INFINITE SERIES

CALCULUS 3
MATH148
 Infinite Series
Is an expression that can be written in the form
∞

𝑢𝑘 = 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 + . . . + 𝑢𝑘 + . . .
𝑘=1

where the numbers 𝑢1 , 𝑢2 , 𝑢3 , . . are called the terms of the series.

Example: 0.3333 . . . = 0.3 + 0.03 + 0.003 + 0.0003 + . . .

Or equivalently,
3 3 3 3
0.3333 . . . = + + + +...
10 102 103 104
 “Sum” of an Infinite Series
From 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 + . . . + 𝑢𝑘 + . . .

Let 𝑠𝑛 denote the sum of the initial terms of the series, up to and including the
term with index 𝑛. Thus,

𝑠1 = 𝑢1 The number 𝑠𝑛 is called the nth partial sum of the series and
𝑠2 = 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 the sequence 𝑆𝑛 +∞𝑛=1 is called the sequence of partial sums.
𝑠3 = 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3
⋮ 𝑛

𝑠𝑛 = From 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 + . . . + 𝑢𝑛 = 𝑢𝑘
𝑘=1
 “Sum” of an Infinite Series
From 0.3333 . . . = 0.3 + 0.03 + 0.003 + 0.0003 + . . .
Or equivalently,
3 3 3 3
0.3333 . . . = + + + + ...
10 102 103 104

The following sequence of (finite) sums are:

3 3 3 3
s1   0.3 s3   2  3  0.333
10 10 10 10
3 3 3 3
3 3
s 2   2  0.33 s4   2  3  4  0.3333
10 10 10 10 10 10
and so on.
 Special Types of Series

Geometric Series
A geometric series
∞ 𝑘 2 3 𝑘
𝑘=0 𝑎𝑟 = 𝑎 + 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 + . . . + 𝑎𝑟 + . . . 𝑎 ≠ 0 converges if
𝑟 < 1 and diverge if 𝑟 ≥ 1. If the series converges, then the sum is
∞ 𝑘 𝑎
𝑘=0 𝑎𝑟 = 1 −𝑟

Note: the number 𝑟 is called the ratio for the series

Example: 1 + 2 + 4 + 8+ . . . + 2𝑘 + . . . 𝑎 = 1, 𝑟 = 2
3 3 3 3 3 1
+ 2 + 3+ ...+ 𝑘+ ... 𝑎= ,𝑟 =
10 10 10 10 10 10
 Geometric Series
Example 1. Determine whether the series converges, and if so find its sum.
Solution:
𝐼𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜, 𝑟 Since │r│= 1/4 < 1, the series converges and the sum
is
5 5
1 1
𝑟=4= ; 𝑟 = 16 =
5 4 5 4
4
𝑇ℎ𝑢𝑠,
• Example 2. Find the sum of the infinite geometric series
• 8 + 12 + 18 + 27 + . . . If it exists.
source:https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/geometric-series

Solution:
𝑎2 12 3 𝑎3 18 3
Find ratio 𝑟. 𝑟= = = ; 𝑟= = =
𝑎1 8 2 𝑎2 12 2
Since 𝑟 > 1, the series diverges.
 3. Determine whether the series converges, and if so find its sum.
∞
3 2
𝑘
− 𝑘−1
4 5
𝑘=1
Solution: 𝑅𝑒𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠
∞
3 2
𝑘
− 1−𝑘
4 5
𝑘=1
1 ∞ 1
=3 ∞
𝑘=1 4 𝑘 − 2(5) 𝑘=1 5𝑘
5
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: 5𝑘−1 = 5𝑘 5−1 = 5𝑘 (𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑎𝑤 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠)

∞ 1 𝑘 ∞ 1 𝑘 3 1
=3 𝑘=1 4 − 10 𝑘=1 5 for the 1st series, a = 4 and r = 4 ,converges
1
𝑇ℎ𝑢𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑖𝑠: for the 2nd series, a = 2 and r = , converges
5
3
∞ 3 2 4 2 3
𝑘=1 4 𝑘 − = 1 − 1 = −
51−𝑘 1−4 1−5 2
 Special Types of Series
Telescoping Sums

