  x  dx
1
x 
1
C
x
 Lim  dx
x 
1
x 1
2

  x 2  1 .1  x.2 x 
C

 Lim  
C  
 x  1 1
2 2


C
   2 
1  x2   1  C  1 1 
2
 Lim   Lim
C  
   C  
    
2 2 2

 x 2
 1 1  C 2
 1 12
 1 
1 C2
 Lim
C  1
C  2 2

1 C2
11
 Lim  Lim C2  1
C  1
 
C  2 2 C  2
1 1
C2

The limit exists therefore the series converges

COMPARISON TEST
We use comparison test to deduce that a given positive series converges by comparing it with a
known convergent series having large terms.
To show that a given positive series diverges we compare it with a known divergent series
having smaller positive terms.

Example 1

1
Show that 2
k 1
n
1
converges

Solution
By the geometric series theorem we know that

1

k 1 2
n
converges

1 1
Since  n for n  1
2 1 2
n
 
1
From comparison test it follows that 2
k 1
n
1
converges

Example 2

1
Show that 3
k 1 k 1
diverges

Solution
By the geometric series theorem we know that

1

k 1 2
n
converges

1 1
Since  for n  1
3 k 1 3 k


1 1
NB: 3 k 1 k
is a P – series with P 
2


1
 3n 1 n
also converges

1
We conclude by comparison test that 3
k 1 k 1
diverges

LIMIT COMPARISON TEST

Limit comparison test states
a
If lim k  L where L is finite and positive then it follows that;
n  b
k

i) ak Converges if bk converges
ii) ak diverges if bk diverges

Example 1

4n  3
Show that n
k 1
3
 5n  7
converges

Solution
To find a series with which to compare the given series we disregard all but the highest powers
of n in the numerator and denominator obtaining
4n 4

n3 n 2


4
We compare the given series with n
n 1
2


1
Since nn 1
2
is a P – Series with P  1 it converges

4
 n
n 1
2
converges

an 4n  3 n2
lim  lim 3 
n  b n  n  5n  7 4
n

4n3  3n 2
 lim
n  4n 3  20n  28

4 3
 lim n 1
n 
4  20 2  28 3
n n

L is finite and positive hence the given series converges

Example 2

1
Use limit comparison test to investigate the convergence of 
k 1 2 5
k
converges

1
bk  , a P – Series hence converges
2k

an 1 2k
lim  lim k 
n  b n  2  5 1
n

1
 lim 1
n 
1 5 k
2

L = 1 , positive and finite hence given series converges

Exercise
Use the comparison test, limit test or the intrgral test to determine whether the given series
converges or diverges.
  
1 1
a)  [converges] b)  [converges]
 n  1
2
n 1 n 1 n3  1

 
n2 n
c)  n3  n  1
[diverges] d) 
n 1 7n
[converges]
n 1



tan 1 n 1
e)  n2  1
[converges] f) 
n 1
sin
n
[diverges]
n 1


1 
n3
g)  [converges] h)  [diverges]
 ln n  2n 2  1
n
n 1 n 1



k k 2k
i)  k  k3
[converges] j) 
n 1 3k  1
[converges]
k 1