Is the Convergence of a Real Number Series Determined by Positive Integers?

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    2015
In summary, the convergence of a real number series refers to the behavior of the terms in the series as the number of terms increases towards infinity. It can be determined by applying mathematical tests such as the ratio test or the root test, which evaluate the behavior of the terms and determine whether they approach a fixed value or not. Positive integers play a crucial role in determining convergence as they are used in these tests and indicate the number of terms being considered. Therefore, all real number series can be determined by positive integers, even if they contain negative terms.
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Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Let $\sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty a_n$ be a series of real numbers. Show that $\sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty a_n$ converges absolutely if and only if to each $\epsilon > 0$, there corresponds a positive integer $N = N(\epsilon)$ such that if $n_1,\ldots, n_m$ are indices no less than $N$, then $|a_{n_1} + \cdots + a_{n_m}| < \epsilon$.
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No one answered this week's problem. You can find my solution below.
Suppose $\sum_{n = 1}^\infty a_n$ converges absolutely. Given $\epsilon > 0$, there exists a positive integer $N$ such that $\sum_{n = p}^q |a_n| < \epsilon$ whenever $q \ge p \ge N$. Let $n_1,\ldots, n_k$ be a finite set of indices such that $n_i \ge N$ for all $i$. Without loss of generality, assume $n_1 < \cdots < n_k$. Then

$$|a_{n_1} + \cdots + a_{n_k}| \le |a_{n_1}| + \cdots + |a_{n_k}| \le \sum_{n = n_1}^{n_k} |a_n| < \epsilon.$$

To prove the converse, we argue by contaposition. Suppose that $\sum_{n = 1}^\infty |a_n|$ diverges. Then there exists $\epsilon > 0$ such that, given $N \in \Bbb Z^{+}$, there exists $s > r \ge N$ such that $\sum_{n = r}^s |a_n|\ge \epsilon$. Let $n_1,\ldots, n_m, n_{m+1},\ldots, n_k$ be the indices in $\{r,r+1,\ldots, s\}$ such that $a_n \ge 0$ for $n = n_1,\ldots, n_m$ and $a_n \le 0$ for $n = n_{m+1},\ldots, n_k$. Since $$|a_{n_1} + \cdots + a_{n_m}| + |a_{n_{m+1}} + \cdots + a_{n_k}| = \sum_{n = r}^s |a_i| \ge \epsilon,$$ either $|a_{n_1} + \cdots + a_{n_m}| \ge \epsilon/2$ or $|a_{n_{m+1}} + \cdots + a_{n_k}| \ge \epsilon/2$. Hence, the contrapositive holds.
 
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FAQ: Is the Convergence of a Real Number Series Determined by Positive Integers?

What is the definition of convergence of a real number series?

The convergence of a real number series refers to the behavior of the terms in the series as the number of terms increases towards infinity. If the terms approach a fixed value, the series is said to converge. If the terms do not approach a fixed value, the series is said to diverge.

How is the convergence of a real number series determined?

The convergence of a real number series is determined by applying a specific mathematical test, such as the ratio test or the root test, to the series. These tests evaluate the behavior of the terms in the series and determine whether they approach a fixed value or not.

Can the convergence of a real number series be determined by positive integers only?

Yes, the convergence of a real number series can be determined using only positive integers. This is because the tests for convergence, such as the ratio test and the root test, use the behavior of the terms in the series as the number of terms increases towards infinity.

What role do positive integers play in determining the convergence of a real number series?

Positive integers play a crucial role in determining the convergence of a real number series. They are used in the mathematical tests for convergence, which evaluate the behavior of the terms in the series as the number of terms increases. Positive integers also indicate the number of terms being considered in the series, which is important in determining convergence.

Are there any real number series that cannot be determined by positive integers?

No, there are no real number series that cannot be determined by positive integers. As mentioned before, positive integers play a crucial role in determining the convergence of a real number series. Even if a series has negative terms, the convergence can still be determined by considering the absolute values of the terms, which would result in using positive integers in the mathematical tests for convergence.

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