The name is derived from the fact that in simplifying the sum, one term in
each parenthetical expression cancels one term in the next parenthetical
expression, until the entire sum collapses (like a folding telescope) into
just two terms.
 Example 1: Determine whether the series converges or
diverges. If it converges, find the sum.
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:
𝑙𝑒𝑡 =

𝑖=0 𝑖=1 𝑖=2

𝑠𝑛 =

𝑠𝑛 =

𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠

𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
 ∞ 1
Example 2. Determine the sum of the given series 𝑘=1 𝑘(𝑘+2).
∞ 1 𝐴 𝐵
Solution: 𝑘=1 𝑘(𝑘+2) = +
𝑘 (𝑘+2)
(𝑏𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠)
1 𝐴 𝐵
= + 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝐶𝐷: 𝑘 (𝑘 + 2)
𝑘(𝑘+2) 𝑘 (𝑘+2)
1 = A(k+2)+Bk
Solving for A and B: (equate k = 0 and k + 2 = 0 )
if k=0; if k = -2
1 = A(0 + 2) + B(0) 1 = A(-2 + 2) + B(-2)
1 = 2A 1 = -2B
A = 1/2 B = -1/2

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑒

 1 1 ∞ 1 𝐴 𝐵
𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐴 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 = − 𝑖𝑛 𝑘=1 𝑘(𝑘+2) = 𝑘
+ (𝑘+2)
2 2
1 1
∞
𝑘=1 𝑘
2
+
−2
(𝑘+2)
= ( 1
2𝑘
−
1
2 𝑘+2
)
k=1 k=2 k=3 k=4

( )+( )+( )+( )+…+(

𝑠𝑛 = 1
2
−
1
6
1
4
−
1
8
1
6
−
1
10
1
8
−
1
12
1
2𝑘
−
1
2 𝑘+2
)+…
𝑠 = + +( )
1 1 1 1
𝑛 −
2 4 2𝑘 2 𝑘+2

lim 𝑠 = lim [
𝑛→∞
𝑛 ( )] = + +(
𝑘→∞
1

2
+ +
1

4
1

2𝑘
−
2 𝑘+2
1 1
2
1
4
1
2(∞)
−
1
2 ∞+2
)
𝑠𝑛 =
1
2
1
+ +
4 ∞
1
( −
1
∞
)= 1
2
+
1
4
+ (0 − 0) = 1
2
+
1
4
3
𝑆𝑛 = Answer
4
 Special Types of Series
Harmonic Series
∞ 1 1 1 1
- It is a series of the form 𝑘=1 𝑘 =1+ + + +...
2 3 4
- It is a divergent series.
 Special Type of Series
Hyperharmonic Series or p-series
∞ 1 1 1 1
- An infinite series of the form 𝑘=1 𝑘 𝑃 =1+ + + ... 𝑃
2𝑃 3𝑃 𝑘

Converges if 𝑝 > 1 and diverges if 0 < 𝑝 ≤ 1

 Identify p and determine whether the series
converges.
1.  
2

kk 1
3

Solution:
 2  2
1
  2

k
k 1
3
k 1
it is p-series with p= 3
k So, the series is diverges
3

1
2. 
k 1 k

Solution:

1

k 1 k is a p-series with p= 1/2

Since p = 1/2 so, the series diverges.

