Show convergence of this series

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around demonstrating the convergence of the infinite series \(\Sigma_{n=1}^{\infty} \left(1 - n\ln\left(\frac{2n+1}{2n-1}\right)\right)\). Participants are exploring various series tests and mathematical approaches to analyze the series.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using the ratio test and express challenges with indeterminate forms. Suggestions include the integral test and series expansions for simplification. There is also a mention of using Mathematica for verification.

Discussion Status

Several approaches have been proposed, including the integral test and series expansion techniques. Participants are actively engaging with each other's methods, questioning the effectiveness of different tests, and clarifying the use of LaTeX for mathematical expressions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the evaluation of limits and the complexity of integrals involved. There is a mention of using specific substitutions to aid in bounding terms for large \(n\).

dipole
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Homework Statement


All I want to show is that the following infinite series converges,

[itex]\Sigma_{n=1}^{\inf} = \bigg(1 - n\ln\big(\frac{2n+1}{2n-1}\big)\bigg)[/itex]


Homework Equations



Various series tests...

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried doing a ratio test, after applying L'Hopital's rule, but I simply get 1, which is indeterminate... can anyone help me get this thing solved? Maybe suggest the proper test to use?
 
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Try the integral test. If you split your log into the difference of two logs, you can use integration by parts . Then put all 3 pieces over the lowest common denominator, and see what you have. Don't forget the constant term that pops out of the integration by parts.

The series converges if and only if the integral converges.
 
I don't think that helps me, because integrating I get,

[itex]I = \frac{1}{8}\bigg(4x+(4x^2-1)\ln\big(\frac{2x-1}{2x+1}\big)\bigg) |_1^{\inf}[/itex]

which seems like a very difficult limit to evaluate...
 
Gee, that's not what I got. How did you do the integral?

BTW, are you able to write your answers in Latex? The Physics Forum site has a very clear discussion about how to do so. I keep it up in one tab all the time.
 
I actually used Mathematica, because I didn't feel like wasting more time if it didn't work, so the result should be correct.

Also, I don't understand what you mean, it is typed up in LaTex, are you not seeing the rendered equations?
 
I can see how to reduce it to showing that ##\Sigma (1-n \ln(1+1/n))## and ##\Sigma (1+n \ln(1-1/n))## converge. Does that help?
 
dipole said:

Homework Statement


All I want to show is that the following infinite series converges,

[itex]\Sigma_{n=1}^{\inf} = \bigg(1 - n\ln\big(\frac{2n+1}{2n-1}\big)\bigg)[/itex]


Homework Equations



Various series tests...

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried doing a ratio test, after applying L'Hopital's rule, but I simply get 1, which is indeterminate... can anyone help me get this thing solved? Maybe suggest the proper test to use?

You can set 2n = 1/x in
[tex]t_n = 1 - n \ln \left(\frac{2n+1}{2n-1} \right)[/tex] and expand in a series for small x, to get nice upper and lower bounds on ##t_n## for large n.
 
dipole said:
I actually used Mathematica, because I didn't feel like wasting more time if it didn't work, so the result should be correct.

Also, I don't understand what you mean, it is typed up in LaTex, are you not seeing the rendered equations?

it is rendering now.
 

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