Test for Series

Nth Term Test

#

If lim{an } $ 0 , then
n"#
$a n is divergent.
n "1

Integral Test
#
!
If f is positive,
! continuous, and decreasing for x ≥ 1, and an = f(n), then $a n and
n "1

"
# 1
f (x)dx either both converge or diverge.

Direct Comparison Test !

! Suppose "a n and "b n are series of positive terms:

a. If "b n is convergent and an ≤ bn for all n, then "a n is also convergent.

! !

b. If "b n is divergent, and an ≥ bn for all n, then "a n is also divergent.

! !
Limit Comparison Test

Suppose that
! "a n and "b n are series with!
positive terms, and let c be a positive real

number. If the following are true:

an
a.
! lim != c > 0 , then either both series converge or both diverge.
n"# b
n

an
b. lim
n"# bn
= 0 and "b n converges, then "a n converges.
!
an
c.
bn
= # and
lim
n"#
"b n diverges, then "a n diverges.
! ! !
Alternating Series Test
#
! If the alternating
! series $ ("1) n "1
bn!= b1 " b2 + b3 + ... " bn + ..., bn > 0 satisfies:
n =1

a. bn+1 ≤ bn , and
#
!
b. lim bn!= 0 , then
n"#
$ ("1) n "1
bn converges.
n =1

!
!
 Test for Series

Absolute Convergence Test

# # #

Let $a n be an infinite series. If $a n converges, then $a n converges.

n "1 n "1 n "1

Absolute Convergence, Conditional Convergence

! ! !
A series "a n is said to be absolutely convergent if "a n converges. If "a n diverges,

then we say "a n is conditionally convergent.

! ! !
Ratio Test
an +1
!I. "a n converges absolutely if lim
n"# a
< 1.
n

an +1
II. "a n diverges if lim
n"# a
> 1.
n
! !
an +1
III. Ratio test is inconclusive if lim =1
n"# a
n
! !
Root Test

I. "a n converges absolutely

! if lim n an < 1.
n"#

II. "a n diverges if lim n an > 1 or or ∞.

n"#
!
!
III. Root test is inconclusive if lim n an = 1.
n"#
!
!