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Calculus 3 Chapter 7

The document outlines various strategies for testing series for convergence or divergence, emphasizing the importance of classifying the series by its form rather than applying tests in a specific order. It details specific tests to use based on the series type, such as p-series, geometric series, comparison tests, and others. Examples are provided to illustrate the application of these tests in different scenarios.

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Severo Padernal
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13 views

Calculus 3 Chapter 7

The document outlines various strategies for testing series for convergence or divergence, emphasizing the importance of classifying the series by its form rather than applying tests in a specific order. It details specific tests to use based on the series type, such as p-series, geometric series, comparison tests, and others. Examples are provided to illustrate the application of these tests in different scenarios.

Uploaded by

Severo Padernal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STRATEGY

FOR TESTING
SERIES
Reporters:
Josie A. Osea
Severo G. Padernal
Kaye R. Pagtalunan
We now have several ways of
testing a series for convergence or
divergence; the problem is to decide
which test to use on which series. In
this respect, testing series is similar
to integrating functions. Again there
are no hard and fast rules about
which test to apply to a given series,
but you may find the following
advice of some use.
It is not wise to apply a list of the tests in a
specific order until one finally works. That would
be a waste of time and effort. Instead, as with
integration, the main strategy is to classify the
series according to its form.
1. If the series is of the form , it is a p-series,
which we know to be convergent if p 1 and
divergent if p 1.
2. If the series has the form or , it is a geometric
series, which converges if |r|1 and diverges if |
r|1. Some preliminary algebraic manipulation
may be required to bring the series into this
3. If the series has a form that is similar to a p-
series or a geometric series, then one of the
comparison tests should be considered. In
particular, if is a rational function or an
algebraic function of n (involving roots of
polynomials), then the series should be
compared with a p-series. Notice that most of
the series in Exercises 12.4 have this form. (The
value of p should be chosen as in Section 12.4 by
keeping only the highest powers of n in the
numerator and denominator.) The comparison
tests apply only to series with positive terms, but
if has some negative terms, then we can apply
4. If you can see at a glance that , then the Test
for Divergence should be used.
5. If the series is of the form , or then the
Alternating Series Test is an obvious
possibility.
6. Series that involve factorials or other
products (including a constant raised to the
nth power) are often conveniently tested
using the Ratio Test. Bear in mind that as n
for all p-series and therefore
all rational or algebraic functions of n.
Thus the Ratio Test should not be used
for such series.
7. If is of the form , then the Root Test
may be useful.
8. If where is easily evaluated, then the
Integral Test is effective (assuming the
hypotheses of this test are satisfied).
In the following examples we don’t work
out all the details but simply indicate which
tests should be used.
Example 1

Since , we should use the Test for Divergence.


Example 2

Since is an algebraic function of , we can compare


the given series with a p-series. The comparison
series for the Limit Comparison Test is , where
Example 3

Since the integral is easily evaluated, we use the


Integral Test. The Ratio Test also works.
Example 4

Since the series is alternating, we use the Alternating


Series Test.
Example 5

Since the series involves !, we use the Ratio Test.


Example 4
Since the series is closely related to the geometric
series , we use the Comparison Test.
THANK
YOU
ANY QUESTION?

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