MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
MATH 1014 Tutorial Notes 11
Topics covered in tutorial 11:
1. Basic knowledge of series
2. Tests for convergence of a series
3. Alternating series estimation theorem
1. Basic knowledge of series
What you need to know:
• Series
• p-series
• Geometric series
• Telescoping series
sequence of partial sums:
Given a sequence {𝑎𝑛 }, the sequence of partial sums {𝑆𝑛 } has the terms:
𝑆1 = 𝑎1
𝑆2 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2
𝑆3 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3
⋮
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 = ∑ 𝑎𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 = 1,2,3, …
𝑘=1
Series:
The limit of partial sums is called an infinite series:
𝑛 ∞
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝑺𝒏 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ∑ 𝑎𝑘 = ∑ 𝑎𝑘
𝒏→∞ 𝒏→∞
𝑘=1 𝑘=1
If the limit above exists as a number 𝐿, we say the infinite series converges to 𝐿;
If the limit above doesn’t exist, we say the infinite series diverges.
P-series:
∞
1 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠, 𝑖𝑓 𝑝 > 1
∑ {
𝑛𝑝 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠, 𝑖𝑓 𝑝 ≤ 1
𝑛=1
Example 11.1 Determine whether the following series converges or not.
1
− (−1)𝑛 cos(𝑛𝜋)
(a) ∑∞
𝑛=1(𝑛) 5 (b) ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛5
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
Geometric series:
𝑎
, 𝑖𝑓 |𝑟| < 1
∑∞
𝑘=0 𝑎𝑟
𝑘
={ 1−𝑟 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 ≠ 0.
𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠, 𝑖𝑓 |𝑟| ≥ 1
Example 11.2
1 𝑘 6−𝑘 4
(a) Evaluate ∑∞
𝑘=0(4) 5 (b) Evaluate ∑∞
𝑘=5(5)
𝑘
10𝑛 +2𝑛
(c) Evaluate ∑∞
𝑛=5 11𝑛
Telescoping series:
A series of the form
∞
∑(𝒂𝒏 − 𝒂𝒏+𝟏 )
𝒏=𝟏
is called a telescoping series and its partial sums can be expressed as
𝑆𝑛 = (𝑎1 − 𝑎2 ) + (𝑎2 − 𝑎3 ) + ⋯ + (𝑎𝑛 − 𝑎𝑛+1 ) = 𝑎1 − 𝑎𝑛+1
Therefore we have
∞
∑(𝒂𝒏 − 𝒂𝒏+𝟏 ) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝒂𝟏 − 𝒂𝒏+𝟏 )
𝒏→∞
𝒏=𝟏
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
Example 11.3
1
(a) Evaluate ∑∞
𝑘=0 (3𝑘+1)(3𝑘+4)
1
(b) Evaluate ∑∞
𝑘=0 16𝑘 2 +8𝑘−3
1
(c) Evaluate ∑∞
𝑘=1 𝑘(𝑘+1)(𝑘+2)
1
(d) Evaluate ∑∞
𝑘=1 √𝑘+1+√𝑘
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
2. Tests for convergence of a series
What you need to know:
• 10 tests for convergence of a series
• Absolute and Conditional Convergence
Tests for non-negative series:
1. Comparison test:
(a) If 0 ≤ 𝑎𝑘 ≤ 𝑏𝑘 , then ∑∞ ∞
𝑘=1 𝑏𝑘 converges ⟹ ∑𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 converges
(b) If 0 ≤ 𝑎𝑘 ≤ 𝑏𝑘 , then ∑𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 diverges ⟹ ∑∞
∞
𝑘=1 𝑏𝑘 diverges
𝑎𝑘
2. Limit comparison test: 𝑎𝑘 > 0, 𝑏𝑘 > 0, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑡 lim =𝐿
𝑘→∞ 𝑏𝑘
𝐿 < ∞, then ∑∞
(a) If 0 < 𝑎
𝑘=1 𝑘 and ∑ ∞
𝑘=1 𝑏𝑘 either both converge or diverge.
0 and ∑𝑘=1 𝑏𝑘 converges, then ∑∞
(b) If 𝐿 = ∞
𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 converges.
∑ ∞ ∑ ∞
(c) If 𝐿 =
∞ and 𝑘=1 𝑏𝑘 diverges, then 𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 diverges.
3. Integral test:
𝑓(𝑥) is a continuous, positive, decreasing function for 𝑥 ≥ 1,
and 𝑎𝑘 = 𝑓(𝑘) for 𝑘 = 1, 2 ,3, …
∞
∞
converges 𝑖𝑓 ∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 converges
∑𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 { ∞
diverges 𝑖𝑓 ∫1 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 diverges
Tests for arbitrary series:
1. Divergence test:
If lim 𝑎𝑘 ≠ 0, then ∑∞ 𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 diverges
𝑘→∞
2. Absolute convergence test:
∑∞ ∞
𝑘=1 |𝑎𝑘 | converges ⟹ ∑𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘
∑∞ ∞
𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 diverges ⟹ ∑𝑘=1 |𝑎𝑘 | diverges
𝑎𝑘+1
3. Ratio test: 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑟 = lim | |, then
𝑘→∞ 𝑎𝑘
𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑓 0≤𝑟<1
∑∞
𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 { 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠(𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟 = ∞) 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 > 1
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 = 1
4. Root test: 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑟 = lim 𝑘√|𝑎𝑘 |, then
𝑘→∞
𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑓 0≤𝑟<1
∑∞
𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 { 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠(𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟 = ∞) 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 > 1
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 = 1
Tests for alternating series:
The alternating series ∑∞ 𝑘
𝑘=0(−1) 𝑎𝑘 converges if the following 3 conditions are satisfied.
