Does this series converge or diverge?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rcmango
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Series
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
5 replies · 10K views
rcmango
Messages
232
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



n = 1 E infinity (n * sin (1/n))

Homework Equations



geometric series test?

The Attempt at a Solution



It looks like a geometric series.

i know that sin 1/n = 0 by squeeze theorem.

n * 0 will always be 0.

am i on the right track, please help.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Hint: try applying your logic to n/n.
 
rcmango said:

Homework Statement



n = 1 E infinity (n * sin (1/n))

Homework Equations



geometric series test?

The Attempt at a Solution



It looks like a geometric series.

i know that sin 1/n = 0 by squeeze theorem.
No, you don't know that! You only know that the limit is 0.

n * 0 will always be 0.
But none of your terms is n* 0 so that is irrelevant.

am i on the right track, please help.
No!
 
Okay, thanks Dick, you limit is 1.

i could use the comparison test, compare to 1/n
divide an / bn and get 1 by the nth term series. Thus diverging because it doesn't = 0.

thats what i made out of it. thanks a lot.
 
rcmango said:
Okay, thanks Dick, you limit is 1.

i could use the comparison test, compare to 1/n
divide an / bn and get 1 by the nth term series. Thus diverging because it doesn't = 0.

thats what i made out of it. thanks a lot.

Pretty good. Except a ratio test giving you a limit of one doesn't tell you much. You could do a comparison with 1/n, that works. But it's still overkill. If the nth term of a series doesn't approach zero then it doesn't converge. Period. Ever.