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Stewart CalcLT9e 11 06

The document explains the Ratio and Root Tests for determining the convergence of series. The Ratio Test states that if the limit of the ratio of consecutive terms is less than 1, the series is absolutely convergent; if greater than 1 or infinite, it is divergent. The Root Test is similar but focuses on the nth root of the terms, with specific conditions for convergence and divergence.

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7 views11 pages

Stewart CalcLT9e 11 06

The document explains the Ratio and Root Tests for determining the convergence of series. The Ratio Test states that if the limit of the ratio of consecutive terms is less than 1, the series is absolutely convergent; if greater than 1 or infinite, it is divergent. The Root Test is similar but focuses on the nth root of the terms, with specific conditions for convergence and divergence.

Uploaded by

alicliverpool
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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11 Sequences, Series, and Power Series

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.


11.6 The Ratio and Root Tests

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.


The Ratio Test

3
The Ratio Test (1 of 2)
The following test is very useful in determining whether a given series is
absolutely convergent.
The Ratio Test

a
an +1
(i) If lim = L  1, then the series n is absolutely convergent (and therefore
n → a
n n =1
convergent).

a a
(ii) If lim n +1 = L  1 or lim n +1 = ,
n → a n → a
then the series 
n =1
an is divergent.
n n

an +1
(iii) If lim = 1, the Ratio Test is inconclusive; that is, no conclusion can be
n → an

drawn about the convergence or divergence of  an .

4
Example 2

nn
Test the convergence of the series 
n =1
n!
.

Solution:
nn
Since the terms an = are positive, we don’t need the absolute value signs.
n!

an +1
=
( n + 1)n +1  n !
an ( n + 1)! n n
=
( n + 1)( n + 1)n  n !
( n + 1) n ! n n

5
Example 2 – Solution

n n
 n + 1  1
=  =  1 +  →e as n → 
 n   n

Since e > 1, the given series is divergent by the Ratio Test.

6
The Ratio Test (2 of 2)
Note
Although the Ratio Test works in Example 2, an easier method is to use the
Test for Divergence. Since
nn n  n  n      n
an = = n
n ! 1 2  3      n

it follows that an does not approach 0 as n → ∞. Therefore the given series is


divergent by the Test for Divergence.

7
The Root Test

8
The Root Test (1 of 2)
The following test is convenient to apply when n th powers occur.

The Root Test



(i) If lim
n →
n an = L  1, then the series a
n =1
n is absolutely convergent (and therefore
convergent).

(ii) If nlim
→
n an = L  1 or lim
n →
n an = , then the series  an is divergent.
n =1

(iii) If lim n an = 1, the Root Test is inconclusive.


n →

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The Root Test (2 of 2)
If lim n an = 1, then part (iii) of the Root Test says that the test gives no
n →

information. The series  an could converge or diverge.

(If L = 1 in the Ratio Test, don’t try the Root Test because L will again be 1. And
if L = 1 in the Root Test, don’t try the Ratio Test because it will fail too.)

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Example 4
 n
 2n + 3 
Test the convergence of the series   3n + 2  .
n =1  

Solution:
n
 2n + 3 
an =  
 3n + 2 
3
2+
2n + 3 n 2
n an = = → 1
3n + 2 2 3
3+
n

Thus the given series is absolutely convergent (and therefore convergent) by


the Root Test.

11

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