The LNM Institute of Information Technology

Jaipur, Rajsthan

MATH-I  Assignment #3

(Series)

1. Since the convergence of a series is defined in terms of the convergence of the sequence
of its partial sums, many results about the convergence of series follow from the
corresponding results given for the convergence of sequences. Use your knowledge of
sequences to prove the following results.
(a) Show that the sequence of partial sums of a convergent series is bounded.
X X
(b) Let ak = A and bk = B. Then show that
k k
i. X
(ak + bk ) = A + B
k
ii. X
(rak ) = rA, for any r ∈ R.
k

iii. Further, if ak ≤ bk for all k, then show that A ≤ B.

(c) (Sandwich Theorem for series) If (ak ), (bk ), and (ck ) are sequences
X of real
numbers such that ak ≤ ck ≤ bk for each k, and further, ak = A and
X X k
bk = A, then show that ck = A.
k k

X 2n

1
2. Find sum of the series + n
n
n(n + 1) 3
X
3. Let (an ) be a constant sequence. If an converges then show that an = 0 for all n.
n
X X an
4. Let an ≥ 0. Then show that both the series an and converge or diverge
n≥1
a +1
n≥1 n
together.
[Hint: Compare both series and apply comparison test. For the other way, use nth
term test.]
X
5. In each of the following cases, discuss the convergence/divergence of the series an ,
n≥1
where an equals:
(a) 1 − n sin n1 , (b) 1
n
log(1 + n1 ), (c) 1 − cos n1 ,
(d) n log
2n
n
.
 X
6. Test the series tan−1 (e−n ) for convergence.
n≥1

7. Find the values of p for which the following series are convergent or divergent:
∞ ∞
X 1 X 1
(a) , (b)
n=1
np n=1
n((logn)p )
[Hint: Use Cauchy condensation test:“If an ≥ 0 and (an ) is decreasing, then
X∞ ∞
X
an converges if and only if 2k a2k converges.”]
n=1 k=0

8. Prove that the sequence (xn ) defined by x1 := 1, x2 := 2 and

1
xn := (xn−1 + xn−2 ) for each n > 2,
2
1
is Cauchy. [Hint: xn − xn+1 = 2n−1
for every n ∈ N.]