Determine Series' Convergence or Divergence

knowLittle
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Homework Statement


##\sum _{n=1}ne^{-n}##


Homework Equations


Ratio Test
Integral Test


The Attempt at a Solution


I know that by the ratio test, it converges absolutely. But, I am unable to determine its convergence through the integral test . Could someone help? I thought that the integral test would be best, since e is used.

The ratio test gives me 1/e approx 0.367879 <1; therefore, it converges absolutely.

Now, the integral test is my concern. I believe I have done all correct steps, but the result shows that it diverges.
##\lim _{b\rightarrow \infty }\int _{1}^{b}\dfrac {n} {e^{n}}dn##

Integrating by parts with: u=n; du=dn; dv=(e^-n) dn; v=-e^-n
## \left[ -e^{-n}\left( n\right) +-e^{-n}\right] _{1}^{\infty }##
The final result is:
##-\dfrac {\infty } {e^{\infty} }-\dfrac {1} {e^{\infty }}+\dfrac {2} {e} ## and it diverges. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you.
 
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knowLittle said:

Homework Statement


##\sum _{n=1}ne^{-n}##


Homework Equations


Ratio Test
Integral Test


The Attempt at a Solution


I know that by the ratio test, it converges absolutely. But, I am unable to determine its convergence through the integral test . Could someone help? I thought that the integral test would be best, since e is used.

The ratio test gives me 1/e approx 0.367879 <1; therefore, it converges absolutely.

Now, the integral test is my concern. I believe I have done all correct steps, but the result shows that it diverges.
##\lim _{b\rightarrow \infty }\int _{1}^{b}\dfrac {n} {e^{n}}dn##

Integrating by parts with: u=n; du=dn; dv=(e^-n) dn; v=-e^-n
## \left[ -e^{-n}\left( n\right) +-e^{-n}\right] _{1}^{\infty }##
The final result is:
##-\dfrac {\infty } {e^{\infty} }-\dfrac {1} {e^{\infty }}+\dfrac {2} {e} ## and it diverges. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you.

What is ##\displaystyle \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{n}{e^n}##? You will need to use l'Hospital's rule!
 
Wow. Thank you.
 
My integral after L'Hospital doesn't agree with answers online. Could you tell me what's wrong?
##\lim _{b\rightarrow \infty }\int _{1}^{b}\dfrac {n} {e^{n}}dn##

##\int _{1}^{b}\dfrac {1} {en}dn=\left[ -e^{-n}\right] _{1}^{b}=-\dfrac {1} {e^{\infty }}+\dfrac {1} {e}##
, the first term to the left is e^n
 
You need to find the limit of \frac{1}{e^n} and not its integral.
 
The limit of (1/ e^n) as n approaches infinity is 0. The test for divergence is inconclusive.

I'm trying to find the determination of convergence or divergence through the integral test.
 
Last edited:
OK, I've worked it out, and the limit should be: \frac{2}{e}
 
Last edited:
Yeah, that's what it's shown online.
I get 1/e. My procedure is above. Could you help?
 
This step is correct:
\left[ -e^{-n}\left( n\right) -e^{-n}\right] _{1}^{\infty }
Let b=∞, then,
\left[ -e^{-n}\left( n\right) -e^{-n}\right] _{1}^{b}
This gives:
\left[ \left( \frac{-b}{e^b} -e^{-b}\right) - \left( \frac{-1}{e} -e^{-1}\right) \right]
Now, what you have to find is the limit as b→∞
\lim_{b→∞} \left[ \left( \frac{-b}{e^b} -e^{-b}\right) - \left( \frac{-1}{e} -e^{-1}\right) \right]
But the limit of the following requires using L'Hopital's rule,
\lim_{b→∞} \frac{-b}{e^b} = \lim_{b→∞} \frac{-1}{e^b}
You can then work out the rest:
\lim_{b→∞} \left[ \left( \frac{-1}{e^b} - \frac{1}{e^b}\right) - \left( \frac{-1}{e} - \frac{1}{e}\right) \right]
 
  • #10
Thanks, it's what I suspected. This L'Hospital rule keeps coming and coming.
 
  • #11
You had the answer in your first post! The first term goes to zero by l'Hospital's, the second goes to zero, and the final term is just a constant which was ##\frac{2}{e}##.
 
  • #12
I know, I didn't know I could use L'Hospital in the middle of an integration by parts.
Thanks.
 

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