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    Series Strategies and Tests For Convergence: Test Name When To Use Details

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    sharmanator99
    This document provides an overview of common tests used to determine if an infinite series converges or diverges. It lists several tests including the geometric series test, p-series test, limit test, alternating series test, absolute convergence test, ratio test, root test, comparison test, limit comparison test, and integral test. For each test, it indicates when the test should be used and provides details on the criteria for determining convergence or divergence.

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    Series Strategies and Tests For Convergence: Test Name When To Use Details

    Uploaded by

    sharmanator99
    31 views3 pages
    This document provides an overview of common tests used to determine if an infinite series converges or diverges. It lists several tests including the geometric series test, p-series test, limit test, alternating series test, absolute convergence test, ratio test, root test, comparison test, limit comparison test, and integral test. For each test, it indicates when the test should be used and provides details on the criteria for determining convergence or divergence.

    Original Description:

    Strategies when dealing with series questions in Calc II

    Original Title

    Series Strategies

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    This document provides an overview of common tests used to determine if an infinite series converges or diverges. It lists several tests including the geometric series test, p-series test, limit test, alternating series test, absolute convergence test, ratio test, root test, comparison test, limit comparison test, and integral test. For each test, it indicates when the test should be used and provides details on the criteria for determining convergence or divergence.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    31 views3 pages

    Series Strategies and Tests For Convergence: Test Name When To Use Details

    Uploaded by

    sharmanator99
    This document provides an overview of common tests used to determine if an infinite series converges or diverges. It lists several tests including the geometric series test, p-series test, limit test, alternating series test, absolute convergence test, ratio test, root test, comparison test, limit comparison test, and integral test. For each test, it indicates when the test should be used and provides details on the criteria for determining convergence or divergence.

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    Series Strategies and Tests for Convergence

    Test Name When to Use Details


    Known Series Geometric When you recognize that the terms a
    are a constant raised to some power converges to if r < 1

    1 r
    arn
    n =0 diverges if r > 1


    Known Series p series When you recognize that the terms

    converges when p > 1
    1
    are
    1
    n
    raised to a constant power. p
    n =1 n
    diverges when p 1
    Limit test (Bouncer test) If you can easily see how the a n ' s If lim n a n 0 , the series diverges.
    behave as a sequence. If lim n a n = 0 , the test is inconclusive.
    Alternating Series Test When the series is alternating. Given (1) n bn :
    Usually, youll see a (1) n , (1) n 1 , IF:
    or (1) n +1 . Sometimes youll see a 1. bn > 0 for all n AND
    2n 1 2. bn +1 > bn for all n AND
    sin or a cos(n )
    2 3. lim n bn = 0
    THEN the series converges.

    IF: 3. fails, then the series diverges.

    IF: 1. or 2. fail, but 3. Holds, then the test is inconclusive.

    Series Tests for Convergence, Page 1/3


    Test Name When to Use Details
    Absolute Convergence When some terms of the series are
    positive, and some are negative, but
    IF a n converges, then a n converges (and we say that

    the series is not alternating. a converges absolutely).


    n

    IF a diverges, then the test is inconclusive.


    n

    Ratio Test When you see factorials < 1, converges (absolutely)


    Sometimes, when you see terms to
    the nth power. a
    Do Not Use for rational or algebraic IF lim n n+1 > 1, diverges
    an
    functions of n (the test will always

    come out inconclusive) = 1, the test is inconclusive
    Root Test When the terms are something < 1, converges (absolutely)
    raised to the nth power.

    IF lim n n a n > 1, diverges


    = 1, the test is inconclusive
    Comparison Test Rational or algebraic functions of n.
    Usually compare to a p-series
    Can only use when the series a n and b n have positive
    terms!!
    Suppose a n bn for each n.
    IF b converges, then so does a
    n n .
    IF a diverges, then so does b
    n n .

    Series Tests for Convergence, Page 2/3


    Test Name When to Use Details
    Limit Comparison Test Use for comparison when the
    comparison test is too vexing.
    Can only use when the series a n and b n have positive
    terms!!

    IF
    an
    lim n = L AND
    bn
    L0 AND
    L
    THEN a n and bn behave the same way.
    Integral Test If the integral is easy to evaluate. IF

    a n = f (n) AND
    n=r n=r
    f ( x) is continuous on [r , ) AND
    f ( x) > 0 on [r , ) AND
    f ( x) is decreasing on [r , ) ,
    THEN

    a n behaves the same way as


    n =r
    f ( x)dx .
    r

    Series Tests for Convergence, Page 3/3

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