Infinite Series 16.2

Introduction
We extend the concept of a nite series, met in Block 1, to the situation in which the number of
terms increase without bound. We dene what is meant by an innite series being convergent
by considering the partial sums of the series. As prime examples of innite series we examine
the harmonic and the alternating harmonic series and show that the former is divergent and the
latter is convergent.
We consider various tests for the convergence of series, in particular we introduce the Ratio test
which is a test applicable to series of positive terms. Finally we dene the meaning of the terms
absolute and conditional convergence.


be able to use the summation notation
Prerequisites
be familiar with the properties of limits
Before starting this Block you should . . .
be able to use inequalities

Learning Outcomes Learning Style

To achieve what is expected of you . . .
After completing this Block you should be able
to . . .
allocate sucient study time
use the alternating series test and the ra-
tio test on innite series
briey revise the prerequisite material

understand the terms absolute and attempt every guided exercise and most
conditional convergence of the other exercises
1. Introduction
Many of the series considered in Block 1 were examples of nite series in that they all involved
the summation of a nite number of terms. When the number of terms in the series increases
without bound we refer to the sum as an innite series. Of particular concern with innite
series is whether they are convergent or divergent. For example, the innite series

1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + ...

is clearly divergent because the sum of the rst n terms increases without bound as more and
more terms are taken.
It is less clear as to whether the harmonic and alternating harmonic series:
1 1 1 1 1 1
1+ + + + ... 1 + + ...
2 3 4 2 3 4
converge or diverge. Indeed you may be surprised to nd that the rst is divergent and the
second is convergent. What we shall do in this Block is to consider some simple convergence
tests for innite series. Although we all have an intuitive idea as to the meaning of convergence of
an innite series we must be more precise in our approach. We need a denition for convergence
which we can apply rigorously.
First, using an obvious extension of the notation we have used for a nite sum of terms we
denote the innite series:


a1 + a2 + a3 + . . . + ap + . . . by the expression ap
p=1

where ap is an expression for the pth term in the series. So, as examples:



1 + 2 + 3 + ... = p since the pth term is ap p
p=1



2 2 2
1 + 2 + 3 + ... = p2 since the pth term is ap p2
p=1

1 1 1 
(1)p+1 (1)p+1
1 + + ... = here ap
2 3 4 p=1
p p

Consider the innite series:



a 1 + a2 + . . . + a p + . . . = ap
p=1

What we do is to consider the sequence of partial sums, S1 , S2 , . . . , of this series where

S 1 = a1
S 2 = a1 + a2
..
.
S n = a1 + a2 + . . . + a n

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That is, Sn is the sum of the rst n terms of the innite series. If the limit of the sequence
S1 , S2 , . . . , Sn , . . . can be found; that is

lim Sn = S (say)
n

then we dene the sum of the innite series to be S:



S= ap
p=1

and we say the series converges to S. Another way of stating this is to say that



n
ap = lim ap
n
p=1 p=1

Denition
Convergence of Innite Series


An innite series ap is convergent if the sequence of partial sums
p=1


k
S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , . . . , Sk , . . . in which Sk = ap is convergent
p=1

Divergence condition for an infinite series

An almost obvious requirement that an innite series should be convergent is that the individual
terms in the series should get smaller and smaller. This leads to the following keypoint:

Key Point
The condition:

ap 0 as p increases (mathematically lim ap = 0)

p



is a necessary condition for the convergence of the series ap
p=1

It is not possible for an innite series to be convergent unless this condition holds.

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Now do this exercise
Which of the following series cannot be convergent?
(a) 12 + 23 + 34 + . . .
(b) 1 + 12 + 13 + 14 + . . .
(c) 1 12 + 13 14 + . . .
In each case, use the condition from the previous Keypoint.

