Determine if the SERIES converges or DIVERGES(III)

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In summary, the original series diverges by the comparison test with the series $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{n} } \end{align*}$, and is also shown to diverge by considering the integral $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_0^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}} \, dx } = \frac{\pi}{2}$, which is an overestimate for the series.
  • #1
shamieh
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More awesome series for you to help me with..

\(\displaystyle \sum^{\infty}_{n = 1} \frac{tan^{-1}n}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}\) =

So can i use a limit comparison test and let \(\displaystyle b_n\) be \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{n}\)

and then use the limit comparison test and obtain 1 which is \(\displaystyle L > 0\) so then since 1/n or \(\displaystyle b_n\) diverges then I know that \(\displaystyle a_n\) diverges by the limit comparison test ?I ended up with \(\displaystyle \frac{n}{\sqrt{n^2 + 1}} \) as n --> \(\displaystyle \infty = 1\)
 
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  • #2
shamieh said:
More awesome series for you to help me with..

\(\displaystyle \sum^{\infty}_{n = 1} \frac{tan^{-1}n}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}\) =

So can i use a limit comparison test and let \(\displaystyle b_n\) be \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{n}\)

and then use the limit comparison test and obtain 1 which is \(\displaystyle L > 0\) so then since 1/n or \(\displaystyle b_n\) diverges then I know that \(\displaystyle a_n\) diverges by the limit comparison test ?I ended up with \(\displaystyle \frac{n}{\sqrt{n^2 + 1}} \) as n --> \(\displaystyle \infty = 1\)

I'd say that since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \arctan{(n)} < \frac{\pi}{2} \end{align*}$ for all n, then we have

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{\arctan{(n)}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2 }}} < \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{\frac{\frac{\pi}{2}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}} = \frac{\pi}{2} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{\frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}} \end{align*}$

Now if we consider $\displaystyle \begin{align*} f(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 +x^2}} = \left( 1 + x^2 \right) ^{-\frac{1}{2}} \end{align*}$, we have $\displaystyle \begin{align*} f'(x) = 2x \left[ -\frac{1}{2} \left( 1 + x^2 \right) ^{-\frac{3}{2}} \right] = - \frac{x}{\left( 1 + x^2 \right) \sqrt{1 + x^2} } \end{align*}$

Since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} f'(x) < 0 \end{align*}$ for all $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x > 0 \end{align*}$, that means the function is decreasing, and that means that the integral $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_0^{\infty} { \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}} \, dx} \end{align*}$ will be an overestimate for $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$. So if this integral is convergent, so will be the sum.

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_0^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 +x^2}} \, dx } &= \lim_{b \to \infty} { \int_0^b{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}} \, dx } } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty}{ \left[ \arctan{(x)} \right]_0^b } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty}{ \left[ \arctan{(b)} - \arctan{(0)} \right] } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty}{ \left[ \arctan{(b)} - 0 \right] } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty} \left[ \arctan{(b)} \right] \\ &= \frac{\pi}{2} \end{align*}$

This integral is convergent, so $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is convergent, and thus $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{\arctan{(x)}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is also convergent by comparison.
 
  • #3
Prove It said:
I'd say that since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \arctan{(n)} < \frac{\pi}{2} \end{align*}$ for all n, then we have

...
This integral is convergent, so $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is convergent, and thus $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{\arctan{(x)}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is also convergent by comparison.

But the series is not convergent. As \(\displaystyle n \to \infty\) we have \(\displaystyle \arctan(n) \to \pi/2\) and \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+n^2}} \sim \frac{1}{n}\).

Hence for large \(\displaystyle n\) the terms behave like \(\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{2n}\) and so the series diverges.The problem is with your integral:

\(\displaystyle \int_0^b \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^2}} = \mathrm{asinh}\left( b\right) \ne \arctan(b)\)

.

.
 
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  • #4
zzephod said:
But the series is not convergent. As \(\displaystyle n \to \infty\) we have \(\displaystyle \arctan(n) \to \pi/2\) and \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+n^2}} \sim \frac{1}{n}\).

Hence for large \(\displaystyle n\) the terms behave like \(\displaystyle 1/n\) and so the series diverges.The problem is with your integral:

\(\displaystyle \int_0^b \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^2}} = \mathrm{asinh}\left( b\right) \ne \arctan(b)\)

.

.

Oops, that's where my mistake is, thank you :)
 

FAQ: Determine if the SERIES converges or DIVERGES(III)

What is the difference between convergence and divergence?

Convergence refers to a series that approaches a finite limit or value as the number of terms increases. Divergence, on the other hand, refers to a series that does not approach a finite limit and instead grows infinitely larger or smaller.

How do you determine if a series converges or diverges?

To determine convergence or divergence, you can use various tests such as the Integral Test, Comparison Test, or Ratio Test. These tests involve evaluating the behavior of the series as the number of terms increases and determining if it approaches a finite limit or not.

What is the significance of determining if a series converges or diverges?

Determining if a series converges or diverges is important in understanding the behavior and properties of the series. It can also help in making predictions and calculations related to the series, such as finding the sum of the series or using it in real-world applications.

Can a series both converge and diverge?

No, a series can either converge or diverge, but not both. It is possible for a series to converge under certain conditions and diverge under others, but it cannot do both at the same time.

What happens if a series is neither convergent nor divergent?

If a series does not converge or diverge, it is considered to be oscillating or alternating. This means that the series does not approach a finite limit, but instead, the terms alternate between positive and negative values indefinitely.

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