maths.free › Real Analysis › Convergence of series

Convergence of series

Divergence, ratio, comparison and integral tests, and the harmonic series.

An infinite series converges when its partial sums approach a limit. The terms going to zero is necessary but not enough. The harmonic series 1 + ½ + ⅓ + … diverges even though its terms vanish. The ratio test settles most series with factorials or powers; comparison and the integral test handle the p-series family.

Kushanda muenzaniso · does 1/n^2 for n = 1 to oo converge

Calculus · Series-And-Sums

Convergence of n^(-2)

\frac{1}{n^{2}}

Step by step

  1. \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{2}}

    Does this series converge?

  2. \lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{1}{n^{2}} = 0

    Divergence test: if the terms do not go to 0 the series cannot converge.

  3. \lim \left|\frac{a_{k+1}}{a_k}\right| = \lim \left|{\frac{n^{2}}{\left(n + 1\right)^{2}}}\right| = 1

    Ratio test: < 1 converges, > 1 diverges, = 1 says nothing.

  4. = \frac{\pi^{2}}{6}

    It converges, and the CAS knows the sum.

Kuratidza mhinduro
\text{converges to } \frac{\pi^{2}}{6}

Zvino iwe Choose a problem, or type or draw your own. Every step, a picture, the answer hidden until you ask.

Tenga yako yemahara

Mubhadharo wakasununguka unowedzera mazita ezvidzidzo, zvinyorwa zvezvidzidzo zvawakati wazvigadzirira, zvidzidzo zvawave uchizvigadzirisa, uye mudzidzisi waungabvunza nezvechidzidzo ichi. Maths inowanikwa kune vese, vasiri vadzidzi kana vadzidzi. Kuwana mazita ezvidzidzo zvinodiwa kunogona kuitwa pawebsite ye Maths.

Kutanga Kupinda

Mazita anoshandiswa pano

Tinya chero chiratidzo kuti uone chirevo chakazara, vhidhiyo, uye kuti chii chinoreva chero chiratidzo.

Maitiro: Convergence of series

  1. Does this series converge?
  2. Divergence test: if the terms do not go to 0 the series cannot converge.
  3. Ratio test: < 1 converges, > 1 diverges, = 1 says nothing.
  4. It converges, and the CAS knows the sum.

Mabvunzo vanhu vanobvunza

What is the ε, δ definition actually saying?

That you can make the output as close to the limit as anyone demands (within ε) by keeping the input close enough (within δ). It replaces "approaches" with a challenge-and-response that can be checked.

Why does the harmonic series diverge when its terms go to zero?

Because the terms shrink too slowly: group them as 1/3 + 1/4 > 1/2, 1/5 + … + 1/8 > 1/2, and so on: infinitely many halves.

More in Real Analysis

Sequences and their limitsImproper integralsTaylor approximation and errorFunctions of a complex variableContinuity and differentiability, rigorouslySequences of functions and uniform convergence