MHB Ratio test with an integer power of an in numerator

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The discussion focuses on determining the convergence or divergence of the series $$\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{n^{100}}$$ using the ratio test. The limit derived from the ratio test simplifies to $$\lim_{{n}\to{\infty}} \frac{2^{n + 1}}{2^n} = 2$$ and the limit of $$\frac{n^{100}}{(n + 1)^{100}}$$ approaches 1. It is concluded that the series diverges because the exponential term $$2^n$$ grows significantly faster than the polynomial term $$n^{100}$$. Therefore, the series diverges due to the dominance of the exponential growth.
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I have

$$\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{n^{100}}$$

and I need to find whether it converges or diverges.

I can use the ratio test to get:

$$\lim_{{n}\to{\infty}} \frac{2^{n + 1}\cdot n^{100}}{2^n \cdot (n + 1)^{100}}$$

But I'm not sure how to get the limit from this.

I know the limit of $\frac{n^{100}}{(n + 1)^{100}}$ would be $1$. But how would I get the limit of $\frac{2^{n + 1}}{2^n}$?
 
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tmt said:
I have

$$\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{n^{100}}$$

and I need to find whether it converges or diverges.

I can use the ratio test to get:

$$\lim_{{n}\to{\infty}} \frac{2^{n + 1}\cdot n^{100}}{2^n \cdot (n + 1)^{100}}$$

But I'm not sure how to get the limit from this.

I know the limit of $\frac{n^{100}}{(n + 1)^{100}}$ would be $1$. But how would I get the limit of $\frac{2^{n + 1}}{2^n}$?
You don't need to worry about it.

[math]\frac{2^{n + 1}}{2^n} = 2[/math]

-Dan
 
tmt said:
I have

$$\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{n^{100}}$$

and I need to find whether it converges or diverges.

I can use the ratio test to get:

$$\lim_{{n}\to{\infty}} \frac{2^{n + 1}\cdot n^{100}}{2^n \cdot (n + 1)^{100}}$$

But I'm not sure how to get the limit from this.

I know the limit of $\frac{n^{100}}{(n + 1)^{100}}$ would be $1$. But how would I get the limit of $\frac{2^{n + 1}}{2^n}$?

I'm hoping that your intuition at least told you that you should be expecting the series to be divergent, as the exponential part would be a divergent geometric series, and this part will end up much, much greater than the polynomial...
 
Prove It said:
I'm hoping that your intuition at least told you that you should be expecting the series to be divergent, as the exponential part would be a divergent geometric series, and this part will end up much, much greater than the polynomial...

I suppose $2^n$ will be much greater than $n^{100}$, and $\sum_{}^{} 2^n$, is of course divergent, as $2 > 1$. So, even though $\sum_{}^{} \frac{1}{n^{100}}$ is convergent, it would be outpaced by $\sum_{}^{} 2^n$. Is this what you mean?
 
tmt said:
I suppose $2^n$ will be much greater than $n^{100}$, and $\sum_{}^{} 2^n$, is of course divergent, as $2 > 1$. So, even though $\sum_{}^{} \frac{1}{n^{100}}$ is convergent, it would be outpaced by $\sum_{}^{} 2^n$. Is this what you mean?

Exactly! :)
 
There are probably loads of proofs of this online, but I do not want to cheat. Here is my attempt: Convexity says that $$f(\lambda a + (1-\lambda)b) \leq \lambda f(a) + (1-\lambda) f(b)$$ $$f(b + \lambda(a-b)) \leq f(b) + \lambda (f(a) - f(b))$$ We know from the intermediate value theorem that there exists a ##c \in (b,a)## such that $$\frac{f(a) - f(b)}{a-b} = f'(c).$$ Hence $$f(b + \lambda(a-b)) \leq f(b) + \lambda (a - b) f'(c))$$ $$\frac{f(b + \lambda(a-b)) - f(b)}{\lambda(a-b)}...

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