 Exercises 1: Determine whether the series
converges, and if so finds its sum.
∞ 3 𝑘−1
1. 𝑘=1 −
4
∞ 𝑘−1 7
2. 𝑘=1 −1 9𝑘−1
∞ 1
3. 𝑘=1 𝑘+3 𝑘+4
∞ 1
4. 𝑘=1 9𝑘 2 +3𝑘 −2
∞ 1 1
5. 𝑘=1 2𝑘 − 2𝑘+1
 Divergence Test
THEOREM
a) If lim 𝑢𝑘 ≠ 0, then the series 𝑢𝑘 diverges.
𝑘→+∞
b) If lim 𝑢𝑘 = 0, then the series 𝑢𝑘 may either converge or diverge.
𝑘→+∞
 𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠
2𝑘 2 +3
∞
1.) 𝑘=1 5𝑘 2 −2
Solution: Evaluate the series as a limit of a function
2𝑘 2 +3
Let 𝑢𝑘 = 2
5𝑘 −2
2𝑘 2 +3 ∞
lim 2 = (indeterminate)
𝑘→∞ 5𝑘 −2 ∞
Apply LHR:
4𝑘 2
lim = ≠ 0
𝑘→∞ 10𝑘 5
2𝑘 2 +3
:. ∞𝑘=1 5𝑘 2 −2 diverges
 ∞ 1
2. 𝑘=1 𝑘
Solution:
1
Let 𝑈𝑘 =
𝑘
Applying limits on the given series,
1
= lim
𝑘→∞ 𝑘
1
=
∞
∞ 1
= 0 therefore the series 𝑘=1 𝑘 may either converge or diverge
 Integral Test
THEOREM: Let 𝑢𝑘 be a series with positive terms. If f is a function that is
decreasing and continuous on an interval [𝑎, +∞) and such that 𝑢𝑘 = 𝑓 𝑘 ,
for all 𝑘 ≥ 𝑎, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛

∞ +∞
𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 and 𝑎
𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Both converge or both diverge.

 Example: Confirm that the Integral Test is applicable and use it to
determine whether the series converges.
1.

Solution:
Let and
Applying integration on the series,

Let u = x + 4, du = dx

Since the limit diverges, then the series also diverges.

 𝑘 2
∞
2 . 𝑘=1 𝑘 3 + 1
Solution:
∞
𝑘2 𝑘2
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑈𝑘 = 3
𝑘3 + 1 𝑘 +1
𝑘=1
Applying integration on the series,

∞ 𝑘2 1 𝑏 3𝑘 2
1 𝑘 3 +1
𝑑𝑘 = lim𝑏→∞ 1 3 𝑑𝑘 let u = 𝑘 3 + 1; du=3𝑘 2 dk
3 𝑘 +1

1 1
= lim𝑏→∞ ln(𝑘 3 + 1)|1𝑏 = lim𝑏→∞ [ln 𝑏 3 + 1 − 𝑙𝑛4]
3 3
= ∞; 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠

Since the limit diverges, then the integral also diverges and the series diverges.
 Exercises 2.
1. For each given p-series, identify p and determine whether the series
converges
∞ 1 ∞ 1 ∞ 1
a. 𝑘=1 𝑘 4 b. 𝑘=1 4 𝑘 c. 𝑘=1 3 5
𝑘
2. Apply the divergence test and state what it tells you about the series.
𝑘 2 +𝑘+3
∞ ∞ ∞ 1
a. 𝑘=1 3𝑘 2 +1 b. 𝑘=1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑘𝜋 c. 𝑘=1 𝑘!
3. Confirm that the integral test is applicable and use it to determine
whether the series converges.
1 1 −1
∞ ∞ ∞ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑘
a. 𝑘=1 𝑘+2 b. 𝑘=1 𝑘+5 c. 𝑘=1 1+ 𝑘 2
 Comparison Test
THEOREM: Let
∞ ∞
𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘=1 𝑏𝑘 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑜𝑛 − 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡

𝑎1 ≤ 𝑏1 , 𝑎2 ≤ 𝑏2 , 𝑎3 ≤ 𝑏3 , . . , 𝑎𝑘 ≤ 𝑏𝑘

a) If the “bigger series” 𝑏𝑘 converges, then the “smaller series” 𝑎𝑘 also

converges.

b) If the “smaller series” 𝑎𝑘 diverges, then the “bigger series” 𝑎𝑘 also diverges.
• Example:Determine if the following series is convergent or divergent.

1.
Solution:
Eliminating the cosine term gives us,

a p-series with p=1.

And in p-series if p is less than or equal to one, the series
diverges.
So, the series diverges.
 ∞ 1
• 2. 𝑘=1 3𝑘 + 11
1
Solution: Find a series that can be compared with the given series
3𝑘 + 11
1
by dropping the constant term. The series is , which is a “smaller series”, is a
3𝑘
1
geometric series where 𝑟 = < 1 and it converges. Thus, the given series
3
∞ 1
𝑘=1 3𝑘 + 11 also diverges.
1 1
< for 𝑘 = 1, 2, 3, . . .
3𝑘 3𝑘 +11
 Limit Comparison Test
THEOREM: Let 𝑎𝑘 and 𝑏𝑘 be series with positive terms and suppose that
𝑎𝑘
𝜌= lim
𝑘→+∞ 𝑏𝑘

If 𝜌 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜌 > 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒.
 Use the limit comparison test to determine whether the series
converges.
1.

