ALGEBRABILITY OF CONDITIONALLY CONVERGENT

SERIES WITH CAUCHY PRODUCT

ARTUR BARTOSZEWICZ AND SZYMON GLA̧B

Abstract. We show that the set of conditionally convergent real series

considered with Cauchy product is (ω, 1)-algebrable.

By FS we denote the linear space of all formal series over R. We can con-
sider FS as a linear algebra with two different products, namely for ∞
P
n=0 xn
P∞
and n=0 yn let
∞ ∞ ∞
! !
X X X
xn · yn = xn yn
n=0 n=0 n=0
(point-wise product) and
∞ ∞ ∞ X
n
! !
X X X
xn × yn = xk yn−k
n=0 n=0 n=0 k=0

(Cauchy product). By CCS we denote the set of all conditionally convergent

series. In [APS] Aizpuru et al. proved c–lineability of CCS and they consider
the algebras in (FS, ·) consisting of elements from CCS and c00 .
We say that subset E of some linear algebra is (α, β)–algebrable if there
is a β–generated algebra A such that A ⊂ E \ {0} such that A is not τ –
generated for any τ < β and linear dimension of A is equal to α. The
notion of algebrability was considered by many authors [ACPS], [APS1],
[AS], [GPS], [GS1], [BG].
It is easy to see that CCS is not algebrable in (FS, ·). However if we
consider the series of complex numbers, it appears that the set of all condi-
tionally convergent series with point-wise product is (c, c)-algebrable [BGP].
This note is devoted to show that CCS is (ω, 1)–algebrable in (FS, ×).

1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary: 40A05; Secondary: 15A03.

Key words and phrases. algebrability, Cauchy product of series.
1
2 ARTUR BARTOSZEWICZ AND SZYMON GLA̧B

Our main tool will be the following classical result by Pringsheim. A

family { ∞ s
P
n=0 xn : s ∈ S} of series is absolutely equi-convergent if for any

ε > 0 there is N such that ∞ s

P
k=n |xn | < ε for any n ≥ N and s ∈ S.

P∞ P∞
Theorem 1. [P] Let n=0 an and n=0 bn be convergent series. Assume
that the series

(a0 + a1 ) + (a2 + a3 ) + (a4 + a5 ) + ...

is absolutely convergent. Suppose moreover that the family of series

(∞ )
X
F= aϕ(n) bψ(n) : ϕ, ψ : N → N with ϕ(n), ψ(n) ≥ n
n=0
P∞
= ( ∞
P P∞
is absolutely equi-convergent. Then n=0 cn n=0 an ) × ( n=0 bn ) is

convergent.

1. conditionally convergent series

P∞
We say that series n=0 an is alternating if a2n ≥ 0 and a2n+1 ≤ 0 for
any n = 0, 1, 2, ... It is an easy observation that the Cauchy product of two
alternating series is alternating.

Theorem 2. CCS is (ω, 1)–algebrable in (FS, ×).

(−1)n P∞
Proof. Put an = n+1 for any n ∈ N. Note that the series n=0 an is
(k) (1)
alternating. Define numbers an inductively: an = an for any n ∈ N and
n
(1)
X
a(k+1)
n = a(k)
m an−m
m=0

for any k ≥ 1. We will use the well-known fact that

n
!
X 1
lim − ln(n + 1) = γ (Euler–Mascheroni constant).
n→∞ m+1
m=0

Then there are 0 < C1 < C2 < ∞ such that

n
X 1
C1 ln(n + 1) ≤ ≤ C2 ln(n + 1)
m+1
m=0
 CONDITIONALLY CONVERGENT SERIES 3

for any n ≥ 1. Having this we will show inductively that

(k) (k)
C1 lnk−1 (n + 1) C2 lnk−1 (n + 1)
≤ |a(k)
n |≤
n+1 n+1
(k) (k)
for any n, k ≥ 1 and certain positive constants C1 and C2 . This is obvious
for k = 1. Assume that this is true for some k. Then
 
n n n (k)
(k+1)
X  X
(k) (1)  (k) (1)
X C2 lnk−1 (m + 1) 1
|an |= am an−m  = |am ||an−m | ≤ · ≤

  m+1 n+1−m
m=0 m=0 m=0

n (k) n 
C lnk−1 (n + 1) X

(k)
X 1 1 1 1
≤ C2 lnk−1 (n+1) · = 2 + ≤
m+1 n+1−m n+2 m+1 n+1−m
m=0 m=0
(k) n (k) (k)
2C2 lnk−1 (n + 1) X 1 2C2 C2 lnk (n + 1) 2C2 C2 lnk (n + 1)
≤ ≤ ≤ .
n+2 m+1 n+2 n+1
m=0
(k+1) (k)
Put C2 = 2C2 C2 .
We also have
 
n n n (k)
(k+1)
X
(k) (1)
 X
(k) (1)
X C1 lnk−1 (m + 1) 1
|an |= am an−m  = |am ||an−m | ≥ · ≥
 
  m+1 n+1−m
m=0 m=0 m=0

n (k) n
X C1 lnk−1 (m + 1) 1 (k)
n X 1 1
· ≥ C1 lnk−1 · ≥
m+1 n+1−m 2 m+1 n+1−m
m=n/2 m≥(n−1)/2
(k) √ n
C lnk−1 ( n − 1)
 
