Series Reference Guide

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Intuitively, a series is an infinite sum: an = ak + ak+1 + . . . However, it is not possible to add an infinite string of numbers,
n=k
so the notion of an infinite sum is meaningless. What then is a series exactly? The precise definition that we use is
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an = lim (ak + ak+1 + . . . + an ).
n!1
n=k

The finite sum ak + . . . + an is called the nth partial sum of the series and denoted Sn . With this notation, we can also write
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an = lim Sn .
n!1
n=k
If this limit exists (and is finite), we say the series converges to the value of the limit. Otherwise, we say the series diverges.
Note: We have used k as the starting index here. Usually, k is 0 or 1, but it could be any integer more generally.

Test Series Statement of Test When to Use Additional Comments

When you think If lim an = 0, the test is

Divergence X If lim an 6= 0, n!1
an n!1 or know that
Test inconclusive, and the series
the series diverges. lim an 6= 0
n!1 may or may not converge.

For telescoping series, the partial

Some algebraic manipulations (e.g.
X sums are simple enough to
Telescoping If you see terms cancelling, partial fractions, properties of log, etc)
an+k an compute. So just find Sn and take
Series it’s a telescoping series. may be needed to get a series to be
the limit as n ! 1 to determine if
in the form of a telescoping series.
the series converges or diverges.
If it only involves constants A convergent geometric series
X If |r| < 1, the series
Geometric raised to powers involving n,
arn converges absolutely. 1st term a
Series it’s probably a geometric converges to: =
Else, the series diverges. 1 r 1 r.
series.
X 1 If p > 1, the series converges. When working with a
p-Series
np Else, the series diverges. p-series
X Z 1
f (n) If it’s not obvious that f is decreasing,
Compute f (x) dx.
f is n When f satisfies the compute f 0 and show that f 0 < 0.
Integral eventually: If the integral converges, necessary conditions, and
the series converges. the integral is doable. If the series converges to S,
Test positive, Z 1
continuous, If the integral diverges, then Rn = |S Sn |  f (x) dx.
decreasing the series diverges. n

If an  bn and
X To get something smaller to compare
Compare
X bn converges, with, make the numerator smaller
an X Often useful when or the denominator larger. To get
then an converges. an 0 is a complicated something larger to compare with,
Direct and
Comparison X If bn  an and expression involving make the numerator larger or the
bn , X trig terms. denominator smaller. Try to keep
bn diverges, the overall size of numerator and
an , b n 0 X denominator the same as in the original.
then an diverges.
Compare an
X If lim exists and Often useful when
an n!1 bn Given an , to find an appropriate bn
an 0 is a complicated
Limit is positive and finite, then to compare with, take an and drop
and expression involving
Comparison X both series behave the same, the smaller expressions, keeping
algebraic or
bn , i.e. they both converge only the largest expressions.
exponential terms.
or they both diverge.
an , b n 0

X If it’s not obvious, use derivatives

If lim an = 0 and an is
Alternating ( 1)n an n!1
When working with an to show an is decreasing.
eventually decreasing, alternating series
Series an 0 If the series converges to S,
the series converges. then Rn = |S Sn |  an+1 .

When an has:
an+1 factorials
Compute lim = L.
n!1 an (e.g. n!, (2n + 1)!, etc),
X
Ratio an exponentials If L = 1, the test is inconclusive.
Test If L < 1, the series
converges absolutely. (e.g. 2n , 3n+2 , etc),
If L > 1, the series diverges. products
(e.g. 2 · 5 · . . . · 3n + 2, etc)
p
n
Compute lim |an | = L. When an is a bunch of
n!1
X stu↵ all raised to a
Root an If L < 1, the series If L = 1, the test is inconclusive.
Test converges absolutely. power involving n,
If L > 1, the series diverges. i.e. an = (bn )n .

Source: Stewart, J. (2020). Calculus, 9e. Cengage Learning.

