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Rearranging series

Use the fact that

1 1 2 + 1 3 1 4 + 1 5 = ln 2

to rearrange the terms in the alternating harmonic series so the sum of the rearranged series is 3 ln ( 2 ) / 2 .

Let

n = 1 a n = 1 1 2 + 1 3 1 4 + 1 5 1 6 + 1 7 1 8 + .

Since n = 1 a n = ln ( 2 ) , by the algebraic properties of convergent series,

n = 1 1 2 a n = 1 2 1 4 + 1 6 1 8 + = 1 2 n = 1 a n = ln 2 2 .

Now introduce the series n = 1 b n such that for all n 1 , b 2 n 1 = 0 and b 2 n = a n / 2 . Then

n = 1 b n = 0 + 1 2 + 0 1 4 + 0 + 1 6 + 0 1 8 + = ln 2 2 .

Then using the algebraic limit properties of convergent series, since n = 1 a n and n = 1 b n converge, the series n = 1 ( a n + b n ) converges and

n = 1 ( a n + b n ) = n = 1 a n + n = 1 b n = ln 2 + ln 2 2 = 3 ln 2 2 .

Now adding the corresponding terms, a n and b n , we see that

n = 1 ( a n + b n ) = ( 1 + 0 ) + ( 1 2 + 1 2 ) + ( 1 3 + 0 ) + ( 1 4 1 4 ) + ( 1 5 + 0 ) + ( 1 6 + 1 6 ) + ( 1 7 + 0 ) + ( 1 8 1 8 ) + = 1 + 1 3 1 2 + 1 5 + 1 7 1 4 + .

We notice that the series on the right side of the equal sign is a rearrangement of the alternating harmonic series. Since n = 1 ( a n + b n ) = 3 ln ( 2 ) / 2 , we conclude that

1 + 1 3 1 2 + 1 5 + 1 7 1 4 + = 3 ln ( 2 ) 2 .

Therefore, we have found a rearrangement of the alternating harmonic series having the desired property.

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Key concepts

  • For an alternating series n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 b n , if b k + 1 b k for all k and b k 0 as k , the alternating series converges.
  • If n = 1 | a n | converges, then n = 1 a n converges.

Key equations

  • Alternating series
    n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 b n = b 1 b 2 + b 3 b 4 + or
    n = 1 ( −1 ) n b n = b 1 + b 2 b 3 + b 4

State whether each of the following series converges absolutely, conditionally, or not at all.

n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n n + 3

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n + 1 n + 3

Does not converge by divergence test. Terms do not tend to zero.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 1 n + 3

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n + 3 n

Converges conditionally by alternating series test, since n + 3 / n is decreasing. Does not converge absolutely by comparison with p -series, p = 1 / 2 .

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 1 n !

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 3 n n !

Converges absolutely by limit comparison to 3 n / 4 n , for example.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ( n 1 n ) n

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ( n + 1 n ) n

Diverges by divergence test since lim n | a n | = e .

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 sin 2 n

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 cos 2 n

Does not converge. Terms do not tend to zero.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 sin 2 ( 1 / n )

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 cos 2 ( 1 / n )

lim n cos 2 ( 1 / n ) = 1 . Diverges by divergence test.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ln ( 1 / n )

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ln ( 1 + 1 n )

Converges by alternating series test.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n 2 1 + n 4

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n e 1 + n π

Converges conditionally by alternating series test. Does not converge absolutely by limit comparison with p -series, p = π e

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 2 1 / n

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n 1 / n

Diverges; terms do not tend to zero.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n ( 1 n 1 / n ) ( Hint: n 1 / n 1 + ln ( n ) / n for large n . )

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n ( 1 cos ( 1 n ) ) ( Hint: cos ( 1 / n ) 1 1 / n 2 for large n . )

Converges by alternating series test. Does not converge absolutely by limit comparison with harmonic series.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ( n + 1 n ) ( Hint: Rationalize the numerator.)

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ( 1 n 1 n + 1 ) ( Hint: Cross-multiply then rationalize numerator.)

Converges absolutely by limit comparison with p -series, p = 3 / 2 , after applying the hint.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ( ln ( n + 1 ) ln n )

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 n ( tan −1 ( n + 1 ) tan −1 n ) ( Hint: Use Mean Value Theorem.)

Converges by alternating series test since n ( tan −1 ( n + 1 ) tan −1 n ) is decreasing to zero for large n . Does not converge absolutely by limit comparison with harmonic series after applying hint.

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ( ( n + 1 ) 2 n 2 )

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n = 1 ( −1 ) n + 1 ( 1 n 1 n + 1 )

Converges absolutely, since a n = 1 n 1 n + 1 are terms of a telescoping series.

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Practice Key Terms 4

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Source:  OpenStax, Calculus volume 2. OpenStax CNX. Feb 05, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11965/1.2
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