Section 11.

4: The Comparison Tests

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Outline of this class

1 The Direct Comparison Test

2 The Limit Comparison Test

3 Estimating Sums

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Objectives

I Use the Comparison Test to determine whether an infinite series is

convergent or divergent.
I Use the Limit Comparison Test to determine whether an infinite
series is convergent or divergent.
I Estimate the sum of a series.

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The Comparison Tests

1 The Comparison Test is another test for convergence of

positive-term series. When you use it, you compare the terms of a
given positive-term series with the corresponding terms of another
such series.

2 In the comparison tests the idea is to compare a given series with

a series that is known to be convergent or divergent.

3 If two series have only positive terms, we can compare

corresponding terms directly to see which are larger (the Direct
Comparison Test) or we can investigate the limit of the ratios of
corresponding terms (the Limit Comparison Test).

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The Direct Comparison Test
Let’s consider the two series whose terms are positive
∞ ∞
X 1 X 1
n
and
5+3 3n
n=1 n=1
∞ ∞  n
The second series X 1 X 1
=
3n 3
n=1 n=1
1
is a geometric series with a = (the first term) and
3 1 |r| = 13 < 1, and
is therefore convergent and its sum is s = 1−r = 1−3 1 = 12 . Since
a
3

1 1
an = < n = bn , for all n ≥ 1,
5 + 3n 3
∞ 1
are also smaller than 12 and
P
all partial sums sn of the series n
n=1 5 + 3
P∞ 1 ∞
P 1 1
sn is convergent. Thus, n
is convergent and n
< .
n=1 5 + 3 n=1 5 + 3 2
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Similar reasoning can be used to prove the following test, which applies
only to series whose terms are positive.
1 The first part says that if we have a series whose terms are smaller
than those of a known convergent series, then our series is also
convergent.
2 The second part says that if we start with a series whose terms are
larger than those of a known divergent series, then it too is
divergent.

The Direct Comparison Test

P P
Suppose that an and bn are series with positive terms.

P P
(i) If bn is convergent and an ≤ bn for all n, then an is
also convergent.

P P
(ii) If bn is divergent and an ≥ bn for all n, then an is
also divergent.

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 P P
Note: Assuming that an and bn are series with positive terms.
P
1 If bn is convergent and an ≥ bn for all n, we cannot say P
anything about the convergence or divergence of the series an .
3 3
For instance, if an = ≥ n = bn .
5n −2 5
P
2 If bn is divergent and an ≤ bn for all n, we cannot
P say anything
about the convergence or divergence of the series an .
1 1
For instance, if an = √ ≤ = bn .
n2 +1 n
For both cases 1 and 2, we can’t use the Direct Comparison
P Test to
determine the convergence or divergence of the series an . We would
need to use another test for convergence (e.g., the Limit Comparison
Test) of positive-term series.

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Standard Series for Use with the Comparison Test
In using the Direct Comparison Test we must, of course, have some
known series for the purpose of comparison. Most of the time we use
one of these series:
1 A p-series
X 1
converges if p > 1 and diverges if p ≤ 1.
np
P∞ 1 P∞ 1
For example, 3
(convergent as p = 3 > 1) and 4/5
n=1 n n=1 n
(divergent as p = 54 < 1)
2 A geometric series
X
arn−1 converges if |r| < 1 and diverges if |r| ≥ 1.