Solution:
1 1
Let 𝑎𝑘 = and 𝑏𝑘 =
7𝑘+2 7𝑘
Using the formula,
𝑎𝑘
𝜌 = lim
𝑘→∞ 𝑘
1
7𝑘+2 7𝑘 ∞
𝜌 = lim 1 = lim =
𝑘→∞ 7𝑘
𝑘→∞ 7𝑘+2 ∞
Apply LHR:
7 1
𝜌= lim = 1 (finite) and using 𝑏𝑛 = is a harmonic series (diverges)
𝑘→∞ 7 7𝑘
Thus, also diverges.
 ∞ 𝑘
2. 𝑘=1 5𝑘 2 +3
Solution:
𝑘 𝑘 1
Let 𝑎𝑘 = and 𝑏𝑘 = =
5𝑘 2 + 3 5𝑘 2 5𝑘

𝑘
𝑎𝑘 5𝑘2 +3 𝑘 5𝑘
ρ = lim = lim 1 = lim
𝑘→∞ 𝑏𝑘 𝑘→∞ 5𝑘 2 +3 1
5𝑘
𝑘→∞

5𝑘 2 5𝑘 2 𝑘2 5 5
ρ = lim 2 = lim 2 ÷ = lim 3 = = 1 (finite)
𝑘→∞ 5𝑘 +3 𝑘→∞ 5𝑘 +3 𝑘2 𝑘→∞ 5+ 2 5
𝑘
1 ∞ 𝑘
:.since 𝑏𝑘 = 5𝑘
𝑖𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠 . 𝑇ℎ𝑢𝑠, 𝑘=1 5𝑘 2 +3 also
diverges
 Ratio Test
THEOREM: Let 𝑢𝑘 be a series with positive terms and suppose that
𝑢𝑘+1
𝜌= lim
𝑘→+∞ 𝑢𝑘

a) If 𝜌 < 1, the series converges.

b) If 𝜌 > 1 or 𝜌 = +∞, the series diverges
c) If 𝜌 = 1, the series may converge or diverge, so that another test must
be tried.
 1. Use Ratio Test to determine whether the series converges.
Solution:
𝑢𝐾+1
let and using 𝜌 = lim
𝑘→∞ 𝑢𝑘

The series converges

 𝑘
∞ 2
2. Determine if the given series 𝑘=1 𝑘! converges or diverges.
Solution:
2𝑘 2𝑘+1 𝑢𝐾+1
Let 𝑢𝑘 = and 𝑢𝑘+1 = and using 𝜌 = lim
𝑘! 𝑘+1 ! 𝑘→∞ 𝑢𝑘
2𝑘+1 2𝑘
𝜌 = lim ÷
𝑘→∞ 𝑘+1 ! 𝑘!
2𝑘+1 𝑘! 2𝑘 ∙2 𝑘!
𝜌 = lim ∙ 𝑘 = lim ∙ 𝑘 cancel 2𝑘 and 𝑘!
𝑘→∞ 𝑘+1 ! 2 𝑘→∞ 𝑘+1 𝑘! 2
2 2
𝜌 = lim = =0<1
𝑘→∞ 𝑘+1 ∞
∞ 𝑘+1 2𝑘
:. 𝑘=1(−1) 𝑘!
converges
 Root Test
THEOREM: Let 𝑢𝑘 be a series with positive terms and suppose that
1
𝑘
𝜌 = lim 𝑢𝑘 = lim 𝑢𝑘 𝑘
𝑘→+∞ 𝑘→+∞

a) If 𝜌 < 1, the series converges.