Answer

Divergence of the Harmonic Series

The harmonic series:
1 1 1 1
1+ + + + + ...
2 3 4 5
has a general term an = n1 which clearly gets smaller and smaller as n . However, sur-
prisingly, the series is divergent. Its divergence is demonstrated by showing that the harmonic
series is greater than a series which is obviously divergent. We do this by grouping the terms of
the harmonic series in a particular way:
     
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 + + + + + ... 1 + + + + + + + + ...
2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Now
 
1 1 1 1 1
+ > + =
3 4 4 4 2
 
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + > + + + =
5 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 2
 
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + + + + + > + + + + + + + = etc
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 2

and so on. Hence the harmonic series satises:

     
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1+ + + + + + + + ...
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
     
1 1 1
>1 + + + + ...
2 2 2

The right-hand side of this inequality is clearly divergent so the harmonic series is divergent

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Convergence of the Alternating Harmonic Series
As with the harmonic series we shall group the terms of the alternating harmonic series, this
time to display its convergence.
The alternating harmonic series is:
1 1 1 1
S =1 + + + ...
2 3 4 5
This series may be re-grouped in two distinct ways.
1st re-grouping
     
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 + + + ... = 1 ...
2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 6 7
each term in brackets is positive since 12 > 13 , 14 > 15 and so on. So we easily conclude that S < 1
since we are subtracting only positive numbers from 1.
2nd re-grouping
     
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 + + + ... = 1 + + + ...
2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 6
Again, each term in brackets is positive since 1 > 12 , 13 > 14 , 15 > 16 and so on.
So we can also argue that S > 12 since we are adding only positive numbers to the value of the
rst term, 12 . The conclusion that is forced upon us is that

1
<S<1
2
so the alternating series is convergent since its sum, S, lies in the range 1
2
1. It will be shown
in Block 5 that S = ln 2  0.693

2. General Tests for Convergence

The techniques we have applied to analyse the harmonic and the alternating harmonic series
are one-o:- they cannot be applied to innite series in general. However, there are many tests
that can be used to determine the convergence properties of innite series. Of the large number
available we shall only consider two such tests in detail.

The alternating series test

An alternating series is a special type of series in which the sign changes from one term to the
next. They have the form
a1 a2 + a3 a4 + . . .
(in which each ai , i = 1, 2, 3, . . . is a positive number)
Examples are:
(a) 1 1 + 1 1 + 1 . . . (b) 1
3
24 + 35 46 + . . . (c) 1 12 + 13 14 + . . . .
For series of this type there is a simple criterion for convergence:

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 Key Point
The Alternating Series Test
The alternating series
a1 a2 + a3 a4 + . . .
(in which each ai , i = 1, 2, 3, . . . are positive numbers) is convergent if
the terms continually decrease:

a1 > a2 > a3 > . . .

the terms decrease to zero:

ap 0 as p increases (mathematically lim ap = 0)

p

This is called the alternating series test.

Now do this exercise

Which of the following series are convergent


1) 

(1)p+1
p (2p
(a) (1) (b)
p=1
(2p + 1) p=1
p2
Answer

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3. The Ratio Test
This test, which is one of the most useful and widely used convergence tests, applies only to
series of positive terms.

Key Point

The Ratio Test



ap+1
Let ap be a series of positive terms. Suppose, as p increases, the limit of equals
p=1
ap
ap+1
a number . That is lim = . Then, it is possible to show that:
p ap



if > 1, then ap diverges
p=1



if < 1, then ap converges
p=1



if = 1, then ap may be convergent or divergent.
p=1

That is, the test is inconclusive in this case.

Example Use the ratio test to examine the convergence of the series
1 1 1
(a) 1 + 2!
+ 3!
+ 4!
+ ...
2 3
(b) 1 + x + x + x + . . .

Solution
1
(i) The general term in this series is p!
i.e.

