Convergence Tests for Series

Test for Divergence

∞  If lim 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 ≠ 0, then the series diverges
𝑛𝑛→∞
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛  If lim 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 0, then inconclusive
𝑛𝑛=1 𝑛𝑛→∞

Geometric Series
∞ 𝑎𝑎
 If |𝑟𝑟| < 1, the series converges to
𝑛𝑛−1 1−𝑟𝑟
� 𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑟  If |𝑟𝑟| ≥ 1, then the series diverges
𝑛𝑛=0

Integral Test
 𝑓𝑓(𝑛𝑛) must be continuous, positive, and decreasing
∞ ∞
 If ∫𝑐𝑐 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 converges, then the series converges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 where 𝑐𝑐 ≥ 0 and 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑛𝑛) for all 𝑛𝑛 
∞
If ∫𝑐𝑐 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 diverges, then the series diverges
𝑛𝑛=𝑐𝑐

p-series
∞
1  If p > 1, then the series converges
�  If p ≤ 1, then the series diverges
𝑛𝑛𝑝𝑝
𝑛𝑛=1

Comparison Test
 If ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 converges, then ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 converges
 If ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 diverges, then ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 diverges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and � 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 where 0 ≤ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 ≤ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 for all 𝑛𝑛

Limit Comparison Test

 If ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 converges, then ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 converges
 If ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 diverges, then ∑ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 diverges
𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛  To find 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 consider only the terms of 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 that have
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and � 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 where 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 , 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 > 0 and lim = 𝑐𝑐 > 0 the greatest effect on the magnitude
𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛

Alternating Series Test

∞  Converges if 0 < bn+1 < bn for all n and lim 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 = 0
𝑛𝑛→∞
�(−1)𝑛𝑛−1 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 where 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 > 0
𝑛𝑛=1

Absolute Value Test

 If ∑|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | converges, then ∑ 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 converges
 If the series of absolute values ∑|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | is
convergent, then the series is absolutely
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 convergent
 If the series is convergent but not absolutely
convergent, then the series is conditionally
convergent

Ratio Test
 If L < 1, then the series converges absolutely
|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛+1 |  If L > 1 or L is infinite, then the series diverges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 with lim = 𝐿𝐿  If L = 1, then the test is inconclusive
𝑛𝑛→∞ |𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 |

Root Test
 If L < 1, then the series converges absolutely
𝑛𝑛  If L > 1 or L is infinite, then the series diverges
� 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 with lim �𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝐿𝐿  If L = 1, then the test is inconclusive
𝑛𝑛→∞
 Flowchart for Convergence Tests for Series
Test for Divergence
Does lim 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 0?
𝑛𝑛→∞ No ∑an Diverges

Yes
P-Series ∑an Converges
Does an = 1/np, n ≥ 1? Yes Yes
Is p > 1
No
No ∑an Diverges

Geometric Series
∞ 𝑎𝑎
Does an = arn-1, n ≥ 1 Yes Is |r| < 1? Yes � 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 =
𝑛𝑛=1 1 − 𝑟𝑟

No
No ∑an Diverges

Alternating Series Test

Does an =(-1)nbn or Yes Is bn+1 ≤ bn & lim bn = 0 Yes ∑an Converges
an = (-1)n-1bn , bn ≥ 0? 𝑛𝑛→∞

No

Try one of the following Tests:

Comparison Test ∑an Converges
Is 0 ≤ an ≤ bn Yes
Pick {bn}. Does ∑ bn Yes
converge? ∑an Diverges
No Yes
Is 0 ≤ bn ≤ an

Limit Comparison Test ∑an Converges

𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 {𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 }. 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 ∞ Yes
𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 Yes 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 � 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐?
lim = 𝑐𝑐 > 0
𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 𝑛𝑛=1 No ∑an Diverges
c finite & an , bn > 0?