b) If 𝜌 > 1 or 𝜌 = +∞, the series diverges
c) If 𝜌 = 1, the series may converge or diverge, so that another test must
be tried.
 Example: 1. Determine if the following series
converges or diverges.
1
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
Solution: using the formula, 𝜌 = lim 𝑢𝑛 = lim 𝑢𝑛 𝑛
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞
Divide both terms by 𝑛3
1
𝑛 𝑛 5𝑛 3𝑛3
5𝑛 − 3𝑛 3 5𝑛 − 3𝑛3 3 − 3
𝜌 = lim = lim = lim 𝑛 3 𝑛
𝑛→∞ 7𝑛3 + 2 𝑛→∞ 7𝑛3 + 2 𝑛→∞ 7𝑛 2
3 + 3
𝑛 𝑛
5
−3 0 −3 −3
𝑛2
𝜌 = lim 2 = = < 1, the series converges.
𝑛→∞ 7+ 3 7+0 7
𝑛
• Example 2. Use the root test to determine whether the following
𝑘+1 𝑘
∞
• series 𝑘=1 10 converge or diverge.
Solution: Using the root test formula,
simplifying by cancelling k applying limits
𝑘 𝑘+1 𝑘 𝑘+1 +∞
𝜌 = lim = lim = = +∞
𝑘→+∞ 10 𝑘→+∞ 10 10

Since 𝜌 = +∞, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠.

 Exercise 3.
1. Use comparison test to determine whether the series converges or
diverges.
∞ 1 ∞∞ 𝑘+1
a. 𝑘=1 5𝑘 2 −2𝑘 b. 𝑘=1 𝑘 2 −𝑘
2. Use limit comparison test to determine whether the series converges.
∞ 1 ∞ 1
a. 𝑘=1 7𝑘+2 b. 𝑘=1 2𝑘+3 17
3. Use the ratio test to determine whether the series converges.
4 𝑘 𝑘
∞ ∞
a. 𝑘=1 𝑘 2 b. 𝑘=1 𝑘 2 +1
4. Use the root test to determine whether the series converges.
𝑘 𝑘 𝑘
∞ ∞
a. 𝑘=1 2𝑘 b. 𝑘=1 100
 ALTERNATING SERIES
Series whose terms alternate between positive and negative
Has one of the following forms:

∞ 𝑘+1
𝑘=1 −1 𝑎𝑘 = 𝑎1 − 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 − 𝑎4 + . . . (1)

∞ 𝑘
𝑘=1 −1 𝑎𝑘 = −𝑎1 + 𝑎2 − 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 − . . . (2)

An alternating series of either form (1) or form (2) converges if the

following two conditions are satisfied:
(a) 𝑎1 ≥ 𝑎2 ≥ 𝑎3 ≥. . . ≥ 𝑎𝑘 ≥. . . (b) lim 𝑎𝑘 = 0
𝑘→+∞
 ∞ −1 𝑛+1
• Example 1. Determine if the following series 𝑛=1 𝑛
• is convergent or divergent.
Solution: Rewriting the series,
𝐵𝑦 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛 = 1,2, 3, …
Type equation here. n = 1, 𝑎1 = 1
1
n = 2, 𝑎2 =
2
n = 3, 𝑎3 = 1/3
𝑈𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
a) 𝑎1 ≥ 𝑎2 ≥ 𝑎3 ≥. . . ≥ 𝑎𝑘 ≥. . . 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑
1 1 𝑛+1
b) lim = = 0 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 Thus, the series ∞ −1
𝑛→+∞ 𝑛 ∞ 𝑛=1 𝑛
converges.
• 2. ∞
−1 𝑘+1 𝑘+1
𝑘=1 4𝑘+11
Solution: By assigning k = 1, 2, 3, … in the given series,
2 3 4
k = 1, 𝑎1 = ; k = 2, 𝑎2 = ; k = 3, 𝑎3 =
15 19 23
Using the two conditions of convergence:
1. 𝑎1 ≥ 𝑎2 ≥ 𝑎3 ≥. . . ≥ 𝑎𝑘 ≥. . . Not satisfied since it was otherwise.

∞ 𝑘+1 𝑘+1
Since the 1st condition does not hold true, then the series 𝑘=1 −1
4𝑘+11
diverges.
 Absolute Convergence
A series ∞

𝑢𝑘 = 𝑢1 + 𝑢2 + . . . + 𝑢𝑘 + . . .
𝑘=1
is said to converge absolutely if the series of absolute values
∞

|𝑢𝑘 | = |𝑢1 | + |𝑢2 |+ . . . +|𝑢𝑘 |+ . . .

