Does the series Ʃ n/e^n converge using the integral test?

  • Thread starter EEintraining
  • Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Stuck
6 replies · 2K views · last reply
EEintraining
Messages
30
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Ʃ n/e^n converge or diverge


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I got this down to an improper integral using the integral test but I am weak at L'Hospitals rules and I was wondering if someone could help me out

I have

[itex]\int n/e^n[/itex] from 1 to infinity

down to

Limit b to infinity ne^n - e^n |from 1 to b

this gives me infinity - infinity so time for L'Hospitals ( forgive my spelling)
I know to divide by the recripical of either one but I get stuck from there
 
It's probably easier to use the ratio test. If you have to use the integral test you didn't get the integral quite right. There's a sign problem (which isn't terribly important) and don't you mean e^(-n) in the integral (which is terribly important)?
 
ok i will try the ratio test for this... I am studying for a test and have already worked this problem and turned it in when I got it back graded the only comments were that it was infinity-infinity and needs L'Hospitals rule. I had originally put infinity - infinity so it diverges. The original problem is correct it is n / e^n not e ^-n
 
EEintraining said:
ok i will try the ratio test for this... I am studying for a test and have already worked this problem and turned it in when I got it back graded the only comments were that it was infinity-infinity and needs L'Hospitals rule. I had originally put infinity - infinity so it diverges. The original problem is correct it is n / e^n not e ^-n

No, I meant your integral should have been -n/e^n - 1/e^n or -ne^(-n) - e^(-n). It's not infinity-infinity.
 
Ok I did the Ratio test could you please check my work?

[itex]\frac{n}{e^n}[/itex]

[itex]\frac{n+1}{e^(n+1)}[/itex] * [itex]\frac{e^n}{n}[/itex]

so all e's cancel except 1 giving me

[itex]\frac{n+1}{e*n}[/itex] the limit of this is ∞/∞ with l'hospital's i have

[itex]\frac{1}{e}[/itex] which is less then 1 so ratio test says converges
 
Last edited:
Yes, the limit of the ratio is 1/e so it converges.
 
Awesome thanks... and I will try to work on form... that was the edited version you should have seen what i had first lol!