10.

3 pseries and the ratio test

Let p be a positive number. An infinite series of the form

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

n=1

is called a pseries. If p = 1, the series is called the harmonic series

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

n=1

Classifying pseries:

X
1
is a pseries with p = 3.
n3

n=1

X
1
is a pseries with p = 1/2.
n
n=1

X
1
is not a pseries, it is a geometric series.
2n

n=1

Test for convergence of pseries:

The pseries

X
1
np

n=1

will
diverge if 0 < p 1
converge if p > 1.
This is a very simple test, just identify that you have a pseries
and check if 0 < p 1(diverge) or if p > 1 (converge). Note
however, that unlike the geometric series there is no formula for
computing the infinite series. The best you can do is to
approximate the series using some computational method.

Examples

X
1
is a pseries with p = 3 > 1 so this series converges.
n3

n=1

X
1
is a pseries with p = 1/2 1 so this series diverges.
n
n=1

X
1
is the harmonic series, with p = 1 1 so this series
n
n=1
diverges.

Ratio Test

Let

an be an infinite series with non-zero terms.

n=1



 an+1 
 < 1.
The series converges if lim 
n
an 


 an+1 
 > 1.

The series diverges if lim 
n
an 


 an+1 

 = 1.
The test is inconclusive if lim 
n
an 
The test is particularly useful for factorials and exponentials.

Ratio Test examples

Determine the convergence or divergence of the following series

X
1 2 4 8 16
2n
= + + + + ...
n!
1 1 2 6 24
n=0

2n
Use the ratio test with an =
and you see:
n!



 n+1
 an+1 
2n
2


lim

= lim
n  an 
n (n + 1)!
n!

 n+1
2
n!
= lim

n (n + 1)! 2n
2
= lim
n n + 1
=0
The series converges.

Review of factorials and exponentials

Recall that n! = n(n 1)(n 2) . . . 3 2 1 so

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

Also recall that 2n+1 = 2 2n so

2n+1
2 2n
=
= 2.
2n
2n

Example
Determine the convergence or divergence of the infinite series

X
2n
n=1

n5
n

We use the ratio test with an = 2n5 so we have to look at



 n+1

 an+1 
2n
2


= lim
5
lim
n  an 
n (n + 1)5
n
 n+1

2
n5
= lim

n (n + 1)5 2n
5

n
= lim 2
n
n+1
=2
Since the limit is 2 1 the series diverges.

Comparison Test
If you want to test the convergence of a series
know that

an and you

n=1

bn converges and an bn for all n then you can

n=1

conclude that

an converges also.

n=1

Also, if you want to test the convergence of a series

you know that
conclude that

X
n=1

an and

n=1

bn diverges and an bn for all n then you can

an diverges also.

n=1

Comparison test example

Consider the convergence of

x
X
e
n=1

for x > 0.

X
1
diverges.
n
n=1
ex
1
x
We also know that e > 1 for x > 0 so
> and therefore by
n
n
x
X
e
the comparison test we know that
for x > 0 diverges
n

We know that the series

n=1

Summary of Tests series

Test

Series

Converges

Diverges

nth term

no test

limn an 6= 0

Geometric

|r| < 1

|r| 1

pSeries

p>1

0<p1

Ratio





limn  an+1
an  < 1





limn  an+1
an  1

Comparison

P
if
n=1 bn converges
and an bn

P
if
n=1 bn diverges
an bn

n=1 an

n=1 ar
1
n=1 np

n=1 an

n=1 an

Examples

Determine the convergence or divergence of the series

X
n=1

1
3n + n

Since this is not a geometric series or a pSeries (and the nth

term test does not apply because the limit of the terms is zero) we
have to use the Ratio or Comparison tests. The ratio test might
get messy (it usually will if there are sums involved and not just
products) we will try the comparison test.

Example:

1
n=1 3n +n

We know that

X
1
3n

n=1

converges, because it is a geometric series with r = 13 , and so we

will be able to see this series also converges if we can show that
1
1
n
n
3n +1 3n but this is clearly true since 3 + n 3 for n 1.
Therefore this series converges by comparison to a geometric series.

Examples

Determine the convergence or divergence of the series

X
n=1

We know that limn

series diverges.

n2
n2 +1

n2
n2 + 1

= 1 6= 0 so by the nth term test this

Examples

Determine the convergence or divergence of the series

 n
X
5
n=1

This series is a geometric series with r = 56 < 1 so the series

converges. In this case we also know the sum of the series is
1
= 6.
1 56

Examples
Determine the convergence or divergence of the series

X
n3n
n=1

n!

Since this is not a geometric series or a pSeries (and the nth term
test does not apply because the limit of the terms is zero) we have
to use the Ratio or Comparison tests. We will try the ratio test:




n+1
 an+1 
n3n
 = lim (n + 1)3
lim 

n
an  n
(n + 1)!
n!


n+1
n!
(n + 1)3
n
= lim
n
(n + 1)!
n3
3
= lim
n n
=0
The ratio test implies that the series converges.