1 1  1
1 1
1 + + + ... = ap = ap+1 =
2! 3! p=1
p! p! (p + 1)!

and the ratio

ap+1 p! p(p 1) . . . (3)(2)(1) 1
= = =
ap (p + 1)! (p + 1)p(p 1) . . . (3)(2)(1) (p + 1)

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 Solution (continued)

ap+1 1
lim = lim =0
p ap p (p + 1)

Since 0 < 1 the series is convergent. In fact, it will be shown in Block 4 that
1 1
1+ + + . . . = e 1 1.718
2! 3!
(ii) Here we must assume that x > 0 since we can only apply the ratio test to a series of positive
terms.
Now


1 + x + x2 + x3 + . . . = xp1
p=1

so that
ap = xp1 , ap+1 = xp
and
ap+1 xp
lim = lim p1 = lim x = x
p ap p x p

Thus, using the ratio test we deduce that (if x is a positive number) this series will only converge
if x < 1. We will see in Block 4 that
1
1 + x + x2 + x3 + . . . = provided 0 < x < 1.
1x

Now do this exercise

Use the ratio test to examine the convergence of the series:
1 8 27
+ 2
+ + ...
ln 3 (ln 3) (ln 3)3
Answer

Note that in all of these examples and guided exercises we have decided upon the convergence
or divergence of various series; we have not been able to use the tests to discover what actual
number the convergent series converges to.

4. Absolute and Conditional Convergence

The ratio test applies to series of positive terms. Indeed this is true of many related tests for
convergence. However, as we have seen, not all series are series of positive terms. To apply the
ratio test such series must rst be converted into series of positive terms. This is easily done.
 
Consider two series ap and |ap |. The latter series, obviously directly related to the rst,
p=1 p=1
is a series of positive terms.

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Using imprecise language, it is harder for the second series to converge than it is for the rst,
since, in the rst, some of the terms may be negative and cancel out part of the contribution
from the positive terms. No such cancellations can take place in the second series since they are



all positive terms. Thus it is plausible that if |ap | converges so does ap . This leads to
p=1 p=1
the following denition.

Denition

Conditional Convergence



A convergent series ap for which its related series |ap | is divergent is said to be
p=1 p=1

conditionally convergent
Absolute Convergence



A convergent series ap is said to be absolutely convergent if |ap | is convergent.
p=1 p=1

For example, the alternating harmonic series:



(1)p+1 1 1 1
=1 + + ...
p=1
p 2 3 4

is conditionally convergent since the series of positive terms

  
 (1)p+1  
1 1 1
  = 1 + + + ...
 p  p 2 3
p=1 p=1

is divergent.

Try each part of this exercise

1 1 1
Show that the series + + . . . is absolutely convergent.
2! 4! 6!
Part (a) First, nd the general term of the series
Answer

Part (b) Now obtain the related series of positive terms

Answer

Part (c) Now use the ratio test to examine the convergence of this series
Answer
 
(p + 1)th term
Part (d) What is lim ?
p pth term
Answer

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More exercises for you to try
1. Which of the following alternating series are convergent?


(1)p ln(3) 

(1)p+1 

p sin(2p + 1) 2
(a) (b) (c)
p=1
p p=1
p2 +1 p=1
(p + 100)

2. Use the ratio test to examine the convergence of the series:



e4 

p3 
1
(a) (b) (c)
p=1
(2p + 1)p+1 p=1
p! p=1
p



1 

(1)p+1
(d) (e)
p=1
(0.3)p p=1
3p

3. For what values of x are the following series absolutely convergent?



(1)p xp 

(1)p xp
(a) (b)
p=1
p p=1
p!
Answer

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16.2: Sequences and Series
5. Computer Exercise or Activity

For this exercise it will be necessary for you to

access the computer package DERIVE.

DERIVE will obtain the sum of many innite series. For example to obtain the value of:

1 1  1
1 + 2 + 2 + ... =
2 3 p=1
p2

we would key Author: Expression 1/(p 2). DERIVE responds with

1
.
p2
Now hit Calculus:Sum choosing p as the Variable and as the Upper limit. Hitting the OK
button obtains the repsonse

1
p=1
p2

Now choosing Simplify:Basic gets the response

2
6


We have considered, in this Block, the series 1 + x + x2 + . . . = xp which, we found, was
p=1


only convergent if |x| < 1 (i.e. if 1 < x < 1). DERIVE will obtain the sum xp as long as
p=1
we constrain x to lie in the domain 1 < x < 1. This can be done, in DERIVE, by opening
the Declare:Variable Domain menu. Type in Variable x and hit the Declare button. Then, in
the screen that is presented, choose Real and Open interval. As Lower bound choose 1, and
choose +1 for the Upper bound. Hit the OK button and DERIVE responds with
x : Real (1, 1)


which indicates that x is to be a real variable in the domain 1 < x < 1. Now construct xp
p=1
as you would normally in DERIVE. You will obtain the response:
1
1x

