Tests for Convergence of a Sequence:

Definition of Convergence of a Sequence:

Given any sequence {an}, the sequence is convergent if

lim a n
n

=L

Squeeze Theorem for Sequences

If an bn cn for all n N, and if

lim a n
n

lim c n

= n

lim bn

= L, then n

=L

GeometricSequence:
Ageometricsequence{ ar n 1 }isconvergentif1<r1anddivergentforallothervaluesofr.

an
If1<r<1,then lim
n

Tests for Convergence of a Series:

Definition of Convergence of a Series: Given any series a n , the series is convergent if the sequence
n 1

sn S where
of partial sums {sn} is convergent to a number S; that is lim
n

sn

ai

i 1

Evaluating the (Limit of) Partial Sum

If you are lucky and you find an explicit general formula the nth partial sum,
terms of n, then you can
series.

sn
evaluate nlim

If the limit of the partial sum exists,

sn

ai expressed in

i 1

to see if it approaches a number S to find the sum of the

lim sn S , then the series is convergent with sum S.

n

If the limit of the partial sum does not exist, then the series is divergent.
Test for Divergence
an 0 or does not exist, then the series
Given any series an , if lim
n

is divergent.

an 0
*** Test for divergence fail to conclude if lim
n
Special Series :

a ar

n 1

is convergent for 1 < r < 1 and is divergent for r 1 or r 1.

a
n 1
*** If an infinite geometric series ar is convergent, then its sum is S
1 r
1
p Series: an p is convergent for p >1 and is divergent for p 1.
n
Geometric Series:

Integral Test
Suppose f(x) is a continuous, positive, decreasing function on the interval [1, ) and
with an = f(n) for all integers n 1 :

then

a
n 1

then

a
n 1

is convergent if and only if

is divergent if and only if

is a series

f ( x)dx is convergent .

f ( x)dx is divergent .

Comparison Test
Suppose an and are series with positive terms an > 0 and bn> 0 for all n 1 :

b
If b
If

a is also convergent.
for all n 1, then a is also divergent.

is convergent and an bn for all n 1, then

is divergent and an bn

Limit Comparison Test

Suppose an and bn are series with positive terms an > 0 and bn> 0 for all n 1 :
an
C for some finite number C > 0, C , then either both series converge or both
n bn

If lim

series diverge.
The comparison tests require that you have a known convergent or known divergent series
you can compare on a term by term basis to the terms of

Ratio Test: Given a series an :

n1

If < 1,

then series

is absolutely convergent and therefore also convergent.

n1

If > 1 or lim an 1 = , then the series

n

If lim
n
***

an

is divergent.

n1

an 1
= 1 , the test gives no information about convergence or divergence of
an

The ratio test is useful for series whose terms contain factorials.

n1

that

Absolute-Convergence Test

Suppose an is an alternating series: If an converges, then so does

n1

If

n1

converges, the series is "absolutely convergent" which is a stronger condition that

n1

convergence. If you can find a test that works for series with positive terms to show that

converges, then this test tells you that

n1

also converges.

n1

If

diverges, then this test does not give you any information about the convergence or

n1

divergence of the alternating series

. You need to find another test of convergence.

n1

a
*** An alternating convergent series a
*** An alternating convergent series

n
n

a also converges
converges conditionally if a diverges.
converges absolutely if

Alternating Series Test

Suppose an is an alternating series

an

(1) n 1
, consider {bn} where bn = |an| :
bn

The series converges if all the 3 conditions are satisfied.

1) bn 0
for all n 1

bn 0
2) lim
n
3) bn+1 < bn

for all n 1