Testing for Divergence using the Integral Test

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the application of the Integral Test for determining the convergence or divergence of series. The user successfully identified that their series met the conditions for the Integral Test and utilized integration by parts to analyze the integral. It was concluded that demonstrating that the uv terms approach infinity is insufficient; one must also evaluate the improper integral of ∫vdu to confirm divergence fully. This highlights the necessity of completing the integral to ensure accurate results.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Integral Test for series convergence
  • Knowledge of integration by parts
  • Familiarity with improper integrals
  • Basic concepts of limits in calculus
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the conditions for the Integral Test in detail
  • Practice solving integrals using integration by parts
  • Learn about improper integrals and their evaluation techniques
  • Explore examples of series that converge and diverge using the Integral Test
USEFUL FOR

Students studying calculus, particularly those focusing on series convergence, educators teaching integral calculus, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Integral Test and its applications.

NotGauss
Messages
24
Reaction score
6
Hello all,
I was working on some homework regarding testing for convergence and divergence of series and I was having trouble with a particular series (doesn't really matter which one) and tried almost all the methods; then tried the Integral Test, my series met the conditions of the Integral Test and I integrated using integration by parts. Once I started solving the integral, I usually leave the uv terms for last since that is the simple part, I realized that I had u and v terms (using this form ∫udv = uv - ∫vdu) whos limit went to infinity.
My understanding of the Integral Test is that if the resulting integral is divergent (not a finite sum) then the summation of the series is divergent as well. So, is it enough to show that uv approaches infinity to show that my original integral (∫udv) is divergent? Or do I need to solve the improper integral of ∫vdu as well?

Thanks for your time and help!

Edit: If so, i just thought that this would be an easy way to show divergence, as you wouldn't have to fully calculate the integral but merely calculate the u and v terms.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You need to compute ##\int udv## as well, since if it is infinite it might cancel ##uv##.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
6K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K