∞
Integral Test � 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑛𝑛=𝑎𝑎
Does an = f(n), f(x) is ∞ Yes
continuous, positive & Yes 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 � 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐?
decreasing on [a, ∞)?
𝑎𝑎
No ∑an Diverges

Ratio Test
∑an Abs. Conv.
𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim |𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛+1 /𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | ≠ 1? Yes 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim |𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛+1 /𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | < 1? Yes
𝑛𝑛→∞ 𝑛𝑛→∞
No ∑an Diverges

Root Test
∑an Abs. Conv.
𝑛𝑛
𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim �|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | ≠ 1? 𝑛𝑛 Yes
𝑛𝑛→∞
Yes 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 lim �|𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 | < 1?
𝑛𝑛→∞
No ∑an Diverges
 X
Goal: Determine whether an is absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent, or divergent.
n

• Int Test: useful if an = f (n), where f is transcendental, continuous, readily integrable

P
• CT and LCT: an is usually compared with a geom. series or a p-series, based on the expressions in the numerator and/or
denominator that grow fastest
– CT: useful if an involves sin, cos, or other transcendental functions with known bounds
– LCT: useful if an is an algebraic expression
• Ratio Test: useful if an has factorials and/or nth powers as factors

• Root Test: useful if an has nth powers as factors

P P P
• If P that are all eventually positive, then an = |an | eventually. Thus, if
an has terms an is convergent, then so is |an |,
which means an is also absolutely convergent.

P
Given an

P
yes Determine conv.
Is an a geom.
based on |r| or p.
or p-series?
Done
no

Is lim an = 0? no Divergent by di-

n→∞ vergence test
yes

Terms eventually no Ratio or Root yes

Done
all positive? Test conclusive?

yes no

P
Consider |an |.
Int Test, CT, yes
Use other tests, Convergent?
LCT, Ratio Test, Done
say Int Test, CT,
Root Test
LCT.
no
yes
P
no Is an an alter-
Conclusive? no nating series?

yes yes

Done AST

Think of other yes

no Conclusive? Done
methods.
• Note that at times a combination of the tests works best:
∞
X 2n + cos n
n=1
3n2 + n + 1

(Note that the terms are all positive since 2n + cos n ≥ 2n − 1 > 0 for all n ≥ 1, and 3n2 + n + 1 > 0 for n ≥ 1. Because of
the “greatest terms” 2n and 3n2 in the numerator and denominator, respectively, we guess that the series is divergent.)
2n + cos n 2n − 1
2
≥ 2 for all n
3n + n + 1 3n + n + 1
∞
2n − 1 2n 2 X 2
(Direct CT would not work since we cannot say that 2
> 2
= , where is divergent. In fact,
3n + n + 1 3n 3n n=1
3n
2n − 1 2n
< 2 .)
3n2 + n + 1 3n
∞ ∞
X 2n − 1 X 1
We use LCT, comparing 2+n+1
with , which is divergent.
n=1
3n n=1
n
2n−1
3n2 +n+1 2n2 − n 2
lim 1 = lim = .
n→∞ n→∞ 3n2 + n + 1 3
n
∞ ∞
X 2n − 1 X 2n + cos n
By LCT, 2+n+1
is divergent. By CT, 2+n+1
is divergent.
n=1
3n n=1
3n

∞
X 2n
• (−1)n
n=1
3n + 5

(This is an alternating series, but the ratio test cannot be applied immediately because of the constant in the denominator.
But we can guess that the series is convergent.)
∞   X ∞
(−1)n 2n  = 2n
X  
Consider .

n=1
3n + 5  n=1
3n + 5

2n 2n
< n for all n.
3n + 5 3
∞
X 2n
Consider . (Use Ratio Test.)
n=1
3n
n
 
 an+1 
lim   = lim 2n + 2 · 3 = lim 1 · 2n + 2 = 1 < 1
n→∞ an  n→∞ 3 n+1 2n n→∞ 3 2n 3
∞ ∞ ∞
X 2n X 2n X 2n
By Ratio Test, n
is (absolutely) convergent. By CT, n
is convergent. Thus, (−1)n n is absolutely
n=1
3 n=1
3 +5 n=1
3 +5
convergent.
• Just because all terms involve factorials does not mean the Ratio Test is helpful.
∞
X (n − 1)!
n=1
(n + 1)!

(All terms are positive. Try Ratio Test?)

 
 an+1  n! (n + 1)! n
lim   = lim · = lim = 1, so the Ratio Test is not helpful.
n→∞  an  n→∞ (n + 2)! (n − 1)! n→∞ n + 2

∞ ∞ ∞
X (n − 1)! X 1 X 1
Instead, simplify first: = = 2
.
n=1
(n + 1)! n=1 n(n + 1) n=1 n + n
∞
X 1
Use CT or LCT to compare with 2
to conclude that the given series is (absolutely) convergent.
n=1
n