SUMMARY OF INFINITE SERIES TESTS

1. Denition of the sum of a series. Let sn = a1 + a2 + + an . If limn sn exists and equals s then and its sum is s. 2. Well understood series.

n=1

an is convergent

(geometric series) The series a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + is convergent if |r| < 1 and the sum is a/(1 r) and the series is divergent with no sum if |r| 1. (p series) The series
1 n=1 np

is convergent if p > 1 and divergent if p 1.

(Telescoping series) For some series an , a partial fraction decomposition of an n=1 results in a telescoping sum of sn making it easy to determine the sum of the series. 3. Tests for positive term series only. Suppose series.
n=1

an and
n=1

n=1 bn

are positive term

n=1 bn

(limit comparison test) If an bn for large n, then same behavior. (comparison test ) Suppose an bn for all n. (a) If an is divergent then bn is divergent, n=1 n=1 (b) If bn is convergent then an is convergent. n=1 n=1 4. Tests for any series. (nth term test ) If limn an = 0 or does not exist then (ratio test) Suppose limn an+1 = L. If L < 1 then an the series is divergent; if L = 1 then try another test.

an and

have the

n=1 n=1

an is divergent.

an is convergent; if L > 1

STRATEGY FOR USING THE TESTS The following steps will work fairly frequently. 1. If it is a p series or a geometric series or a telescoping series then we know its behavior. 2. If it is a positive term series then use the limit comparison test to simplify the series - the series may already be in the simplest possible form. Now analyze the simpler series using steps 1, 3, 4 and 5. 3. If the series has a factorial or a power of a number (such as 3n ) then try the ratio test. 4. If the series is a positive term series then try the ordinary comparison test. 5. If the above failed, try computing limn an ; If the limit is non-zero or does not exist then the series is divergent because of the nth term test. If the limit is zero or too hard to compute then try ratio test.