∞ 1 ∞  5 n+1
P 1 P
For example, n
(convergent as |r| = 3 < 1) and
n=1 3 n=1 4
5
(divergent as |r| = > 1)
4 8 / 29
Example
P∞ n+2
Determine whether √ converges or diverges.
n=1 n3

Solution:

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Example
P∞ n+2
Determine whether √ converges or diverges.
n=1 n3

Solution: Note that an > 0 and bn > 0 with

n+2 n 1
an = √ > 3/2 = √ = bn , for all n ≥ 1.
n 3 n n

We know that ∞
X 1
√
n=1
n
1
diverges since it is p-series with p = ≤ 1, then by the Direct Com-
2
parison Test ∞
X n+2
√
n=1 n3
diverges.
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Example
P∞ n cos2 (n)
Determine whether √ converges or diverges.
n=1 n6 + 2

Solution:

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Example
P∞ n cos2 (n)
Determine whether √ converges or diverges.
n=1 n6 + 2
n cos2 (n)
Solution: Note that an = √ > 0.
n6 + 2
Since −1 ≤ cos(n) ≤ 1, we have 0 < cos2 (n) ≤ 1 and
0 < n cos2 (n) ≤ n
n cos2 (n) n n 1
0< √ ≤√ ≤ √ = 2 , for all n ≥ 1
6
n +2 6
n +2 n 6 n

1 P∞ 1
Set bn = > 0. Since converges (p-series with p = 2 > 1),
n2 n=1 n
2
then by the Direct Comparison Test
∞
X n cos2 (n)
√
n=1
n6 + 2

converges.
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Example
P∞ ln n
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 n

Solution:

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Example
P∞ ln n
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 n

ln n
Solution: Let an = > 0 for n > 1. We have
n
ln n 1
> , n ≥ 3,
n n
1
so that ln n > 1 for n ≥ 3. Set bn = > 0.
∞ 1
P n P∞ ln n
Since is divergent (p-series with p = 1). Thus the series
n=1 n n=3 n
∞ 1
P
is also divergent by comparison with using the Direct Comparison
n=3 n
Test. Thus, ∞
X ln n
n
n=1

diverges since a finite number of terms doesn’t affect the convergence

or divergence of a series.
Note: We can use the Integral Test to test this series. 14 / 29
Example
∞
P 1
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 en2

Solution:

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Example
∞
P 1
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 en2

Solution: Note that

1 1
0 < an = 2 ≤ = bn , for all n ≥ 1.
en en
 n
1 1
Set bn = n = > 0.
e e
∞
 n
P 1
We have that converges since it is a geometric series with
n=1 e
1
|r| = < 1, then by the Direct Comparison Test
e
∞
X 1
n=1
en2

converges.
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Example
P∞ 4n+1
Determine whether n
converges or diverges.
n=1 3 − 2

Solution:

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Example
P∞ 4n+1
Determine whether n
converges or diverges.
n=1 3 − 2

4n+1
Solution: Note that an = > 0 with
3n − 2
4n+1 4 · 4n  4 n
> = 4 , for all n ≥ 1.
3n − 2 3n 3
 4 n
Set bn = 4 > 0. X
∞   ∞  
3 4 n X 4 n
4 =4
3 3
n=1 n=1

is a divergent geometric series (|r| = 34 ≥ 1), so

∞
X 4n+1
3n − 2
n=1

diverges by the Direct Comparison Test.

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The Limit Comparison Test
1 The Direct Comparison Test is conclusive only if the terms of the
series being tested are smaller than those of a convergent series or
larger than those of a divergent series.
2 If the terms are larger than the terms of a convergent series or
smaller than those of a divergent series, then the Direct
Comparison Test doesn’t apply. In such cases the following test
can be used.

The Limit Comparison Test

P P
Suppose that an and bn are series with positive terms. If
an
lim = c,
n→∞ bn
where c is a finite number and c > 0, then either both series converge
or both diverge.
Note: We don’t cover the cases c = 0 and c = ∞ in this class. The textbook
exercises 48 and 49 cover these two cases. 19 / 29
Example
∞
√
P n
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 2n2 + 1

Solution:

