Chapter 11: Problem 25
Determine whether the series converges or diverges. $$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{e^{n}+1}{n e^{n}+1} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The series diverges.
Step by step solution
01
Identifying the Type of Series
The given series is \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{e^{n}+1}{n e^{n}+1} \). This series is not immediately recognized as a standard series like geometric or p-series. Therefore, we must use a test to determine convergence or divergence.
02
Choosing an Appropriate Test
Since the terms \( a_n = \frac{e^{n}+1}{n e^{n}+1} \) involve exponential functions, we will use the Limit Comparison Test to compare it with another known convergent or divergent series, such as \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n} \), a known divergent harmonic series.
03
Applying the Limit Comparison Test
We compare with \( b_n = \frac{1}{n} \). Calculate the limit: \[ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{a_n}{b_n} = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\frac{e^{n}+1}{n e^{n}+1}}{\frac{1}{n}} = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{n(e^n + 1)}{n e^n + 1} \]Simplifying gives:\[ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{e^n + 1}{e^n + \frac{1}{n}} = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{e^n(1 + \frac{1}{e^n})}{e^n(1 + \frac{1}{ne^n})} \]The terms \(\frac{1}{e^n}\) and \(\frac{1}{ne^n}\) approach zero as \(n\to\infty\). Thus, this simplifies to:\[ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{1 + 0}{1 + 0} = 1 \]
04
Interpreting the Limit Comparison Test Result
Since the limit here is 1, and \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n} \) is a divergent series, the Limit Comparison Test tells us that \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{e^{n}+1}{n e^{n}+1} \) also diverges.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Limit Comparison Test
The Limit Comparison Test is a tool used to determine whether a series converges or diverges by comparing it to another series with known behavior. Here's how it works:
- Select a series with terms denoted as \( b_n \), which is known to converge or diverge.
- Find the limit \( \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{a_n}{b_n} \), where \( a_n \) represents the terms of the series in question.
- If this limit is a positive finite number, both series converge or diverge together.
Harmonic Series
The Harmonic Series is one of the simplest examples of a divergent series. It is represented as \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n}\).This series is well-known for its divergence, meaning it does not have a finite sum.
- The partial sums of the harmonic series increase without bound as you add more terms.
- Despite each term getting smaller, the sum grows indefinitely as \( n \) approaches infinity.
Divergent Series
A divergent series is a series that does not converge to a finite limit. Instead, as you sum more and more terms, the total grows without bound or oscillates indefinitely.
- Unlike convergent series, divergent series do not approach a specific finite sum.
- Examples include the harmonic series and many series involving exponential functions or improper fractions.
Exponential Functions
Exponential functions, such as \( e^n \), play a vital role in many mathematical analyses, mainly due to their distinct growth properties:
- They grow very rapidly compared to polynomial functions.
- This rapid growth can often lead to divergence in series where exponential terms are present.