Do These Mathematical Sequences Converge?

In summary: If the limit as n goes to infinity of any of these is greater than 1, then the sequence is not converging.
  • #1
Banana Pie
2
0
Member warned about not using the homework template
Which of these converge?

1. 5n/ (2n-1)

2. e^n/ n

3. e^n/ (1+e^n)

Attempt:

1) lim n-> ∞ 5n/(2n-1) = 5n/2n = 5/2 ≠ 0 so diverge?

2) Change n to x
e^x/ (1 + e^x)
Antiderivative: ln |1 + e^x|
lim t->∞ of ln |1 + e^x|
ln |1 + e^∞| - ln |1 + e^0|
Got stuck here

3) Help :(
 
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  • #2
By converge, do you mean limit exists as n->∞ ? If not, what do you mean? You don't give any information on what limit rules you are familiar with and allowed to use. Please add more such information.
 
  • #3
Banana Pie said:
Which of these converge?

1. 5n/ (2n-1)

2. e^n/ n

3. e^n/ (1+e^n)

Attempt:

1) lim n-> ∞ 5n/(2n-1) = 5n/2n = 5/2 ≠ 0 so diverge?

2) Change n to x
e^x/ (1 + e^x)
Antiderivative: ln |1 + e^x|
lim t->∞ of ln |1 + e^x|
ln |1 + e^∞| - ln |1 + e^0|
Got stuck here

3) Help :(
Are these sequences of numbers or are they infinite series? The first problem, interpreted as a sequence, converges to 5/2, as you said.
 
  • #4
I will assume that you are looking for whether or not the sequences converge as n goes to infinity.
As Mark pointed out, you correctly found that the limit of #1 exists as n goes to infinity, so the sequence converges. If you are looking for the sum of the terms, i.e. the series, then your rule about the limit not being equal to zero would be appropriate.
For #2, it looks like you were working on #3.
Also, when you do the integral test, it implies you are looking for the infinite sum, i.e.:
##\lim_{n\to \infty} \sum_{k = 1}^n \frac{e^k}{k}. ##
If that is what you are looking for, then none of these (series) converge.

However, it looks like these are better suited as problems about sequence convergence, so let's go with that.

For #1, the limit exists, so the sequence converges.
For #2, you can try a growth rate test.
##x_n = \frac{e^n}{n}, x_{n+1} = \frac{e^{n+1}}{n+1}.##
##G=\frac{x_{n+1}}{x_n} = \frac{n e^{n+1}}{(n+1)e^n}##
If the limit as n goes to infinity of G is greater than 1, then the sequence is not converging.

For #3, you can apply the same logic you did for #1, and just keep the terms of the highest order.
 

1. What is a convergence test?

A convergence test is a method used to determine if a series (a sum of infinitely many terms) converges (approaches a finite value) or diverges (does not approach a finite value). This is important in mathematics and science because it helps us understand the behavior and properties of series and their sums.

2. Why do we need convergence tests?

Convergence tests are necessary because not all series converge. In fact, most series do not converge. Therefore, it is important to be able to determine if a series converges or not in order for us to use them in calculations and applications.

3. What are some common convergence tests?

There are several common convergence tests, including the ratio test, the root test, the comparison test, the integral test, and the alternating series test. Each test has its own criteria and is used for different types of series.

4. How do I know which convergence test to use?

The choice of which convergence test to use depends on the specific series in question. It is important to look at the terms of the series and see if they follow a certain pattern or behavior. This can help determine which test is most appropriate to use.

5. Can convergence tests be used for all types of series?

No, not all types of series can be tested for convergence using the common convergence tests. For example, if a series has alternating positive and negative terms, the alternating series test can be used, but other tests may not be applicable. There are also some series that are more complex and require more advanced convergence tests to determine convergence or divergence.

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