# Convergent Series Identities

1. May 23, 2008

### dtl42

[SOLVED] Convergent Series Identities

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
a) If c is a number and $$\sum a_{n}$$ from n=1 to infinity is convergent to L, show that $$\sum ca_{n}$$ from n=1 to infinity is convergent to cL, using the precise definition of a sequence.

b)If $$\sum a_{n}$$ from n=1 to infinity and $$\sum b_{n}$$ from n=1 to infinity are convergent to X and Y respectively, show that $$\sum b_{n}+a_{n}$$ from n=1 to infinity is convergent to X+Y.

2. Relevant equations
I personally thought these were identities, and have no idea how to approach them.

3. The attempt at a solution
a) Maybe $$\sum a_{n}$$ from n=1 to infinity = $$Lim (S_{n})$$ as n goes to infinity, has something to do with it

2. May 23, 2008

### scottie_000

These proofs essentially rely on the definition of convergence for infinite series, i.e. that the mth partial sum converges to some limit L as m goes to infinity
Can you reformulate the question in terms of partial sums?

(Note that you can do what you'd expect to do with sums when they are only finite, but not necessarily when they are infinite)

3. May 23, 2008

### dtl42

So I need to show that $$Lim (c*S_{n}) = c*L$$? Where $$S_{n}$$ is the nth partial sum?

4. May 23, 2008

### scottie_000

That's right. Do you know how to prove things about limits of sequences?
(The epsilon-delta definition of a limits for sequences, or any other definition)

5. May 23, 2008

### tiny-tim

HI dtl42!

Yes, ∑an and lim(Sn) are the same thing.

So start by writing out the definition of the statement "lim(Sn) = L".

Then it should be fairly obvious how to adjust it.

6. May 23, 2008

### dtl42

The definition of $$Lim(S_{n})$$ is $$|S_{n}-L|<\epsilon\rightarrow \forall n>N$$ right? Can I multiply both sides of $$|S_{n}-L|<\epsilon$$ by c? But then there are two cases depending on the sign of c right?

7. May 23, 2008

### tiny-tim

Use |ab| = |a| times |b|.

8. May 23, 2008

### dtl42

So $$|cS_{n}-cL|<\epsilon*|c| \rightarrow \forall n>N$$, from this can I say the final statement?

9. May 23, 2008

### tiny-tim

mmm … not exactly …

you see, you have to start with "given any ε > 0, there exists an N such that …" and end with "< ε", not "< ε|c|"

So you should begin "given any ε > 0, there exists an N such that … |Sn - L| < ε/|c| "

10. May 23, 2008

### dtl42

Hmm, I can't really think of any way to get to that conclusion? You can't say it just because $$|c|>0$$... I'm kinda stuck.

11. May 23, 2008

### tiny-tim

You can choose ε to be anything (> 0).

You can have one ε for Sn, and a different ε for cSn

In particular, you can choose the first one to be 1/|c| times the second one.

12. May 24, 2008

### dtl42

Ok, so can I say let $$\epsilon_{1}=\frac{\epsilon_{2}}{|c|}$$ so $$|S_{n}-L|<\epsilon_{1}\rightarrow \frac{\epsilon_{2}}{|c|}$$, so $$|S_{n}-L|<\frac{\epsilon_{2}}{|c|} \rightarrow |cS_{n}-cL|<\epsilon_{2}$$?

13. May 24, 2008

### tiny-tim

Woohoo!

(and you can just write ε instead of ε2)

… and nice LaTeX, btw!

14. May 24, 2008

### dtl42

Ok, tiny-tim, thanks for all the help, im going to mark this as solved