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11.6 Absolute Convergence and The Ratio and Root Tests

This document summarizes key tests for determining the absolute and conditional convergence of infinite series: 1) The Ratio Test can determine if a series converges absolutely based on the limit of the ratio of successive terms. 2) A series is absolutely convergent if its terms' absolute values form a convergent series, and conditionally convergent otherwise. 3) The Root Test similarly examines the limit of the nth root of terms to determine absolute convergence.

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158 views3 pages

11.6 Absolute Convergence and The Ratio and Root Tests

This document summarizes key tests for determining the absolute and conditional convergence of infinite series: 1) The Ratio Test can determine if a series converges absolutely based on the limit of the ratio of successive terms. 2) A series is absolutely convergent if its terms' absolute values form a convergent series, and conditionally convergent otherwise. 3) The Root Test similarly examines the limit of the nth root of terms to determine absolute convergence.

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Austin Redmon
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*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

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