 Series Summary
A sequence is an ordered list of numbers: {an } = {a1 , a2 , a3 , . . .}, and a series is the
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sum of those numbers: an = a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · . In either case, we want to determine
n=1
if the sequence converges to a finite number or diverges and if the series converges to a
finite number or diverges. If the series converges, that means that a sum of infinitely many
numbers is equal to a finite number!
P If the sequence {an } diverges or converges to anything
other than
P 0, then the series a n diverges. If the sequence {an } converges to 0, then the
series an may converge Por may diverge.
For any given series an there are two associated sequences: the sequence P of terms
{an } and the sequence of partial sums {sn }, where sn = a1 + a2 + . . . + an . If an = L,
then lim an = 0 (as stated above) and lim sn = L.
n!1 n!1

1 When can we calculate the sum of a series?

Unfortunately, we are unable to compute the exact sum of a series in most cases. However,
there are a few examples that can be computed.

a
Geometric Series For |r| < 1, the series converges to .
1
1 r
X
arn 1 For |r| 1, the series diverges.
n=1

Telescoping Series Also known as “canceling pairs”, subsequent pairs

X1
(bn bn+c ) of the series terms may cancel with each other.
n=1

2 Tests for determining if a series converges or diverges

In most cases, we will not be able to compute the exact sum of a series, but there are several
tests which allow us to at least determine if a series is convergent or divergent. In some cases
we can give approximations for the sum of a series as well.

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Test for Divergence If lim an 6= 0, then the series an diverges.
n!1
n=1

p-Series Test For p > 1, the series converges.

X1
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For p  1, the series diverges.
n=1
np

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 Integral Test Applies when an = f (n), and f (x) is a continuous,
positive, decreasing function on [1, 1).
X1
The series an converges if and only if the integral
Z 1 n=1

f (x)dx converges.
1

Comparison Applies as longP

as an and bn are always positive.
P
Test (i) If an  bn and P bn converges, then so doesP an .
(ii) If an bn and bn diverges, then so does an .

Limit Applies as long as an and bn are always positive,

an
Comparison and lim is a positive, finite number.
P bn
n!1 P
Test Then an converges if and only if bn converges.

Alternating
X Series Test Applies when an 0. The series converges if
( 1)n+1 an (i) an an+1 , and
X
or ( 1)n an (ii) lim an = 0.
n!1

P
-

P
Absolute Convergence Test If |an | converges, then an converges.

an+1
Ratio Test Study this limit: lim
n!1 an

(i) If
P the limit exists and is less than 1, the series
an is absolutely convergent (and convergent).
(ii) If the limit exists and is greater thanP 1 (or if the
limit diverges to infinity,) the series an diverges.
(iii) If the limit equals 1, the Ratio Test is useless.

p
n
Root Test Study this limit: lim |an |
n!1

(i) If
P the limit exists and is less than 1, the series
an is absolutely convergent (and convergent).
(ii) If the limit exists and is greater thanP 1 (or if the
limit diverges to infinity,) the series an diverges.
(iii) If the limit equals 1, the Root Test is useless.

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3 How do we know which test to use?
1. If you can see easily that lim an 6= 0, apply the Test for Divergence.
n!1
P
2. Is an a p-series or geometric series? If yes, apply those tests.
P
3. If the series an appears to
Xbe a telescoping sum, then find a closed formula for
the partial sum sn and use an = lim sn .
n!1
P
4. Is an similar to a p-series
P or geometric series? P If yes,Ptry one of the Comparison
Tests. You will compare an with the series bn that an is similar to.

(a) If the inequality works out the way you need it to, you will you the Comparison
Test.
(b) If the inequality does not work out the way you need it to, try the Limit Com-
parison Test.
R1
5. If an = f (n) and 1 f (x) dx is easily evaluated, use the Integral Test.
P P
6. If the series is of the form ( 1)n+1 an or ( 1)n an , try the Alternating Series
Test.

7. When earlier tests can not be used simply because some of the terms may be negative,
try using the Absolute Convergence Test.

8. Series involving factorials (e.g. n!) or nth powers of a constant (e.g. 4n ) can often be
studied with the Ratio Test (if an easier test does not work.)

9. When an looks like (· · ·)n , and the term inside the parentheses also involves n, try the
Root Test.