X 1 1
≥ 1 + ≥
n+2 m+1 n+1−m
m≥(n−1)/2
(k) n (k)
C1 lnk−1 (n − 1) X 1 C1 C1 lnk (n − 1)
≥ ≥ =
2k−1 (n + 2) m+1 2k−1 (n + 2)
m=0
(k) (k)
C1 C1 lnk (n + 1) (n + 1) lnk (n − 1) C1 C1 C̃ lnk (n + 1)
= · ≥ ,
2k−1 (n + 1) (n + 2) lnk (n + 1) 2k−1 (n + 1)
where
(n + 1) lnk (n − 1)
0 < C̃ ≤
(n + 2) lnk (n + 1)
(k+1) (k)
for any n ∈ N. Put C1 = C1 C1 /2k C̃.
lnk−1 (n+1)
Let N be such that the map n 7→ n+1 is decreasing on {N, N +
1, N + 2, ...} Note that for m ≥ N
∞ ∞ (k)
X (1) (k)
X 1 C lnk−1 (ψ(n) + 1)
|aϕ(n) ||aψ(n) | ≤ · 2 ≤
n=m n=m
ϕ(n) + 1 ψ(n) + 1
4 ARTUR BARTOSZEWICZ AND SZYMON GLA̧B

∞ (k) ∞ (k)
X 1 C lnk−1 (n + 1) X C2 lnk−1 (n + 1)
≤ · 2 = <∞
n=m
n+1 n+1 n=m
(n + 1)2
(1) (1)
for any ϕ, ψ : N → N with ϕ(n), ψ(n) ≥ n. See that |an + an+1 | ≤
1 1 1 P∞ (k+1)
n+1 − n+2 ≤ (n+1)2 . Hence using Theorem 1 we obtain that n=0 an is
convergent.
P∞
Let A be a sub-algebra of (FS, ×) generated by n=0 an . To end the
proof it is enough to show that the series
∞ 
X 
c1 a(1) (2) (k)
n + c2 an + ... + ck an
n=0

is conditionally convergent for any natural number k and any reals c1 , ..., ck
P∞ (k)
with ck 6= 0. This follows from the fact that ( ∞ k
P
n=0 an ) = n=0 an . This

series is clearly convergent as a linear combination of convergent series. We

will show that it is not absolutely convergent.
|ci |
We may assume that ck = 1 and k ≥ 2. Let M1 = maxi=1,2,...,k−1 |ck | ,
(i)
M2 = maxi=1,2,...,k |C2 |. Let m0 ∈ N be such that
2(k − 1)M1 M2
ln(n + 1) > (k)
C1
for any n ≥ m0 . Then
(k) (k) (k)
C1 lnk−1 (n + 1) C lnk−2 (n + 1) 2(k − 1)M1 M2 C1 lnk−2 (n + 1)
|a(k)
n |≥ = ln(n+1)· 1 > (k)
· ≥
n+1 n+1 C1 n+1
!
lnk−2 (n + 1) lnk−1 (n + 1) ln(n + 1) 1
≥ 2M1 M2 + + ... + + ≥
n+1 n+1 n+1 n+1
 
≥ 2M1 |a(k−1)
n | + |an(k−2) | + ... + |a(2) (1)
n | + |an | ≥

2  
≥ |ck−1 a(k−1)
n | + |c a
k−2 n
(k−2)
| + ... + |c a(2)
2 n | + |c a
1 n
(1)
| ≥
|ck |
2  
≥ ck−1 a(k−1)
n + ck−2 a(k−2)
n + ... + c2 a(2) (1) 
n + c1 an  .
|ck |
Therefore
1 1
|ck a(k) (1) (2) (k−1)
n | − |c1 an + c2 an + ... + ck−1 an | ≥ |ck an(k) | − |ck a(k) (k)
n | = |ck an |.
2 2
 CONDITIONALLY CONVERGENT SERIES 5

Hence
X∞   ∞ 
X 
 (1) (2) (k)   (1)
c1 an + c2 an + ... + ck an  ≥ c1 an + c2 a(2) (k) 
n + ... + ck an  ≥
n=0 n=m0

∞  ∞ (k)
X
(k) (1) (2)

(k−1) 
X |ck an |
|ck an | − |c1 an + c2 an + ... + ck−1 an | ≥ = ∞.

n=m0 n=m0
2

Note that in particular we have proved that the set {( ∞ k

P
n=0 an ) : k ≥ 1} is

linearly independent. 