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16.2: Sequences and Series
as expected.
For some series, DERIVE will not be able to obtain its sum. However, DERIVE may still be
used to check on the convergence or otherwise of the series.
DERIVE can be used to apply the ratio test directly. To use this we need to use the Library
MISC.MTH. To access this library of commands hit File:Open and double click on Misc icon.
Then, for example, to apply the Ratio test to the series

1 1 1 

(1)p
1 + + + ... =
2 3 4 p=1
p

We would key in Ratio test ((1) n/n , n) DERIVE responds:

 
(1)n+1
RATIO TEST , n
n
Then hit the Simplify:Basic. DERIVE responds
1
as we expect. That is, in this case, the ratio test is inconclusive.

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 End of Block 16.2

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 p p
(a) ap = p+1 limp p+1
=1
Hence series is divergent.

1
(b) ap = p
lim ap = 0
p
so this series may be convergent. Whether it is or not requires further testing.

(1)p+1
(c) ap = p
lim ap = 0 so again this series may be convergent.
p

Back to the theory

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16.2: Sequences and Series
(a) First, write out the series: 13 + 35 57 + . . .

1) (1 2p
1
)
p (2p
Now examine the series for convergence. (1) = (1) p
1 (1)p as p
(2p + 1) (1 + 29 )
increases. Since the individual terms of the series do not converge to zero this is therefore a
divergent series.

1 1 1
(b) This series 1 2
+ 2 2 + . . . is an alternating series of the form
2 3 4
a1 a2 + a3 a4 + . . . in which ap = p12 . The ap sequence is a decreasing sequence since
1 1
1 > 2 > 2 > ...
2 3
1
Also lim 2 = 0. Hence the series is convergent by the alternating series test.
p p

Back to the theory

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16.2: Sequences and Series
 

p3 p3
1 8
First, nd the general term of the series. ln 3
+ (ln 3)2
+ ... = so ap =
p=1
(ln 3)p (ln 3)p

(p+1)3
Now nd ap+1 ap+1 = (ln 3)p+1

ap+1
Finally, obtain lim
p ap

 3  3  3
ap+1
ap
= p+1
p
Now p+1 1
(ln 3)
p
=. 1 + 1
p
1 as p
ap+1 1
increases lim = <1
p ap (ln 3)
Hence this is a convergent series.

Back to the theory

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16.2: Sequences and Series
 

(1)p (1)p
2!1 + 1
4!
1
6!
+ ... = ap
p=1
(2p)! (2p)!

Back to the theory

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1 1
so ap =
p=1
(2p)! (2p)!

Back to the theory

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16.2: Sequences and Series
 1 1
pth term = (2p)!
(p + 1)th term = (2(p+1))!

Back to the theory

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16.2: Sequences and Series
 (2p)! 2p(2p 1) . . . 1
= = 0 as p increases.
(2(p + 1))! (2p + 2)(2p + 1)2p(2p 1) . . . (2p + 2)(2p + 1)

(1)p
So the series of positive terms is convergent. Hence is absolutely convergent.
p=1
(2p)!

Back to the theory

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16.2: Sequences and Series
1. (a) convergent, (b) convergent, (c) divergent
2. (a) = 0 so convergent, (b) = 0 so convergent, (c) = 1 so test is inconclusive.
1
However, since p1/2 > p1 then the given series is divergent by comparison with the harmonic
series. (d) = 10/3 so divergent, (e) Not a series of positive terms so the ratio test cannot
be applied.

|x|p
3. (a) The related series of positive terms is . For this series, using the ratio test we
p=1
p
nd = |x| so the original series is absolutely convergent if |x| < 1.

|x|p
(b) The related series of positive terms is . For this series, using the ratio test we nd
p=1
p!
= 0 (irrespective of the value of x) so the original series is absolutely convergent for all
values of x.

Back to the theory

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