Chapter 11: Problem 15
Determine whether the series is absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent, or divergent. $$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n} \frac{n^{2}+3}{(2 n-5)^{2}} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The series is absolutely convergent.
Step by step solution
01
Analyze Terms for Convergence Tests
Identify the general term of the series: \(a_n = (-1)^n \frac{n^2 + 3}{(2n - 5)^2}\). Since the series has \((-1)^n\), it looks like an alternating series. We will need to check for both the absolute and conditional convergence.
02
Absolute Convergence Test
Consider the series of the absolute values: \(|a_n| = \frac{n^2 + 3}{(2n - 5)^2}\). Use the Limit Comparison Test with \(b_n = \frac{1}{n^2}\) since the leading term dominates as \(n\) becomes large. Compute \(\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{|a_n|}{b_n} = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{(n^2 + 3) \cdot n^2}{(2n - 5)^2} = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{n^4 + 3n^2}{4n^4 - 20n^3 + 25n^2}\). Both numerator and denominator tend to \(n^4\), leading to \(\lim_{n \to \infty} = \frac{1}{4}\). The series \(\sum 1/n^2\) is convergent, thus by the Limit Comparison Test, \(|a_n|\) converges.
03
Conclusion on Absolute Convergence
Since the series of absolute values \(\sum |a_n|\) converges, the original series is absolutely convergent.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Alternating Series
An alternating series is a sequence of terms that switch signs, typically involving negative and positive terms. This can be seen in our exercise with the given series
- Notation: \((-1)^{n}\) indicates the alternating nature, which switches the sign of each term as \(n\) increases.
- Impact: This alternation often influences the series' convergence behavior quite differently than if the signs were all positive.
- Alternating Series Test: If the terms (without their signs) decrease in magnitude to zero as \(n\) approaches infinity, the alternating series converges.
Absolute Convergence
Absolute convergence is a stronger form of convergence for a series. If a series converges absolutely, it means that the series formed by taking the absolute values of its terms also converges. This is what we explore when we strip away the \((-1)^{n}\) sign, assessing \(|a_n|\).
- Why Important: If a series converges absolutely, it guarantees convergence of the series with original alternating signs.
- Impact on Series: An absolutely convergent series is more stable, meaning changes in order of terms won't affect its sum.
Limit Comparison Test
The Limit Comparison Test is a powerful tool for analyzing series convergence. It's particularly useful when comparing a series with another whose convergence is already known.
- Steps: Calculate the limit of the ratio of two series' terms as \(n\) approaches infinity.
- Criteria: If this limit is finite and non-zero, then both series converge or diverge together.
- Our series' absolute terms: \(|a_n| = \frac{n^2 + 3}{(2n - 5)^2}\)
- Comparison series: \(b_n = \frac{1}{n^2}\)
Conditional Convergence
Conditional convergence refers to a series that converges, but not absolutely. Simply put, the series converges with its original term signs, but if you were to strip away those signs, the series diverges.
- Why Matters: Such series are delicate; rearranging them can change their sum due to sensitive balance between positive and negative terms.
- Contrast: While absolute convergence guarantees convergence regardless of signs, conditional convergence doesn't provide such a safety net.