Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 1 of 5

Which test do I use for a sequence or series?

Are you evaluating a sequence or a series (infinite sum)?
If a series, go to page 3.
Otherwise
For a Sequence
Calculate a few terms
Graph some terms
Definition 1.1: Convergence of a sequence and divergence of a sequence.

The set an n n converges to L if and only if given any number > 0 there is an integer N for
0

which an L for every n > N. If there is no such number L, then we say the sequence
diverges.
Theorem 1.1: Combinations of limits of sequences.

If an n n and bn n n both converge, then

0

(i).

lim an bn lim an lim bn

(ii).

lim an bn lim an lim bn

(iii).

lim anbn lim an lim bn

(iv).

a lim an
lim n n
(assuming lim bn 0 ).
n b
n
bn
n lim
n

Theorem 1.2: The limit of a sequence is the limit of its function.

If x and lim f x L , then lim f n L for n .
x

Note that the converse is not true. Counterexample: lim cos 2 n

n

Theorem 1.3: Squeeze Theorem

Suppose that an n n and bn n n both converge to the limit L. If there is an integer n1 n0 such
0

that all n n1 guarantees that an cn bn, then cn n n converges to L as well.

Corollary 1.1:
If lim an 0 , then lim an 0 as well.
n

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 2 of 5

Definition 1.3: Increasing and Decreasing sequences.

The sequence an n 1 is increasing if a1 a2 a3 an an1

The sequence an n 1 is decreasing if a1 a2 a3 an an1
If a sequence is either increasing or decreasing it is called monotonic.

Key trick: To determine whether a series is monotonic, look at the ratio of successive terms.
Definition 1.4: Bounded sequences.

The sequence an n 1 is bounded if there is a number M > 0 (called a bound) for which |an| < M
for all n.

Theorem 1.4: Convergence of bounded monotonic sequences.

Every bounded, monotonic sequence converges.

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 3 of 5

For a Series
Get a feel for the series:
1. Evaluate a few partial sums.
2. Graph the first few partial sums.
3. Evaluate some large-n partial sums.
If the terms are always positive:
1. Quick check for convergence: can you work out the answer to the sum?

1
10
k
a. Geometric series: example: 0.1
(Section 8.2)

1 0.1 9
k 0

a
if r 1 and diverges if r 1
ar k converges to

1 r
k 0
b. Telescoping series:

1
1
1
1 1 1 1 1 1

1 (Section 8.2)

k 1 1 2 2 3 3 4
k 1 k k 1
k 1 k
2. Quick check for convergence: is the series a p-Series?

1
a. The p-Series p converges if p > 1 and diverges if p 1. (Section 8.3)
i 1 k
3. Quick check for divergence: do the terms grow instead of tending to zero?
a. divergence by the kth term test. Example:

k because lim a
k

k 1

0.

(Section 8.2)

b. The harmonic series diverges:

k . (Section 8.2)
k 1

4. Develop an intuition for whether it will converge or diverge, then compare the sequence
to a known converging or diverging integral or series:
a. Theorem 3.1: The Integral Test for Convergence of a Series If f(k) = ak for all
k = 1, 2, 3, , and f is both continuous and decreasing, and f(x) 0 for x 1, then

f x dx and

i 1

either both converge or both diverge.

b. Theorem 3.3: The Comparison Test for Convergence of a Series Suppose that
0 ak bk for all k . If

bk converges, then
k 1

ak diverges, then
k 1

a
k 1

converges, too. If

b
k 1

diverges, too.

c. Theorem 3.4: The Limit Comparison Test for Convergence of a Series

a
Suppose that ak, bk > 0, and that for some finite number L, lim k L 0 . Then,
k b
k

either

ak and
k 1

b
k 1

both converge or both diverge.

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Page 4 of 5

If the terms of the series are not always positive, including if they alternate sign:
1. If the terms do go to zero, and they alternate sign, then the series converges. (Section
8.4)

2. If some of the terms are negative, but

k 1

converges (which you would test using

techniques from the previous page), then the series converges absolutely (Section 8.5)

3. Theorem 5.2: The Ratio Test Given

k 1

, with ak 0 for all k, suppose that

ak 1
L . Then:
k a
k
a. if L < 1, the series converges absolutely.
b. if L > 1 (or L = ), the series diverges.
c. if L =1, no conclusion can be made.

lim

4. Theorem 5.3: The Root Test Given

a
k 1

, with ak 0 for all k, suppose that

lim k ak L . Then:
k

a. if L < 1, the series converges absolutely.

b. if L > 1 (or L = ), the series diverges.
c. if L =1, no conclusion can be made.

Calc 2 Lecture Notes

Section 8.3

Test
Geometric
Series

When to Use

Kth-Term Test

All series.

Integral Test

ar

Comparison
Test

Conclusions
a
if r 1 and
1 r
diverges if r 1 .

Converges to

k 0

If lim ak 0 , the series diverges.

k

k 1

ak , where ak f k , f

ak and

is continuous and
decreasing, and
f(x) 0

p
k 1 k
0 ak bk for all k .

converge or both diverge.

k 1

p-Series

Page 5 of 5

k 1

8.2
8.3

f x dx both

Converges if p > 1 and diverges if

p 1.
If

Section
8.2

8.3
8.3

converges, then

converges.

k 1

If

k 1

diverges, then

b
k 1

Limit
Comparison
Test

ak, bk > 0, and

a
lim k L 0
k b
k

Alternating
Series Test

Absolute
Convergence

Ratio Test

Root Test

k 1

k 1

ak , where

ak 0
Series with some positive
and some negative terms
(including alternating
series)
Any series (especially
those with exponentials or
factorials)

Any series (especially

those with exponentials)

diverges.

ak and
k 1

b
k 1

both converge or

8.3

both diverge.
If lim ak 0 and ak 1 ak , then the 8.4
k

series converges.

If

a
k 1

converges, then

a
k 1

8.5

converges absolutely.

ak 1
L and if L < 1, the
k a
k
series converges absolutely.

8.5

If lim k ak L and if L < 1, the

8.5

If lim

series converges absolutely.