Strategy for Testing Series

We now have several ways of testing a series for convergence or divergence; the problem
is to decide which test to use on which series. In this respect testing series is similar to inte-
grating functions. Again there are no hard and fast rules about which test to apply to a
given series, but you may find the following advice of some use.
It is not wise to apply a list of the tests in a specific order until one finally works. That
would be a waste of time and effort. Instead, as with integration, the main strategy is to
classify the series according to its form.
1. If the series is of the form  1
n p, it is a p-series, which we know to be conver-
gent if p  1 and divergent if p  1.
2. If the series has the form  ar n1 or  ar n, it is a geometric series, which con-
   
verges if r  1 and diverges if r  1. Some preliminary algebraic manipula-
tion may be required to bring the series into this form.
3. If the series has a form that is similar to a p-series or a geometric series, then
one of the comparison tests should be considered. In particular, if a n is a rational
function or algebraic function of n (involving roots of polynomials), then the
series should be compared with a p-series. (The value of p should be chosen as
in Section 8.3 by keeping only the highest powers of n in the numerator and
denominator.) The comparison tests apply only to series with positive terms, but
if  a n has some negative terms, then we can apply the Comparison Test to
 a n and test for absolute convergence.
 
4. If you can see at a glance that lim n l
a n  0, then the Test for Divergence
should be used.
5. If the series is of the form  1n1bn or  1nbn , then the Alternating Series
Test is an obvious possibility.
6. Series that involve factorials or other products (including a constant raised to the
n th power) are often conveniently tested using the Ratio Test. Bear in mind that
 
a n1
a n l 1 as n l
for all p-series and therefore all rational or algebraic
functions of n. Thus, the Ratio Test should not be used for such series.
7. If a n
f n, where x1
f x dx is easily evaluated, then the Integral Test is effec-
tive (assuming the hypotheses of this test are satisfied).

In the following examples we don’t work out all the details but simply indicate which
tests should be used.

n1
EXAMPLE 1 
n
1 2n  1
Since a n l 12  0 as n l
, we should use the Test for Divergence.

sn 3  1
EXAMPLE 2 
n
1 3n  4n 2  2
3

Since a n is an algebraic function of n, we compare the given series with a p-series.

The comparison series for the Limit Comparison Test is  bn , where

sn 3 n 3
2 1
bn



3n 3 3n 3 3n 3
2

1
2 ■ STRATEGY FOR TESTING SERIES

EXAMPLE 3  ne
n
1
n 2

2
Since the integral x1
xex dx is easily evaluated, we use the Integral Test. The Ratio Test
also works.


n3
EXAMPLE 4  1
n
1
n
n 1
4

Since the series is alternating, we use the Alternating Series Test.

2k
EXAMPLE 5 
k
1 k!
Since the series involves k!, we use the Ratio Test.


1
EXAMPLE 6 
n
1 2  3n
Since the series is closely related to the geometric series  1
3 n, we use the Comparison
Test.

Exercises



1n1
A Click here for answers. S Click here for solutions. 17.  1 2
n
1
n 1
n
18. 
n
2 sn  1



1–34 Test the series for convergence or divergence. ln n k5



19.  1 n
20.  5k
n 1
2
n1 n
1 sn k
1
1.  n2  n
2.  n2  n

22n

sn 2  1
n
1

n
1

21.  nn
22.  n  2n 2  5
3
1 n1 n
1 n
1
3.  n n
2 4.  1 n1
n2  n



cosn
2
n
1 n
1
23.  tan1
n 24.  n 2  4n



3 n1 n
1 n
1
1
5.  6. 

n!

n2  1
n
1 2 3n n
1 n  n cos2 n 25. 
n
1 en
2 26. 
n
1 5n



1 2 k k!
7.  8. 

k ln k

e 1
n
n
2 nsln n k
1 k  2! 27. 
k
1 k  13
28. 
n
1 n2



9. k
k
1
2 k
e 10. ne
n
1
2 n 3
29. 


tan n 1
30.

 1 j sj
n
1 n sn j
1 j5



1 n1 n
  1



n 5k 1
11.
n
2 n ln n
12.
n
1 n 2  25 31. 
k
1 3  4k
k
32. 
n
2 ln nln n



3nn 2


13. 
n
1 n!
14.  sin n
n
1
33. 
sin1
n
34.  (s2  1)
n

n
1 sn n
1


n!
15. 
n
0 2
5
8
  
3n  2


n2  1
16. 
n
1 n3  1
 STRATEGY FOR TESTING SERIES ■ 3

Answers

S Click here for solutions.

1. D 3. C 5. C 7. D 9. C 11. C 13. C
15. C 17. D 19. C 21. C 23. D 25. C
27. C 29. C 31. D 33. C
4 ■ STRATEGY FOR TESTING SERIES

Solutions: Strategy for Testing Series

n2 − 1 1 − 1/n2 X∞
n2 − 1
1. lim an = lim 2
= lim = 1 =
6 0, so the series diverges by the Test for
n→∞ n→∞ n + 1 n→∞ 1 + 1/n
n=1
n2 + 1
Divergence.
1 1 P
∞ 1 P∞ 1
3. < 2 for all n ≥ 1, so converges by the Comparison Test with , a p-series that
n2 + n n n=1 n 2 +n
n=1 n
2

converges because p = 2 > 1.

¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
¯ an+1 ¯ ¯ n+2
23n ¯¯ ¯ −3 · 23n ¯
5. lim ¯¯ ¯ = lim ¯ (−3) · = lim ¯ ¯ = lim 3 = 3 < 1, so the series
n→∞ an ¯ n→∞ ¯ 23(n+1) (−3)n+1 ¯ n→∞ ¯ 23n · 23 ¯ n→∞ 23 8
X∞ n+1
(−3)
is absolutely convergent by the Ratio Test.
n=1
23n

1
7. Let f (x) = √ . Then f is positive, continuous, and decreasing on [2, ∞), so we can apply the Integral Test.
x ln x
Z " # Z
1 u = ln x, √
Since √ dx = u−1/2 du = 2u1/2 + C = 2 ln x + C, we find
x ln x du = dx/x
Z ∞ Z t h √ it ³ √ √ ´
dx dx
√ = lim √ = lim 2 ln x = lim 2 ln t − 2 ln 2 = ∞. Since the integral
2 x ln x t→∞ 2 x ln x t→∞ 2 t→∞

X∞
1
diverges, the given series √ diverges.
n=2 n ln n
X
∞ X∞
k2
9. k2 e−k = . Using the Ratio Test, we get
k=1 k=1
ek
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ "µ ¶2 #
¯ ak+1 ¯ ¯ (k + 1)2 ek ¯ k+1 1 1 1
lim ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
= lim ¯ k+1 · 2 ¯ = lim · = 12 · = < 1, so the series converges.
k→∞ ¯ ak ¯ k→∞ e k k→∞ k e e e

1 P∞ (−1)n+1
11. bn = > 0 for n ≥ 2, {bn } is decreasing, and lim bn = 0, so the given series converges by
n ln n n→∞ n=2 n ln n
the Alternating Series Test.
¯ ¯ ¯ n+1 ¯ · ¸
¯ an+1 ¯ ¯ (n + 1)2 n! ¯¯ 3(n + 1)2
13. lim ¯¯ ¯ = lim ¯ 3 · = lim = 3 lim
n+1
= 0 < 1, so the series
n→∞ an ¯ n→∞ ¯ (n + 1)! 3n n2 ¯ n→∞ (n + 1)n2 n→∞ n2

X∞
3n n2
converges by the Ratio Test.
n=1
n!
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
¯ an+1 ¯ ¯ (n + 1)! 2 · 5 · 8 · · · · · (3n + 2) ¯¯
15. lim ¯¯ ¯= lim ¯ ·
n→∞ an ¯ n→∞ ¯ 2 · 5 · 8 · · · · · (3n + 2)[3(n + 1) + 2] n! ¯
n+1 1
= lim = <1
n→∞ 3n + 5 3
X ∞
n!
so the series converges by the Ratio Test.
n=0
2 · 5 · 8 · · · · · (3n + 2)

X
∞
17. lim 21/n = 20 = 1, so lim (−1)n 21/n does not exist and the series (−1)n 21/n diverges by the
n→∞ n→∞
n=1
Test for Divergence.
 STRATEGY FOR TESTING SERIES ■ 5

ln x 2 − ln x ln n
19. Let f (x) = √ . Then f 0 (x) = < 0 when ln x > 2 or x > e2 , so √ is decreasing for n > e2 .
x 2x3/2 n
X∞
ln n 1/n 2 ln n
By l’Hospital’s Rule, lim √ = lim √ = lim √ = 0, so the series (−1)n √ converges by
n→∞ n n→∞ 1/ (2 n) n→∞ n n=1
n
the Alternating Series Test.
µ ¶n
∞ (−2)2n
P P
∞ 4 p 4
21. = . lim n |an | = lim = 0 < 1, so the given series is absolutely convergent by the
n=1 nn n=1 n n→∞ n→∞ n

Root Test.
µ ¶
1 1
23. Using the Limit Comparison Test with an = tan and bn = , we have
n n
an tan(1/n) tan(1/x) H sec2 (1/x) · (−1/x2 )
lim = lim = lim = lim = lim sec2 (1/x) = 12 = 1 > 0.
n→∞ bn n→∞ 1/n x→∞ 1/x x→∞ −1/x2 x→∞
P∞ P∞
Since n=1 bn is the divergent harmonic series, n=1 an is also divergent.
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
¯ an+1 ¯ ¯ n2 ¯ 2
¯ ¯ ¯ (n + 1)! e ¯ (n + 1)n! · en n+1
25. Use the Ratio Test. lim ¯ = lim ¯ · ¯ = lim = lim 2n+1 = 0 < 1, so
n→∞ an ¯ n→∞ ¯ e(n+1) 2 2
n! ¯ n→∞ en +2n+1 n! n→∞ e

X∞
n!
n2
converges.
n=1
e
Z ∞ · ¸t
ln x ln x 1 H P
∞ ln n
27. 2
dx = lim − − (using integration by parts) = 1. So 2
converges by the Integral Test,
2 x t→∞ x x 1 n=1 n
k ln k k ln k ln k P∞ k ln k
and since 3 < 3
= 2 , the given series 3 converges by the Comparison Test.
(k + 1) k k k=1 (k + 1)

tan−1 n π/2 P ∞ π/2 π P∞ 1 3

29. 0 < 3/2
< 3/2 . 3/2
= which is a convergent p-series (p = 2
> 1), so
n n n=1 n 2 n=1 n3/2
P∞ tan−1 n
converges by the Comparison Test.
n=1 n3/2
µ ¶k µ ¶k
5k k (5/4)k 3 5
31. lim ak = lim = [divide by 4 ] lim = ∞ since lim = 0 and lim = ∞.
k→∞ k→∞ 3k + 4k k→∞ (3/4)k + 1 k→∞ 4 k→∞ 4

X
∞
5k
Thus, diverges by the Test for Divergence.
k=1
3k + 4k

X∞
sin(1/n) 1 an sin(1/n) sin(1/n)
33. Let an = √ and bn = √ . Then lim = lim = 1 > 0, so √ converges by
n n n n→∞ bn n→∞ 1/n n
n=1
∞
X 1
limit comparison with the convergent p-series 3/2
(p = 3/2 > 1).
n=1
n