Another convergent and divergent

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the convergence or divergence of the series \(\sum \frac{n^5}{n^6 + 1}\). Participants explore various methods, including the comparison test and the integral test, to analyze the series.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the applicability of the comparison test and the integral test. There is a debate about the conditions under which the comparison test can be used to conclude divergence. Some suggest using specific comparisons to known divergent series.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants offering different perspectives on the comparison test and its implications. There is an acknowledgment of the integral test's relevance, but no consensus has been reached regarding the convergence or divergence of the series.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem is situated within a chapter focused on the integral test, while the comparison test is discussed as being from a subsequent chapter. There is also mention of previous threads that may provide additional context or guidance.

tnutty
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Homework Statement


Determine whether the series is convergent or divergent.
[tex]\sum[/tex] n5 / (n6 + 1)
 
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hi tnutty - any ideas?
maybe a comparison test...
 
Yes I was thinking of the comparison test, but that's next chapter. in this chpt, its all about integral test. i am not sure how to solve this with integral test, but can you check out the comparison test that follows ?

Comparison test ;

n^5 / (n^6+1) <= n^5 / n^6 = 1/n and from definition we know that 1/(n^p)
converges if n > 1 and diverges if n< 1. So in this case it diverges since n = 1.

Any ideas solving this by integral test?
 
tnutty said:
Yes I was thinking of the comparison test, but that's next chapter. in this chpt, its all about integral test. i am not sure how to solve this with integral test, but can you check out the comparison test that follows ?

Comparison test ;

n^5 / (n^6+1) <= n^5 / n^6 = 1/n and from definition we know that 1/(n^p)
converges if n > 1 and diverges if n< 1. So in this case it diverges since n = 1.
?

No, you can't conclude from this comparison that the series diverges. For the comparison test to show that a series diverges, the terms have to be larger than those of a divergent series. Here you show that they are smaller than those of [itex]\sum 1/n[/itex].
 
rwisz said:
The comparison test does show divergence that's right.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but no it does not. Take a look at the comparison test and what it says about divergent series and what it says about convergent series. They are different.
rwisz said:
For the integral test however, since the numerator contains [tex]n^5[/tex] and the derivative of the denominator is [tex]6n^5[/tex] then you should be able to tell that u-substitution will work like a charm here...

Hint: du/u = ln u.

And for the setup of the improper integral, try looking at the previous thread where I helped you, at the bottom of my last post.
 
as Mark mentioned out the comparison test points out that if

[tex]b_n > a_n[/tex] for all n>N then if an diverges so does bn
so your pevious example doesn't work...

but to get this condition you could notice

[tex]\frac{n^5}{n^6 + 1} > \frac{1}{2n}[/tex] which is true [tex]\forall n >1[/tex]

or
[tex]\frac{n^5}{n^6 + 1} > \frac{n^5}{n^6 + n^5} = \frac{1}{n+1}[/tex] which is true [tex]\forall n >1[/tex] and cleary diverges...

clearly
 

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