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Example
∞
√
P n
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 2n2 + 1
√
Solution: The dominant part of the numerator is n and the dominant
part of the denominator 2
√ is n . This suggests
√ taking
n n 1
an = 2 > 0, bn = 2 = 3/2 > 0
2n + 1 n n
√
n √
an 2 n n3/2
lim = lim 2n + 1 = lim ·
n→∞ bn n→∞ 1 n→∞ 2n2 + 1 1
n23/2
n 1 1 1
= lim = lim = = > 0.
n→∞ 2n2 + 1 n→∞ 1 2+0 2
2+ 2
n
P 1
is convergent (p-series with p = 32 > 1), the given
P
Since bn = 3/2
√ n
∞
P n
series 2
converges by the Limit Comparison Test.
n=1 2n + 1 21 / 29
Example
∞
P 4n2 + 1
Determine whether √ converges or diverges.
n=1 9n5 + 2n + 1

Solution:

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Example
∞
P 4n2 + 1
Determine whether √ converges or diverges.
n=1 9n5 + 2n + 1

Solution: 4n2 + 1 n2 n2 1
an = √ > 0, bn = √ = 5|2 = 1/2 > 0
9n5 + 2n + 1 n 5 n n
an 4n2 + 1 n1/2 4n5/2 + n1/2
lim = lim √ · = lim √ =
n→∞ bn n→∞ 9n5 + 2n + 1 1 n→∞ 9n5 + 2n + 1
1
4+ 2 4+0 4
= lim r n =√ = >0
n→∞ 2 1 9+0+0 3
9+ 4 + 5
n n
∞ 1
which is a divergent p-series with p = 12 < 1,
P
Since the series 1/2
n=1 n
P∞ 4n2 + 1
√ is also divergent by the Limit Comparison Test.
n=1 9n5 + 2n + 1
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Example
∞
P 3
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 5n −2

Solution:

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Example
∞
P 3
Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
n=1 5n −2

Solution: Using the Limit Comparison Test with

3 1
an = n > 0, bn = n > 0
5 −2 5
we get 3
an 5 n−2
lim = lim
n→∞ bn n→∞ 1
5n
3 · 5n 3 3
= lim = lim = = 3 > 0.
n→∞ 5n − 2 n→∞ 2 1−0
1− n
5
∞ 1
P P∞  1 n
Since the series n
= converges (geometric series with
∞ n=1 5 n=1 5
1 P 3
|r| = < 1), n−2
converges by the Limit Comparison Test.
5 n=1 5 25 / 29
Exercise

Determine whether the series

∞  
X 1
sin
n
n=1
converges or diverges.  
1
Hint: Note that an = sin > 0, for n ≥ 1 and apply the Limit
n
Comparison Test.

sin θ
Recall that lim = 1. You can also apply L’Hospital Rule to find
θ→0 θ
sin(1/x)
the limit lim = 1.
x→∞ 1
x

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Estimating Sums
P
1 If we have used the Comparison Test toPshow that a series an
converges by comparison
P with a series bn , then we may be able
to estimate the sum an by comparing remainders.
We consider the remainder

Rn = s − sn = an+1 + an+2 + · · ·
P
2 For the comparison series bn we consider the corresponding
remainder
Tn = t − tn = bn+1 + bn+2 + · · ·
3 Since an ≤ bn for all n, we have Rn ≤ Tn .

For more details see Section 11.3.

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Example
Use the sum of the first 10 terms to approximate the sum of the
following series. Estimate the error involved in this approximation.
∞
X sin2 n
n3
n=1

Solution:

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Example
Use the sum of the first 10 terms to approximate the sum of the
following series. Estimate the error involved in this approximation.
∞
X sin2 n
n3
n=1

Solution:
10
X sin2 n sin2 1 sin2 2 sin2 3 sin2 10
s10 = = + + + · · · + ≈ 0.83253.
n3 1 8 27 1000
n=1

We have
sin2 n 1
an = ≤ 3 = bn ,
n3 n
so the error is
∞
1 t
Z    
1 1 1
R10 ≤ T10 ≤ dx = lim − = lim − + = 0.005.
10 x3 t→∞ 2x2 10 t→∞ 2t2 200
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