power series; 2

Mark44

That was a typo, which I have now fixed.
You must have worked similar problems a little earlier in your course. What techniques do you have to determine whether a series converges?

arl146

you mean like, root test, alternating series test, integral test .. those kinds? wont the root test work for this?

Mark44

I don't see how you can make the root test work. I'm thinking more along the lines of the comparison test or limit comparison test.

arl146

oh. well we know that 1/x^2 converges so (n+1)*n/n^3+1 must too .. ? does that work

Mark44

You know that [itex]\sum \frac{1}{n^2}[/itex] converges (note that the variable is n, not x), but
1) The series you are comparing is not (n+1)*n/n^3+1. What you should be working with is your original series in post #1 evaluated at x = 5.
2) You need to do more than just wave your arms to show convergence. If you are using the comparison test, you need to show that each term of your series is less than the corresponding term of the series you're comparing to. For your problem, [itex]\sum \frac{1}{n^2}[/itex] is a reasonable choice.

arl146

yea i meant to change it to n, just slipped my mind after typing.

and oops yea, its n*(x-4)^n / n^3 + 1

but ok, soo like .. how do i show the convergence then with 1/n^2

Mark44

Try to stay focussed on the problem at hand. For one thing, you're trying to determine the convergence when x = 5 and x = 3. When x = 5, the general term in your series is n/(n³ + 1). Use parentheses!
QUOTE=arl146;3791707]

but ok, soo like .. how do i show the convergence then with 1/n^2[/QUOTE]
I already answered that question...

Your textbook should have some examples where they use comparison. Take a look at them.

Really, you're going to have to step up and show some initiative. This is post #41 on a problem that's not terribly difficult. Instead of continually asking what you should do next, try something and see where it takes you.

arl146

Ok umm ..

When x=5 you have summation n/(n^3+1). It is similar to summation 1/n^2. There's a proof in the book that 1/n^p when p>1 converges and when p<1 it diverges. So I don't have to show that right? When I'm writing my homework do I have to include all of that p>1 stuff or can I just put: since we know that 1/n^2 converges and n/(n^3+1) < 1/n^2 that our series n/(n^3+1) also converges. [our series is smaller because of the larger denominator]. So if that's all right, I wasn't exactly asking exactly what to write I guess I just meant I don't know exactly how to present that information, like in what kind of organized manner do I write it all for my homework.

And when x=3 it's [(-1)^n * n]/(n^3+1) ...... Is that right ? I'm going off memory.
So that's just e same thing, same idea so that also converges.

Now, how the heck do you show absolute/conditional convergence or doesn't that matter?

vela

You don't need to show that 1/n² converges because the proof in the book establishes that. It looks like you're using the comparison test, comparing your series to 1/n². The first thing you need to do is verify that you have a series to which you can the test. You can, in this case, so what you need to show is what you claim to know, that n/(n³+1) < 1/n². You can't just assert it. Once you establish that the conditions of the test hold, you can conclude that the series converges.

Here, it's not the exact same thing because the conditions required for the test aren't satisfied because of the factor (-1)ⁿ. I'll leave it to you to look up what those conditions are.

What are the definitions of absolute and conditional convergence?

arl146

Wait wait, why do I have to show that my series is less than the one we are comparing against? Can't you just say that since the degree of the n on the bottom is bigger that the whole fraction is smaller?? I don't get how I would show that .. Do I just plug in different values of n for that?

Ok um I don't see anything in the book that is similar to the x=3 one I don't where else in the book I'd find those conditions you talk about. I don't get it. I mean I get that it won't work since its +,-,+- but how do you show for this one by comparing? And do you still compare with the 1/n^2 ?

Absolute convergence when the value of the limit of the series with absolute value signs is < 1

vela

You have to show it because that's one of the conditions required for the comparison test to apply.

No, you can't just compare the degree of the denominators. Take the two series ##\sum \frac{1}{n^2}## and ##\sum \frac{n+1}{n^2}##. They both n² in the denominator, but the first one converges while the second doesn't.

You can't just plug in a few values for n. You have to show that the series you're working with is less than 1/n² after some point, that is when n>N for some N. I'm sure your book has examples showing how to apply the comparison test.

The conditions I'm talking about have to do with the test itself, and it's the one you mentioned. The comparison test only works for a non-negative series, and the x=3 series doesn't satisfy that requirement. That means, you can't use the comparison test on that series.

No, this is wrong. Look up what it means and what absolute convergence implies. This is the key to figuring out if the x=3 series converges.

arl146

Ok well I dont know how to show that it is less than 1/n^2? Literally the book says: "5/(2n^2+4n+2) < 5/(2n^2) because the left side has a bigger denominator. We know that summation 5/(2n^2) = (5/2)* summation (1/n^2) is convergent (p-series with p=2>1). Therefore *the series mentioned for this example* is convergent by the comparison test." it really doesn't show anything else..

Ohhhh I gotcha I can't use te comparison test onthe x=3 one, you should have just said that, that hurts my brain a little less haha (just kidding). So I use the alternating series test right ? (this is all coming together, slowly, but getting there). soooo to be convergent according to the alternating series test, it has to satisfy two things: (i.) b(n+1) <= b(n) [which is really b sub n not b of n]. Which our series does. Because (n+1)/((n+1)^3+1) is less than n/(n^3+1). And has to satisfy (ii.) lim of b sub n must equal 0, which is does!

Also, I did look up absolute convergence in my book. Oh well it just says the series is absolutely convergent if the series of absolute values is convergent. So to me that means nothing, like I get nothing out of that? Can you explain how to apply that. When I start getting values I don't know how to tell if it's convergent.

vela

Do you understand the logic behind the book's argument here?

You have to show (n+1)/((n+1)^3+1) < n/(n^3+1) if you want to use the alternating-series test.

That's the definition of absolute convergence. You need to know that so when the term comes up, you know what's being talked about.

Now look in the book for theorems that apply to absolutely convergent series to see why it might apply to this problem.

arl146

Uhhh logic, I mean yes I think I understand it. But I don't understand how that shows anything more than what I was saying.

And that's my problem, how do I show that it is less than?

And I don't know how it applies, I don't even think it does but someone brought it up in a past post. Why does the absolute convergence matter I'm just trying to find the radius of convergence and interval of convergence. The examples in the book don't even mention it. So what's the point in adding that in. Shouldn't I only deal with absolute convergence if the signs of the terms are irregularly switching back and forth?

vela

You have a tendency to overlook important details. Your claim seems to be that if you have two fractions, the one with the bigger denominator is smaller. But what about 1/10 and 50/100?

arl146

Yea yea I get that. But I don't get out of this exactly HOW to show that one is less or more than the other. I just don't see it in the example or how to do it

vela

Well, take a stab at it proving it and post your attempt.