*Notes from James Stewarts Single Variable Calculus Early Transcendentals, 8th Ed.

11.6 Absolute Convergence and the Ratio and Root Tests

X
X
First, consider a series an and define the corresponding series |an |
n=1 n=1

X
|an | = |a1 | + |a2 | + |a3 | + . . .
n=1

P P
Definition 1 A series an is called absolutely convergent if the series of absolute values |an | is convergent.

P
(Note: If the series an is a series with all positive terms, then |an | = an ans absolute convergence is the same
thing as convergence in this case.)

X (1)n1
Example 1 Show the series is absolutely convergent.
n=1
n2

X (1)n1
Example 2 (a) First, show that the alternating harmonic series is convergent.
n=1
n

(b) Is the series absolutely convergent?

P
Definition 2 A series an is called conditionally convergent if it is convergnt but not absolutely convergent.

P
Theorem 3 If a series an is absolutely convergent, then it is convergent.

X cos n
Example 3 Determine whether the serise is convergent or divergent.
n=1
n2

The Ratio Test

 
 an+1  X
(i) If lim   = L < 1, then the series an is absolutely convergent (and therefore convergent).
n an  n=1
   
 an+1   an+1  X
(ii) If lim 
  = L > 1 or lim   = , then the series an is divergent.
n an  n  an 
n=1
 
 an+1 
(iii) If lim 
  = 1, the Ratio Test is inconclusive.
n an 

X n3
Example 4 Test the series (1)n for absolute convergence.
n=1
3n

X nn
Example 5 Test the convergence of the series
n=1
n!

The Root Test

p
X
n
(i) If lim |an | = L < 1, then the series an is absolutely convergent (and therefore convergent).
n
n=1

p p
X
n
(ii) If lim |an | = L > 1 or lim n |an | = , then the series an is divergent.
n n
n=1
p
(iii) If lim n |an | = 1, the Root Test is inconclusive.
n

 n
X 2n + 3
Example 6 Test the convergence of the series
n=1
3n + 2