(a) 𝑎𝑘 > 0 (b) lim 𝑎𝑘 = 0; (c) decreases for 𝑘 greater than some index 𝑁.
𝑘→∞
Remark: We can not apply “alternating series test” to proof divergence of a series.
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
Example 11.4 Determine the convergence of each of the following series.
∞ 1 1 ∞
2 ⁄𝑘 + 3 ⁄𝑘 2𝑘 + 3𝑘
(𝑎) ∑ 1
(𝑏) ∑
1 + 4 ⁄𝑘 1 + 4𝑘
𝑘=1 𝑘=1
∞ ∞
𝑛 𝑛
(2𝑘)!
(𝑐) ∑( √𝑛 − 1) (𝑑) ∑
3𝑘 𝑘 4
𝑛=1 𝑘=1
Example 11.5 Determine the convergence of each of the following series.
∞ ∞
−𝑛 2 1
(𝑎) ∑ 𝑛𝑒 (𝑏) ∑
𝑛(ln 𝑛)
𝑛=1 𝑛=2
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
∞ ∞
1 𝑛
(𝑐) ∑ (𝑑) ∑ , 𝑏>0
6
6 + √𝑛4 (𝑛 + 𝑏)2
𝑛=1 𝑛=1
Example 11.6 Determine the convergence of each of the following series.
∞ ∞
4 𝑛−1
𝑛4
(𝑎) ∑ (𝑏) ∑(−1)
𝑛(ln(4𝑛))3 5𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑛=1
∞ ∞
cos(𝑘𝜋) cos(𝑘)
(𝑐) ∑ (𝑑) ∑
√𝑘 + 1 𝑘2 + 1
𝑘=1 𝑘=1
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
Example 11.7 For each of the following series, tell whether or not you can apply the 3-condition test?
∞ ∞
(−1)𝑛 𝑛𝑛 (−1)𝑛 𝑛!
(𝑎) ∑ (𝑏) ∑
𝑛! 𝑒𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑛=1
∞ ∞
(−1)𝑛 𝑒 𝑛 (−1)𝑛 𝑛!
(𝑐) ∑ (𝑑) ∑
𝑛! 𝑛𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑛=1
Absolute and Conditional Convergence:
Assume ∑∞𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges, then,
∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges absolutely if ∑𝑛=1 |𝑎𝑛 |converges
∑𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges conditionally if ∑∞
∞
𝑛=1 |𝑎𝑛 |diverges
Example 11.8 Determine whether the following series are absolutely convergent, conditionally Convergent, or
divergent.
(−1)𝑛 𝑛 𝑛+1
(𝑎) ∑∞𝑛=1
(𝑏) ∑∞ 𝑛=1(−1)
3𝑛 𝑛
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
Example 11.9 Which of the following series is conditionally convergent?
𝑘 5
(A) ∑∞ 𝑘=1(−1) 𝑘 3 +1
5
(B) ∑∞
𝑘=1(−1)
𝑘
𝑘+1
5𝑘
(C) ∑∞
𝑘=1(−1)
𝑘
𝑘+1
5𝑘 2
(D) ∑∞
𝑘=1(−1)
𝑘
𝑘+1
3. Alternating series estimation theorem
What you need to know:
• Alternating series estimation theorem
Alternating series estimation theorem:
If 𝑆 = ∑(−1)𝑛−1 𝑏𝑛 is the sum of an alternating series that satisfies
(a) 𝑏𝑛 > 0 and (b) 𝑏𝑛+1 ≤ 𝑏𝑛 and (c) lim 𝑏𝑛 = 0
𝑛→∞
Then |𝑅𝑛 | = |𝑆 − 𝑆𝑛 | ≤ 𝑏𝑛+1.
i.e. If an alternating series satisfies (a) (b) (c), then if we estimate 𝑆 by the partial sum 𝑆𝑛 , the error is less than or
equal to the magnitude of the next term.
(0.4)3 (0.4)5 (0.4)7
Example 11.10 For the following alternating series, ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = 0.4 − 3! + 5! − 7! + ⋯ , how many terms
do you have to compute in order for your approximation to be within 0.0000001 from the convergent value of
that series.
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MATH1014 Calculus II (2023 Spring) Tutorial Notes 11 (Phyllis LIANG)
Reference page
1 1
• Harmonic series: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑛 diverges although lim =0
𝑛→∞ 𝑛
1 1
• ∑∞ 𝑛 ∞ 𝑛
𝑛=1(−1) 𝑛 converges, ∑𝑛=1(−1) 𝑛2 converges
• sequence function
To verify whether a sequence converges ⇔ To verify whether the limit of this sequence exists;
To find the limit of a sequence is similar (not equivalent) to find the limit of a function.
1 1
( lim = 0, lim = 0)
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 𝑛→∞ 𝑛
• A Series is a summation of areas, so it is similar to improper integral from 1 to ∞;
∞ ∞
lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 0 ⇒ ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠 lim 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0 ⇒ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠
𝑥→∞ 1 𝑛→∞
𝑛=1
∞ ∞
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 ⇏ ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠 lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0 ⇏ ∑ 𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠
𝑥→∞ 1 𝑛→∞
𝑛=1
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