𝑘=1
converges and is said to diverge absolutely if the series of absolute values
Diverges.
• Example: Determine whether the following series converges
• absolutely.
4 𝑘
∞
1. 𝑘=1 − 5
Solution: Identifying
∞
the first four terms in the series,
𝑘 2 3 4
4 4 4 4 4
− =− + − + − + − +. . .
5 5 5 5 5
𝑘=1
4 42 43 44
= − + − + 4+ ...
5 52 53 5
By taking the absolute 2values3
of the
4
first four terms is the convergent
4 4 4 4
geometric series + 2 + 3 + 4 + . . . so the given series converges
5 5 5 5
absolutely.
 ∞ −1 𝑘 𝑘 5
• 2. 𝑘=1 𝑒𝑘
Solution: By identifying the first four terms gives us
∞
−1 𝑘 𝑘 5 1 25 35 45
𝑘
= − + 2 − 3 + 4−....
𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒
𝑘=1
1 25 35 45
The series of absolute values are + + 3 + +....
𝑒 𝑒2 𝑒 𝑒4

Using the two conditions of convergence of alternating series,

a) 𝑎1 ≥ 𝑎2 ≥ 𝑎3 ≥. . . ≥ 𝑎𝑘 ≥. . . 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑
𝑘5 1
b) lim 𝑒 𝑘 = =0
∞
𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑
𝑛→+∞
the given series converges absolutely.
 Conditional Convergence
A series that converges but diverges absolutely is
said to converge conditionally (or to be
conditionally convergent)
• Example: Determine whether the following series converge
absolutely or converges conditionally.
−1 𝑘+1
∞
1. 𝑘=1 7𝑘
Solution: By finding
∞
first four terms in the series
−1 𝑘+1 1 1 1 1
= − + − +...
7𝑘 7 14 21 28
𝑘=1
The series of absolute values is the divergent harmonic series
1 1 1 1 1
+ + + + ...+ + ...
7 14 21 28 7𝑘
So the given series diverges absolutely.
But it also converges using the Alternating Test where the given series also
converges. Thus, the series is a conditional convergent series.
 ∞ 𝑘+1 𝑘+7
• 2. 𝑘=1 −1
𝑘 𝑘+4
Solution: by identifying the first four terms of the given series,
∞ 𝑘+1 𝑘+7 8 9 10 11
𝑘=1 −1 = − + − +...
𝑘 𝑘+4 5 12 21 32
Using the Divergence test, Applying LHR
𝑘+7 ∞ 1
lim 2 = lim = 0, the series converges
𝑘→+∞ 𝑘 +4𝑘 ∞ 𝑘→+∞ 2𝑘+4
Using the limit comparison test,
𝑘+7 𝑘+7 1
From the given series , let 𝑎𝑘 = and 𝑏𝑘 =
𝑘 𝑘+4 𝑘 𝑘+4 𝑘
𝑎𝑘 𝑘+7 1 𝑘+7 𝑘 𝑘 2 + 7𝑘
𝜌 = lim = lim ÷ = lim ∙ = lim 2
𝑘→+∞ 𝑏𝑘 𝑘→+∞ 𝑘 𝑘 + 4 𝑘 𝑘→+∞ 𝑘 𝑘 + 4 1 𝑘→+∞ 𝑘 + 4𝑘
Dividing both terms by 𝑘 2 , 𝜌 = 1
Since 𝜌 is finite and positive, the given series diverges. Thus, the series
converges conditionally.
 Exercises 4
1. Determine whether the alternating series converges; justify your answer.
a. ∞
−1 𝑘+1 𝑒 −𝑘 b. ∞
−1 𝑘+1 𝑘+1
𝑘=1 𝑘=1 𝑘+1
2. Classify each series as absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent or
diverges.
∞ −1 𝑘+1 ∞ −4 𝑘
a. 𝑘=1 4 b. 𝑘=1 𝑘 3
𝑘3