I saw a really great study guide that got passed around before the first Engineering 195 test, so I thought it would be a great idea to create a collaborative study guide for MA 181.
Convergent and Divergent Series Tests
1. The nth-Term Test:
Unless $ a_{n}\rightarrow 0 $, the series diverges
2. Geometric series:
$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty ar^n $ converges if $ |r| < 1 $; otherwise it diverges.
3. p-series:
$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty 1/n^p $ converges if $ p>1 $; otherwise it diverges
4. Ratio Test(for series with non-negative terms):
$ \lim \limits_{n \to \infty }{\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_{n}}}=p $ The series converges if p<1, diverges if p>1, and is inconclusive if p=1
5. Root Test(for series with non-negative terms):
$ \lim \limits_{n \to \infty }{\sqrt[n]{a_{n}} }=p $ The series converges if p<1, diverges if p>1, and is inconclusive if p=1
More to come...
I am looking to check my answers to the practice problems that Dr. Bell posted on our home page, so if someone would please post them I would really appreciate it. Gleenhee 20:10, 17 November 2008 (UTC)
