Do Infinite Series and Sequences Converge or Diverge?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the convergence or divergence of specific infinite series and sequences, focusing on mathematical tests and methods for determining their behavior. Participants explore various series involving trigonometric functions and their summations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents three series involving cosine and sine functions and seeks to determine their convergence properties.
  • Another participant suggests using the comparison test and divergence test, noting that the summation for the first two series cannot start at n=0.
  • A different participant mentions that the necessary condition for convergence is that the terms must approach zero, and proposes comparing the first series to 1/n^2 and using the integral test.
  • One participant expresses confusion about the divergence of the sine series and attempts to evaluate it using complex exponentials, questioning their own calculations.
  • Another participant discusses the behavior of geometric series at the boundary condition |z|=1, emphasizing that the terms do not approach zero in this case.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the convergence of the sine series, with some asserting it diverges while others explore its evaluation without reaching consensus. The discussion includes multiple competing perspectives on the convergence tests applicable to the series presented.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about the series, particularly concerning the starting index for summation and the conditions under which certain tests apply. The participants do not resolve these issues, leaving some mathematical steps and definitions unclear.

fubag
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Hi I have a few problems with regard to infinite series and sequences:

1.) cos(n) / (n^2) summation from n = 0 to infinity

2.) cos(pi*n)/n summation from n = 0 to infinity

3.) sin(n) summation from 0 to infinity

I have to tell whether they absolutely converge, conditionally converge, or diverge.

I tried using the ration/root/limit test for them but nothing seemed to help.

any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
 
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The "comparison test" and the "divergence test" will be useful. For the second one, in particular, knowing what cos(pi*n) looks like is also helpful.

By the way, for the first two the summation can't possibly start at n=0. :wink:
 
there are two basic limits we an compute, geometric series, and improper integrals. all other series must be compared usually to one of these. a necessary condition is that the terms go to zero, which is sufficient if their size goes to zero monotonically and they have alternating signs.

compare 1 above to the series 1/n^2 which is then compoared to the integral of 1/x^2.

2 is the other test , alternating test.

3 i am not sure of. but suspect it does not converge by the test of whether the terms approach zero.
 
My brain is exploding.

True, the series diverges by several tests, most obviously by the n-term test mathwonk mentioned. But if we go about evaluating the result;

[tex]S = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sin (n) = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \mathRR{Im} (e^{in}) = \mathRR{Im}\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(e^{in}) = \mathRR{Im} (\frac{1}{1-e^i}) = \frac{1+ \cos 1}{2 \sin^2 1}[/tex].

What did i do wrong :(
 
The geometric series doesn't converge when |z|=1:

[tex]s_n = \sum_{i=0}^n z^n = \frac{1}{1-z} - \frac{z^{n+1}}{1-z}[/tex], z not equal 1.

It's bounded, but is not a Cauchy sequence when |z| = 1.
([tex]s_{n+1}-s_n = e^{i \theta n}[/tex]).

But as mentioned above, the main point is that the terms z^n don't go to zero as n -> infty when |z| = 1.

[tex]\sum c_n[/tex] converges [itex]\Rightarrow[/itex] [tex]s_n[/tex] is Cauchy [itex]\Rightarrow[/itex] [tex]|c_n| = |s_n-s_{n-1}| \rightarrow 0[/tex].
 
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