Need help on this series test for convergence or divergence

rodneyram
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



The equation is the summation from n=1 to infinity of [(-1)^n] / [sqrt(2n+3)].

Homework Equations



If the series An is compared to a a series Bn that diverges and the series An is greater than the series Bn they both diverge.

If the limit from n to infinity of An/Bn is greater than 1, they both converge or diverge.

The Attempt at a Solution



Can I compare this to 1/sqrt(2n), which is greater than the main problem, and then use the limit comparison test to conclude that the series diverges?

Is this correct?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
rodneyram said:

Can I compare this to 1/sqrt(2n), which is greater than the main problem, and then use the limit comparison test to conclude that the series diverges?
Is this correct?


It wouldn't work in this case. The series 1/sqrt(2n) is greater then the main problem, but diverges. This doesn't mean that the smaller series has to diverge. In fact, I think that the series in your problem converges.

Have you heard of one of the following: Abels criterion, Dirichlets criterion, Leibniz criterion?
 
No, I haven't heard of any of those.

I used the limit comparison test on the two series sqrt(2n)/sqrt(2n+3) which equals to one. Doesn't that prove they are both divergent because the limit is greater than 0 due to the limit comparison test?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top