Determine if the SERIES converges or DIVERGES(III)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the convergence or divergence of the series $$\sum^{\infty}_{n = 1} \frac{\tan^{-1}n}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}$$. Participants explore various methods to analyze the series, including the limit comparison test and integral comparison, while addressing the behavior of the terms as $$n$$ approaches infinity.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using the limit comparison test with $$b_n = \frac{1}{n}$$, concluding that since the limit is 1, the divergence of $$b_n$$ implies the divergence of $$a_n$$.
  • Another participant argues that since $$\arctan(n) < \frac{\pi}{2}$$ for all $$n$$, the series can be compared to $$\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{\frac{\frac{\pi}{2}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}}$$, leading to a conclusion about convergence based on the behavior of the integral of $$\frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}}$$.
  • A later reply challenges the convergence conclusion, stating that as $$n \to \infty$$, the terms behave like $$\frac{\pi}{2n}$$, suggesting divergence instead. This participant also points out an error in the integral comparison, stating that the integral $$\int_0^b \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^2}}$$ does not equal $$\arctan(b)$$.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the convergence of the series. While some argue for convergence based on comparisons and integrals, others assert that the series diverges, leading to an unresolved debate.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential issues with assumptions in the integral comparison and the behavior of terms as $$n$$ approaches infinity, but these remain unresolved.

shamieh
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More awesome series for you to help me with..

$$\sum^{\infty}_{n = 1} \frac{tan^{-1}n}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}$$ =

So can i use a limit comparison test and let $$b_n$$ be $$\frac{1}{n}$$

and then use the limit comparison test and obtain 1 which is $$L > 0$$ so then since 1/n or $$b_n$$ diverges then I know that $$a_n$$ diverges by the limit comparison test ?I ended up with $$\frac{n}{\sqrt{n^2 + 1}} $$ as n --> $$\infty = 1$$
 
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shamieh said:
More awesome series for you to help me with..

$$\sum^{\infty}_{n = 1} \frac{tan^{-1}n}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}$$ =

So can i use a limit comparison test and let $$b_n$$ be $$\frac{1}{n}$$

and then use the limit comparison test and obtain 1 which is $$L > 0$$ so then since 1/n or $$b_n$$ diverges then I know that $$a_n$$ diverges by the limit comparison test ?I ended up with $$\frac{n}{\sqrt{n^2 + 1}} $$ as n --> $$\infty = 1$$

I'd say that since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \arctan{(n)} < \frac{\pi}{2} \end{align*}$ for all n, then we have

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{\arctan{(n)}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2 }}} < \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{\frac{\frac{\pi}{2}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}} = \frac{\pi}{2} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{\frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}}} \end{align*}$

Now if we consider $\displaystyle \begin{align*} f(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 +x^2}} = \left( 1 + x^2 \right) ^{-\frac{1}{2}} \end{align*}$, we have $\displaystyle \begin{align*} f'(x) = 2x \left[ -\frac{1}{2} \left( 1 + x^2 \right) ^{-\frac{3}{2}} \right] = - \frac{x}{\left( 1 + x^2 \right) \sqrt{1 + x^2} } \end{align*}$

Since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} f'(x) < 0 \end{align*}$ for all $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x > 0 \end{align*}$, that means the function is decreasing, and that means that the integral $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_0^{\infty} { \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}} \, dx} \end{align*}$ will be an overestimate for $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$. So if this integral is convergent, so will be the sum.

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_0^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 +x^2}} \, dx } &= \lim_{b \to \infty} { \int_0^b{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}} \, dx } } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty}{ \left[ \arctan{(x)} \right]_0^b } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty}{ \left[ \arctan{(b)} - \arctan{(0)} \right] } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty}{ \left[ \arctan{(b)} - 0 \right] } \\ &= \lim_{b \to \infty} \left[ \arctan{(b)} \right] \\ &= \frac{\pi}{2} \end{align*}$

This integral is convergent, so $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is convergent, and thus $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{\arctan{(x)}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is also convergent by comparison.
 
Prove It said:
I'd say that since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \arctan{(n)} < \frac{\pi}{2} \end{align*}$ for all n, then we have

...
This integral is convergent, so $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is convergent, and thus $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}{ \frac{\arctan{(x)}}{\sqrt{1 + n^2}} } \end{align*}$ is also convergent by comparison.

But the series is not convergent. As $$ n \to \infty$$ we have [math]\arctan(n) \to \pi/2[/math] and $$\frac{1}{\sqrt{1+n^2}} \sim \frac{1}{n}$$.

Hence for large $$n$$ the terms behave like $$\frac{\pi}{2n}$$ and so the series diverges.The problem is with your integral:

$$\int_0^b \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^2}} = \mathrm{asinh}\left( b\right) \ne \arctan(b)$$

.

.
 
Last edited:
zzephod said:
But the series is not convergent. As $$ n \to \infty$$ we have [math]\arctan(n) \to \pi/2[/math] and $$\frac{1}{\sqrt{1+n^2}} \sim \frac{1}{n}$$.

Hence for large $$n$$ the terms behave like $$1/n$$ and so the series diverges.The problem is with your integral:

$$\int_0^b \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^2}} = \mathrm{asinh}\left( b\right) \ne \arctan(b)$$

.

.

Oops, that's where my mistake is, thank you :)
 

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