5.

1 ABSOLUTE AND CONDITIONAL CONVERGENCE

5.1.1 DEFINITION OF ABSOLUTE AND CONDITIONAL

CONVERGENCE

1. ABSOLUTE CONVERGENCE

A series ∑│𝑎𝑛 │converges absolutely if the series of the absolute values,

∑│𝑎𝑛 │ converges.

∑│𝑎𝑛 │= │𝑎1 │+│𝑎2 │+│𝑎3 │+ …

This means that if the positive term series converges, then both the positive term series
and the alternating series will converge.

2. CONDITIONAL CONVERGENCE
A series is said to be conditionally convergent if it is convergent, the series of its positive
terms diverges to positive infinity, and the series of its negative terms diverges to negative
infinity.
5.1.2 EXAMPLE OF ABSOLUTE AND CONDITIONAL
CONVERGENCE

EXAMPLE 1

Does the following series converge absolutely?

∞ 4
∑𝑛=0 ( − )𝑛
5
SOLUTION:

Let us look at the positive term series for this given series

∞ 4
∑𝑛=0( )𝑛
5
This is a geometric series with ratio, r = 4/5, which is less than 1.

Therefore this series converges, and the given series converges absolutely.
EXAMPLE 2

Does the following series converge absolutely, converge conditionally, or diverge?

SOLUTION:

Since the cos nπ is the alternating term, the positive term series is the harmonic series.
Remember that the harmonic series diverges, so the given series does not converge
absolutely. Now to determine the convergence of the alternating series.

𝑼𝒏 > 𝟎 for all n ≥ 1, so the first condition of this test is satisfied. Now determine if the
second condition is satisfied. This is easy to see. As n gets larger, the fraction 1/n gets
smaller. So Un ≥ Un+1 and the second condition is true. Now let us determine if the third
condition is satisfied.

The third condition holds, so the alternating series converges, and the given series converges
conditionally.
EXAMPLE 3
Does the following series converge absolutely, converge conditionally, or diverge?

SOLUTION:
Here is the positive term series.

Since nth term is raised to the nth power, use the nth-root test to determine convergence or
divergence of this series.

The positive term series converges by the nth-root test. Therefore, the given series converges
absolutely.
5.1.3 SUMMARY (COMPARISION OF ABSOLUTE AND CONDITIONAL
CONVERGENCE)

Absolute Conditional

DEFINITION If the series is convergent, then. Σ│𝑥𝑛 │ If the series Σ 𝑥𝑛 is convergent and the
is convergent. We will say that Σ 𝑥𝑛 is series Σ│𝑥𝑛 │ is divergent, we will say that
absolutely convergent. is conditionally convergent.

EXAMPLE (−1)𝑛+2 (−1)𝑛+1

This is a convergent series ∑𝑛=1 𝑛2
This is a divergent series ∑𝑛≥1 𝑛

So we can conclude that this is absolute So we can conclude that this is conditional
convergent. convergent.