LESSON 1

SERIES
Series : Let (𝑎𝑛 ) be a sequence of real natural numbers 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 ⋯ 𝑎𝑛 ⋯, where
𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , ⋯ are denoted as members of the series and 𝑎𝑛 is denoted as common
member of series. Then an expression of the form 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 + ⋯ denoted
by ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 , is called a series: ∑𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 + ⋯ .
1 1 1
EXAMPLES 1: 1) ∑∞
𝑛=1 = 1 + + + ⋯;
𝑛 2 3
1 1 1
2) ∑∞
𝑛=1 =1+ + +⋯
𝑛2 4 9

3) ∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=0(−1) = 1 − 1 + 1 − 1 + 1 − ⋯

4) ∑∞
𝑛=1 0 = 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + ⋯

5) Series is called a geometric series if:

0 < 𝑎 < 1, 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠,
∑∞ 𝑛 2 3 𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑎 = 𝑎 + 𝑎 + 𝑎 + ⋯ 𝑎 + ⋯ = [ 𝑎 ≥ 1, 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠. .

𝑏1 (1−𝑞 𝑛+1 )
A typical partial sum of geometric series is (𝑎 = 𝑞, 𝑏1 = 𝑎): 𝑆𝑛 = ,;
1−𝑞

𝑎 𝑏1 (1−𝑞 𝑛+1 )
if 0 < 𝑎 < 1 ⟹ 𝑆∞ = ; if 𝑞 ≥ 1 ⟹ 𝑆∞ = → ∞.
1−𝑎 1−𝑞

For the 𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 possible 𝑞 < 0:

∑∞ 𝑛 𝑛 2 3 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛=1(−1) 𝑎 = 𝑎 + 𝑎 + 𝑎 + ⋯ (−1) 𝑎 + ⋯.

𝑏1 (1−(−𝑞)𝑛+1 )
In this case: 𝑆𝑛 =
1+𝑞

Partial sums : 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 = ∑𝑛𝑗=1 𝑎𝑗 is called the n-th partial sum of

∞
the series ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 . Series 𝑅𝑛 = ∑𝑗=𝑛+1 𝑎𝑗 = 𝑎𝑛+1 + 𝑎𝑛+2 + ⋯ is called the
𝑛 −th remainder of the series: ∑∞𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑆𝑛 + 𝑅𝑛 .

EXAMPLES 2:
1 1 1 1 1 1
1) ∑∞
𝑛=1 = 1 + + + ⋯; 𝑆1 = 1, 𝑆2 = 1 + , 𝑆3 = 1 + + ⋯
𝑛 2 3 2 2 3
1 1 1 1 3 1 1 49
2) ∑∞
𝑛=1 = 1 + + + ⋯ , 𝑆1 = 1, 𝑆2 = 1 + = , 𝑆3 = 1 + + = ⋯.
𝑛2 4 9 2 2 4 9 36

Convergence or Divergence of ∑∞
𝒏=𝟏 𝒂𝒏 .

If 𝑆𝑛 = lim ∑∞𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑆, 𝑆 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡, for some number then we say that the
𝑛→∞
∞
series ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges to S. If (𝑆𝑛 ) does not converge ( lim ∑𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = [ ∄ )
𝑛→∞
then we say that the series ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 diverges. Shortly: A series converges if the
sequence of partial sums converges, and otherwise the series diverges.
1 1 1
EXAMPLES 2: 𝑆𝑛 = ∑∞
𝑛=0 = ∑∞
𝑛=0 ((𝑛+1) − (𝑛+2)) ⇒
(𝑛+1)(𝑛+2)

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
𝑆𝑛 = 1 − + − + − + ⋯ + − = 1− ;
2 2 3 3 4 (𝑛 + 1) (𝑛 + 2) (𝑛 + 2)
1 1
𝑆𝑛 = lim ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = lim ∑𝑛=1 = lim (1 − (𝑛+2)) = 1.
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ (𝑛+1)(𝑛+2) 𝑛→∞
1 100
If 𝑛 = 100 → 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑆100 = 1 − = . It meant the series converges.
101 101
𝑛+2
EXAMPLES 3: ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑙𝑛 ( ) = ∑∞
𝑛=1(𝑙𝑛(𝑛 + 2) − ln(𝑛)) ⇒ 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑙𝑛3 − 𝑙𝑛1 +
𝑛
𝑛+2
+𝑙𝑛4 − 𝑙𝑛2 + 𝑙𝑛5 − 𝑙𝑛3 + 𝑙𝑛6 − 𝑙𝑛4 + ⋯ + ln(𝑛 + 2) − 𝑙𝑛2 = 𝑙𝑛 ( ).
2
𝑛+2 𝑛+2
𝑆𝑛 = lim ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = lim ∑𝑛=1 𝑙𝑛 ( ) = lim 𝑙𝑛 ( ) = ∞.
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛 𝑛→∞ 2

It meant the series diverges.

PROBLEM 1:

EXAMPLES 3: If in series ∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑝𝑎 , 0 < 𝑎 < 1, 𝑝 ∈ ℝ , then the geometric
𝒑(𝟏−𝒂𝒏 ) 𝟏−𝒂𝒏 𝒑
series converges (𝑎𝑛 → 0), and: 𝑺𝒏 = ⟹ 𝑺𝒏 = 𝒑𝐥𝐢𝐦 = .
𝟏−𝒂 𝟏−𝒂 𝟏−𝒂
𝒏→∞
1 1 1
Let find the sum of series ∑∞
𝑛=1 . Because of 𝑎𝑛 = ,𝑎 = < 1 this series is
3𝑛 3𝑛 3
decreasing geometric series:
1
1 1− 𝑛 1 3
𝑆𝑛 = lim ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 = lim ∑∞
𝑛=1 3𝑛 = lim 3
1 = 1 = .
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 1− 1− 2
3 3

PROBLEM 2:

NECESSARY CONDITION FOR CONVERGENCE

Theorem 1 : If series ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges then lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0.
𝑛→∞

Proof : If series ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 converges then lim 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑆 and lim 𝑆𝑛−1 = 𝑆 then also
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞
𝑆𝑛 − 𝑆𝑛−1 = 𝑎𝑛 if lim (𝑆𝑛 − 𝑆𝑛−1 ) = 𝑆 − 𝑆 = 0 ⇔ lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0.
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞

The condition given in the above result is necessary but not sufficient i.e., it is
possible that lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0 and ∑∞𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 diverges.
𝑛→∞
Сorollary: Sufficient condition when the numerical series diverges: lim 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0.
𝑛→∞

EXAMPLES 4:
1) If in series ∑∞ 𝑛
𝑛=1 𝑎 , if 𝑎 ≥ 1 then the geometric series diverges, because
𝑎(1−𝑎𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 = increase infinitely and lim 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0.
1−𝑎 𝑛→∞

2) Series ∑∞
𝑛=1 sin(𝑛) is diverges because ∄ lim sin(𝑛).
𝑛→∞
𝑛+2 𝑛+2 2
3) Series ∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑙𝑛 ( ) is diverges, despite lim 𝑙𝑛 ( ) = lim 𝑙𝑛 (1 + 𝑛) = 0.
𝑛 𝑛→∞ 𝑛 𝑛→∞

PROBLEM 3: