Radius of Convergence: Why 1/ln(x) Doesn't Converge

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The discussion centers around the convergence properties of the function 1/ln(x) and its derivative -1/(x*ln(x)^2). Participants clarify that differentiating a function does not affect its radius of convergence, which is applicable only to power series. The conversation highlights the confusion between power series and non-power series, emphasizing that theorems related to power series do not apply to non-power series. Ultimately, participants conclude that the radius of convergence is not defined for non-power series, and they discuss various convergence tests for series.

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  • Understanding of power series and their convergence properties
  • Familiarity with The Term-by-Term Integration Theorem
  • Knowledge of convergence tests such as the Comparison Test and Alternating Series Test (AST)
  • Basic calculus concepts, including derivatives and limits
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  • Study the properties of power series and their convergence criteria
  • Learn about the Comparison Test and how it applies to series convergence
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rootX
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If derivative of 1/ln(x), which is -1/(x*ln(x)^2), converges
why then 1/ln(x) does not converge?

According to some theorem that I learned, differentiating does not change the radius of convergence and hence neither its convergence or divergence.

Thanks.
 
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What are you talking about? Are you talking about a series, a sequence, integral, I have no idea. Also, it would help if you actually stated the theorem.
 
rootX said:
If derivative of 1/ln(x), which is -1/(x*ln(x)^2), converges
why then 1/ln(x) does not converge?

According to some theorem that I learned, differentiating does not change the radius of convergence and hence neither its convergence or divergence.

Thanks.

Nah, there's no such thing like convergence of a function. A function is either defined, or undefined at some value.

Seeing that you mention radius of convergence in your post, are you talking about power series?
 
Yes, I was talking about power series. I was referring to The Term-by-Term Integration Theorem, ... (and other related ones_)
I been so much into this stuff that I forgot that there's a summation sign that goes in the front.

Thanks.
 
rootX said:
Yes, I was talking about power series. I was referring to The Term-by-Term Integration Theorem, ... (and other related ones_)
I been so much into this stuff that I forgot that there's a summation sign that goes in the front.

Thanks.

=.=" Still not really sure what's troubling you. Is that the series concepts which confuse you, or you are not sure about convergent, and divergent tests, or.. what?

The first post doesn't make much sense to me, though. :(

If you are not sure about what troubles you, either. Then I suggest you spend some times, re-reading the whole chapter on series from the beginning thoroughly. Series is a pretty hard concept to grasp.

When everything gets a bit clearer, and you're pretty sure which parts confuse you. You can post it here, and we may help. :)
 
rootX said:
If derivative of 1/ln(x), which is -1/(x*ln(x)^2), converges
why then 1/ln(x) does not converge?

According to some theorem that I learned, differentiating does not change the radius of convergence and hence neither its convergence or divergence.

Thanks.

?? The Taylor series for both 1/ln(x) and -1/(x ln(x)^2), about x= 1, converge with radius of convergence 1.
 
How about:

(1)sum (from n=2 to inf): 1/ln(n) ... diverges because 1/ln(n) >1/n and by comparison test this diverges
(2)and sum (from n=2 to inf) = 1/(n*(ln n)^2) ... converges because it's integral limit is 1/ln(2) (so -1/(n*(ln(n))^2) also converges which is derivative of 1/ln(n))

Am I missing something?
And, I just remembered reading in the book that the theorem I mentioned above applies only to power series but 1/ln(n) is not a power series.
I think I got it:
(1) There is no radius of converges thing defined for non-power series but I was using it everywhere
(2) theorems for power series (like R stays same) do not apply to non-power series.

So, am I on right track now?
 
rootX said:
So, am I on right track now?

Yes.
 
You told us before you were talking about power series, and finally you tell us you really meant sum of ln(n)?
 
  • #10
somehow, I was thinking that there's no difference between sum of ln(n) and power series ><...
 
  • #11
Another Question:

sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(3k+1) / (2k+1) converges?

I know sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(k) / (2k+1) converges
but sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(2k) / (2k+1) not converges

so how should I deal with such situations where I cannot say that the series is alternating, but it has same form?
I just found that even*odd = even and odd*odd = odd

so it does not matter whether it is:
sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(7k) / (2k+1) or sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(9k+2) / (2k+1)
the series is similar to sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(k) / (2k+1) ??

I think I pretty much got it but I got the answer while I was typing this question, so can you assure me that I have got the right answer?
 
  • #12
rootX said:
Another Question:

sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(3k+1) / (2k+1) converges?

Try the root test:

<br /> \begin{align*}<br /> \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} a_n &amp; &lt; 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ converges}\\<br /> &amp; &gt; 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ diverges}\\<br /> &amp; = 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ might converge or diverge}<br /> \end{align*}<br />
 
  • #13
foxjwill said:
Try the root test:

<br /> \begin{align*}<br /> \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} a_n &amp; &lt; 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ converges}\\<br /> &amp; &gt; 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ diverges}\\<br /> &amp; = 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ might converge or diverge}<br /> \end{align*}<br />

What is an that you are talking about? It doesn't seem no where near a root test to me. :(

rootX said:
Another Question:

sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(3k+1) / (2k+1) converges?

If a series converge, then its terms (an) tend to 0.

(Notice that, this is a one way statement, the other way round is not correct, i.e, if its term tends to 0, the series can also be divergent, e.g \sum_{n = 1} ^ {\infty} \frac{1}{n} diverge, whereas 1/n ~~> 0)

The other equivalent statement is:

If a series' terms don't tend to 0, then the series diverge.

From here, what can you say about the series, is it convergent, or divergent?

I know sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(k) / (2k+1) converges
but sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(2k) / (2k+1) not converges

so how should I deal with such situations where I cannot say that the series is alternating, but it has same form?
I just found that even*odd = even and odd*odd = odd

so it does not matter whether it is:
sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(7k) / (2k+1) or sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(9k+2) / (2k+1)
the series is similar to sum (k=0:inf) (-1)^(k) / (2k+1) ??

Those are all anternating series. ^^!

You can check it. If 7k is odd, then 7(k + 1) is even; if 7k is even, then 7(k + 1) is odd, blah blah..

I think I pretty much got it but I got the answer while I was typing this question, so can you assure me that I have got the right answer?

Yup, sometimes, re-reading books proves to help quite a lot. See? :)
 
  • #14
VietDao29 said:
What is an that you are talking about? It doesn't seem no where near a root test to me. :(



If a series converge, then its terms (an) tend to 0.

(Notice that, this is a one way statement, the other way round is not correct, i.e, if its term tends to 0, the series can also be divergent, e.g \sum_{n = 1} ^ {\infty} \frac{1}{n} diverge, whereas 1/n ~~> 0)

The other equivalent statement is:

If a series' terms don't tend to 0, then the series diverge.

From here, what can you say about the series, is it convergent, or divergent?



Those are all anternating series. ^^!

You can check it. If 7k is odd, then 7(k + 1) is even; if 7k is even, then 7(k + 1) is odd, blah blah..



Yup, sometimes, re-reading books proves to help quite a lot. See? :)

Sorry. I meant
<br /> \begin{align*}<br /> \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} (a_n)^{1/n} &amp; &lt; 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ converges}\\<br /> &amp; &gt; 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ diverges}\\<br /> &amp; = 1 \Rightarrow \sum a_n \mbox{ might converge or diverge}<br /> \end{align*}<br />
 
  • #15
Thanks a lot ;)

but, I wonder if I really need a root test here (You can simply use AST)
 

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