CALCULUS ON THE WALL
mastermathmentor.com presents
21. Infinite Series Helping students learn … and teachers teach
Created by:
Stu Schwartz
Un-narrated Version
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Calculating PiWe know that the circumference C of a circle is calculated by multiplying π times the diameter. So π is the ratio of the circumference to the diameter. But how do we calculate the value of π without this geometric approach?
Circumference
diameter
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Terms used in this slide show:
• Sequence • p-series test• Recursive formula • Harmonic series• Explicit formula • Alternating series test• Convergent sequence • Telescoping series• Divergent sequence • Integral test• Series • Direct comparison test• Infinite series • Limit comparison test• Convergent series • Ratio test• Divergent series • Absolutely convergent• Convergence test • Conditionally convergent• nth term test • Root test• Geometric test
Vocabulary
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SequencesWe define a sequence as a set of numbers that has an identified first member, 2nd member, 3rd member, and so on. We use subscript notation to denote sequences: a1, a2, a3, etc. Sequences are rarely made up of random numbers; they usually have a pattern to them.
What is the 4th and 5th members of the sequence: 1, 2, 4, … ?
If you said that the 4th member is 8 and the 5th member is 16, the pattern is: to get the next term, we double the previous term.If you said that the 4th member is 7 and the 5th member is 11, the pattern is: we add 1 to the first member, add 2 to the 2nd member and thus add 3 to the 3rd member.
The problem with giving the terms of a sequence is that there is an assumption that the student can see the pattern of the terms. Sometimes the pattern isn’t obvious, even if many terms are given. For instance, finding the next term in the sequence 1, 2, 3/2, 2/3, 5/24 … is quite difficult, and yet when you see the answer in the next slide, it makes perfect sense.
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Defining Sequences
Recursive: a1 = 1, an = 2an-1
The 5th term would be 16.Advantage: pattern easy to see.Disadvantage: to find the 10th term, we need the 9th which needs the 8th, …
For the sequence: 1, 2, 4, 8, …
Rather than give the terms of a sequence, we give a formula for the nth term an. There are two ways to do so: recursively and explictly.
Recursive: we give the first term a1 and the formula for the nth term an in terms of a function of the (n - 1)st term, an-1 .
Explicit: we give a formula for the nth term an in terms of n.
Explicit: an = (1/6)n3 - (1/2)n2 + (4/3)The 5th term would be 15.Advantage: easy to find the 10th term.Disadvantage: formula is not obvious. In this course, students rarely will be asked to generate a formula for
the nth term from the terms themselves. However, if they are given the nth term formula, which is usually given explicitly, they should be able to find any term. For instance, the sequence 1, 2, 3/2, 2/3, 5/24, … is defined as an = n2/n!. The 6th term is 36/720 = 1/20.
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Convergent and Divergent SequencesSequences either converge (are convergent) or diverge (are divergent).
Convergent sequences: the limit of the nth term as n approaches ∞ exists
Divergent sequences: the limit of the nth term as n approaches ∞ does not exist
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Using L’Hospital’s RuleWhenever you are asked about the convergence or divergence of a sequence when given an, it is best to write out a few terms of the sequence to get a sense of it. Even then, you can get fooled. To be sure, you can use L’Hospital’s rule to find the limit of an as n approaches infinity, and if L’Hospital’s rule cannot be used, use simple logic.
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SeriesWe define a series as the sum of the members of a sequence starting at the first term and ending at the nth term:
We define an infinite series as the sum of the members of a sequence starting at the first term and never ending.
The remainder of this slide show is centered whether an infinite series converges (has a limit). A sequence converges if its nth term an has a limit as n approaches infinity. A series converges if the sum of its terms has a limit as n approaches infinity. Determine whether each of the following series converges.
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Convergence TestsA convergence test is a procedure to determine whether an infinite series given the formula for an is convergent. Some convergence tests can be done by inspection while others involve a bit of work that will need to be shown. The nth term
testIf the nth term does not converge to zero, the series must diverge.If the nth term does converge to zero, the series can converge.the sequence terms the partial series
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Geometric Series & Convergence
A series in the form of is a geometric series.
The Geometric test
If |r| ≥ 1, the series diverges.If |r| < 1, the series converges to a/(1 – r)
The figure is a square of side 8 and the midpoints of the square are vertices of an inscribed square with the pattern continuing forever. Show that the sum of the areas and perimeters are convergent.
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The p-Series and Harmonic Series
A series in the form of where p > 0, is a p-series.
The p-series test:
If 0 < p ≤ 1, the series diverges. If p > 1, the series converges.
p is a positive constant:
Any series in the form of ∑ [(c/an + b)] is called an harmonic series and is divergent.
the sequence terms the partial series
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More on the Harmonic Series 1/n
The length of the overhang is where n is the number of books. This is
the harmonic series and thus theoretically, it will balance with an infinite
number of books.
¼½
⅙
…
Suppose we stack identical books of length 1 so that the top book overhangs the book below it by ½, which overhangs the book below it by ¼, which overhangs the book below it by ⅙, etc. This structure, called the Leaning Tower of Lire will (just barely) balance.
⅛1/10
It takes 31 books for the overhang to be 2 books long, 227 books for the overhang to be to be 3 books long, 1,674 books for the tower to be 4 books long, and over 272 million books for the overhang to be 10 books long. Try it with a deck of cards.
Deck of 52 cards
It seems counter-intuitive that is divergent. Here’s a simple proof:
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Alternating SeriesAn alternating series is one whose terms alternate in signs.
The Alternating series test:
Error in an alternating series In a convergent alternating series, the error in approximating the value of the series using N terms is the (N + 1)st term .
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Telescoping SeriesIf we take a divergent series and subtract a divergent series, we can get another divergent series.
However, it is possible that we subtract one divergent series from another, our answer converges.
A telescoping series is an alternating series in the form of
. If this passes the nth term test, the series converges. Expand the
expression.
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The Integral Test
If the integral test shows convergence of a series, the value of the integral is not the value of the series. It is merely an indicator that the series converges.
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Comparison Tests
The Direct Comparison test:
If there is a deviation from the forms already studied, the tests cannot be used.
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The Limit Comparison Test
The Limit Comparison test:
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The Ratio TestThe Ratio test:
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Failure of the Ratio Test
The ratio test will always be inconclusive with a series in the form of a polynomial over a polynomial or polynomials under radicals.
∑an absolutely convergent: ∑an converges and ∑|an | converges ∑an conditionally convergent: ∑an converges and ∑|an | diverges
You may wonder: if the ratio test is so versatile, why do we need all of the other tests? Why not just apply the ratio test immediately?
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The Root TestThe following numbers are written from smallest to largest:
n20, 20n, n!, nn.
While an expression of a smaller expression over a larger expression could converge, an expression of a larger expression over a smaller expression diverges.
The Root test:
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Series Convergence/Divergence Flowchart
nth term testNo
Yes Geometric testYes
Yes
No
No p-series testYes
Yes
No
NoAlternating series test
YesYes
NoIs the series telescoping?
YesNoNo
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More Tests in Order of Usefulness
Limit Comparison testYes
Yes
No
Ratio testYes
Yes
No
Root testYes
Yes
No
Integral test
YesYes
No
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VocabularyDo you understand each term?
• Sequence • p-series test• Recursive formula • Harmonic series• Explicit formula • Alternating series test• Convergent sequence • Telescoping series• Divergent sequence • Integral test• Series • Direct comparison test• Infinite series • Limit comparison test• Convergent series • Ratio test• Divergent series • Absolutely convergent• Convergence test • Conditionally convergent• nth term test • Root test• Geometric test
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