/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 11 Determine whether the given seri... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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Determine whether the given series converges or diverges. $$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \ln \left(2+\frac{1}{n}\right) $$

Short Answer

Expert verified
The series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \ln \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\) diverges.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze the series term

First, observe the terms of the series \(\text{ln} \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\). As \(n\) tends to infinity, \(\frac{1}{n}\) approaches 0, so each term gets closer to \(\text{ln}(2)\).
02

Simplify the logarithmic term

To simplify the series term \(\text{ln} \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\), let's expand \(\text{ln} \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\) using the series expansion for logarithms around small \(\frac{1}{n}\). This gives us approximately \(\text{ln}(2) + \text{ln} \bigg(1 + \frac{1}{2n} \bigg)\).
03

Apply the series expansion

Utilize the series expansion \(\text{ln} (1+x) \sim x\) for small \(x\), such that \(\text{ln} \bigg(1 + \frac{1}{2n} \bigg) \approx \frac{1}{2n}\). Thus, \(\text{ln} \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg) \approx \text{ln}(2) + \frac{1}{2n}\).
04

Separate the series

Rewrite the series as follows: \(\text{ln}(2) + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{2n}\). The term \(\text{ln}(2)\) is a constant and thus does not affect the convergence of the series itself. Focus on the series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{2n}\).
05

Test convergence of simplified series

We know that \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n}\) is the harmonic series and diverges. Therefore, \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{2n}\) is simply \(\frac{1}{2}\) times the harmonic series, which still diverges.
06

Conclusion

Since the series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{2n}\) diverges, the original series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \text{ln} \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\) also diverges.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

logarithmic series
The original exercise focuses on the series \(\text{ln} \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\). At the core of this problem is the concept of a **logarithmic series**, which involves the natural logarithm function log\((x)\) applied to the terms of a sequence. In this case, we need to determine if the series \(\text{ln} \bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\) converges or diverges as n approaches infinity.
To analyze such series, we often use logarithmic properties and approximations. For small values of x, the natural logarithm has the series expansion \(\text{ln}(1 + x) \approx\ x\). We use this approximation to simplify the given series term \( \text{ln}\bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg)\). As n tends to infinity, \(\frac{1}{n}\) becomes very small, and thus our term can be written as \(\text{ln}(2) + \text{ln}\bigg(1 + \frac{1}{2n}\bigg)\), allowing us to further simplify using the approximation for \(\text{ln}(1 + x)\).
Understanding the behavior and properties of the logarithmic function at different ranges can be very helpful in simplifying and analyzing series.
harmonic series
The **harmonic series** is a fundamental concept in understanding series convergence and divergence. The harmonic series is given by: \[ \sum_{n=1}^{\text{∞}} \frac{1}{n} \] This series is known to diverge, meaning that its sum grows without bound as n increases.
In our original problem, we derived that the original series transforms into \( \text{ln}(2) + \frac{1}{2n} \). The term \( \text{ln}(2) \) is a constant and doesn't affect the convergence. Hence, we focus on \( \sum_{n=1}^{\text{∞}} \frac{1}{2n} \), which is essentially half the harmonic series.
Since the harmonic series itself diverges, any multiple of it, including the one with \(\frac{1}{2}\), also diverges. This conclusion helps us determine the behavior of complex series by comparing them to well-known series like the harmonic series.
series divergence
The concept of **series divergence** is crucial in our problem. When we say a series diverges, it means the sum of its terms keeps growing without bound. This happens if the terms of the series do not approach zero fast enough.
In the step-by-step solution, we concluded that the series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\text{∞}} \frac{1}{2n} \) diverges because it is simply a scaled version of the harmonic series.
Divergence can be tested using various methods, such as comparing to known divergent series (like we did here), the n-th term test (if the limit of the n-th term as n approaches infinity is not zero, the series diverges), or using the Ratio Test and other convergence tests. Understanding that the harmonic series diverges is a foundational tool for analyzing other series.
series expansion
The **series expansion** of functions, particularly for simplifying terms within a series, is a very powerful analytical tool. In our exercise, the concept of the logarithmic series expansion was leveraged to simplify the term \( \text{ln}\bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg) \).
Specifically, we used the logarithmic series expansion: \( \text{ln}(1 + x) \approx\ x \), valid for small x, to approximate \( \text{ln}\bigg(2 + \frac{1}{n}\bigg) \approx\ \text{ln}(2) + \frac{1}{2n} \).
This approximation allowed us to express the original series in a more manageable form, eventually highlighting its resemblance to the harmonic series. Successful series expansion can simplify complex terms and make the analysis of convergence/divergence more straightforward.
Grasping series expansion is essential in calculus and beyond, as it can simplify solving problems across various mathematical fields.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A developing country currently has 2,500 trained scientists. The government estimates that each year, \(6 \%\) of the current number of scientists either retire, die, or emigrate, while 278 new scientists graduate from college. If these trends continue, how many scientists will there be in 20 years? How many in the long run?

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The story goes that the famous mathematician, John von Neumann (1903-1957), was once challenged to solve a version of the following problem: Two trains, each traveling at \(30 \mathrm{ft} / \mathrm{sec}\), approach each other on a straight track. When they are 1,000 feet apart, a bee begins flying from one train to the other and back again at the rate of \(60 \mathrm{ft} / \mathrm{sec}\), and continues to do so until the trains crash. How far does the bee fly before it is crushed by the crashing trains? Von Neumann pondered the question only briefly before giving the correct answer. The poser of the problem chuckled appreciatively and said, "You saw the trick. I should have known better than to try to fool you, Professor." Von Neumann looked puzzled. "What trick?" he replied, "I summed the series." a. Sum a series as von Neumann did to find the distance traveled by the ill- fated bee. b. Unlike von Neumann, do you see an easy way to solve this problem? (Incidentally, a form of this question is sometimes used by Microsoft to test new employees.) c. Try this kinder, gentler version of the same problem. Suppose the conductors of the two trains see each other and hit the brakes when they are 180 feet apart. If both trains decelerate at the rate of \(5 \mathrm{ft} / \mathrm{sec}^{2}\), how far does the bee fly before the trains come together?

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