2. Appendix

Since Prinsheim’s paper [P] is not readily accessible, we reproduce here

the proof of Theorem 1 for the sake of completeness of this note.

Proof. First we will show that cn → 0. We have

m
X m
X
c2m = ak b2m−k + a2m−k bk − am bm ,
k=0 k=0
m
X m
X
c2m+1 = ak b2m+1−k + a2m+1−k bk .
k=0 k=0
Hence
m
X m
X
|cn | ≤ |ak bn−k | + |an−k bk | + |am bm |
k=0 k=0
where m = max{k ∈ Z : k ≤ n/2}. Since F is absolutely equi-convergent,
we find N ∈ N with
m m
X ε X ε
|ak bn−k | < and |an−k bk | < .
5 5
k=N k=N

Let n be such that

ε
|bn |, |bn−1 |, ..., |bn−N +1 | < ,
maxi∈N |ai |4N
ε
|an |, |an−1 |, ..., |an−N +1 | < .
maxi∈N |bi |4N
and |am bm | < ε/5. Then
N −1 N −1
X ε X ε
|ak bn−k | < and |an−k bk | <
5 5
k=0 k=0
6 ARTUR BARTOSZEWICZ AND SZYMON GLA̧B

Hence
m
X m
X
|cn | ≤ |ak bn−k | + |an−k bk | + |am bm | =
k=0 k=0
N
X −1 m
X N
X −1 m
X
|ak bn−k | + |ak bn−k | + |an−k bk | + |an−k bk | + |am bm | < ε.
k=0 k=N k=0 k=N
Therefore cn → 0.
Recall that if the series ∞
P
n=0 cn is convergent to some C, then C = AB,

where A = n=0 an and B = ∞

P∞ P
n=0 bn . Since cn → 0, it is enough to show

that
4m
X 2m
X 2m
X
D4m = C4m − A2m B2m = ck − ak bl
k=0 k=0 l=0
tends to zero, if m → ∞.
We have
4m X
X k 2m
X 2m
X
D4m = al bk−l − ak bl =
k=0 l=0 k=0 l=0
4m
X 4m−1
X 1
X 2m
X
a0 bl + a1 bl + ... + a4m−1 bl + a4m b0 − (a0 + a1 + ... + a2m ) bl =
l=0 l=0 l=0 l=0
4m
X 4m−1
X 2m−1
X 2m−2
X
a0 bl +a1 bl +...+a2m−1 b2m+1 +a2m+1 bl +a2m+2 bl +...+a4m b0 =
l=2m+1 l=2m+1 l=0 l=0
4m−1
X 4m−3
X
(a0 + a1 ) bl + (a2 + a3 ) bl + ... + (a2m−2 + a2m−1 )b2m+1 +
l=2m+1 l=2m+1
2m−1
X 2m−3
X
+(a2m +a2m+1 ) bl +(a2m+2 +a2m+3 ) bl +...+(a4m−2 +a4m−1 )(b0 +b1 )+
l=0 l=0
a0 b4m + a2 b4m−2 + ... + a2m−2 b2m+2 + a2m b2m + a2m+2 b2m−2 + ... + a4m b0

−a2m (b0 + ... + b2m ).

Hence
   
m−1 4m−(2k+1)  m−1 2m−(2k+1) 
X  X  X  X 
|D4m | ≤ |a2k +a2k+1 | 
 bl +
 |a2m+2k +a2m+2k+1 | 
 bl  +
k=0  l=2m+1  k=0  l=0 
 
2m
X X2m 
+ |a2k b4m−2k | + |am |  bk  .
 
 
k=0 k=0
 CONDITIONALLY CONVERGENT SERIES 7
P∞
+ a2k+1 |, | ∞
P
Let G = max{ k=0 |a2k k=0 bk |} < ∞. Let ε > 0 Let M ∈ N

be such that the following inequalities hold for any m ≥ M

 
4m−(2k+1) 
< ε ,
 X 
 bl
 l=2m+1  4G
 

m−1
X ε
|a2m+2k + a2m+2k+1 | < ,
4G
k=0

ε
|a2m | < ,
4G
2m
X ε
|a2k b4m−2k | < .
4
k=0

To find such m in the last inequality one should repeat the same reasoning
as in the first part of the proof where it has been shown that cn → 0. Now,
if m ≥ M , then |D4m | < ε and the result follows. 

Acknowledgement. The authors would like to thank Juan Seoane-

Sepúlveda for the careful examination of the paper and for valuable sugges-
tions.

References

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Institute of Mathematics, Technical University of Lódź, Wólczańska 215,

93-005 Lódź, Poland
E-mail address: arturbar@p.lodz.pl

Institute of Mathematics, Technical University of Lódź, Wólczańska 215,

93-005 Lódź, Poland
E-mail address: szymon glab@yahoo.com