Chapter 10: Problem 59
Suppose that \(a_{n}>0\) and \(b_{n}>0\) for \(n \geq N(N\) an integer). If \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left(a_{n} / b_{n}\right)=\infty\) and \(\sum a_{n}\) converges, can anything be said about \(\sum b_{n} ?\) Give reasons for your answer.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The series \(\sum b_n\) diverges.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem Setup
We are given two sequences, \(a_n\) and \(b_n\), both greater than zero for sufficiently large \(n\). We know that the limit \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{a_n}{b_n} = \infty\) and that the series \(\sum a_n\) converges. We need to determine what can be said about the convergence or divergence of the series \(\sum b_n\).
02
Analyze the Implications of the Limit
The condition \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{a_n}{b_n} = \infty\) implies that \(\frac{a_n}{b_n}\) becomes arbitrarily large as \(n\) increases. This suggests that \(a_n\) is much larger than \(b_n\) for large \(n\). Mathematically, this means \(b_n\) is much smaller than \(a_n\) as \(n\) becomes large.
03
Apply Comparison Test for Series
Since \(a_n\) is much larger than \(b_n\), and \(\sum a_n\) converges, \(b_n\) is squeezed to be smaller than terms that converge absolutely. If \(a_n \geq M \cdot b_n\) for some positive constant \(M\) and sufficiently large \(n\), \(\sum b_n\) should converge by comparison because the terms are dominated by convergent series terms. However, \(\frac{a_n}{b_n}\) tends to infinity suggests \(b_n\) must be tending towards zero faster, but not sufficient enough to make the series \(\sum b_n\) converge by itself.
04
Draw Conclusion based on Series Behavior
Given that \(a_n\) tends to zero and that \(b_n\) does so even more rapidly, the series \(\sum b_n\) cannot converge. The rapid convergence of terms \(a_n\) assures that increasing values will not be canceled by \(b_n\). Thus, \(\sum b_n\) diverges as its corresponding sequence terms do not trend towards a limit necessary for convergence.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Comparison Test
The Comparison Test is a method used to determine whether a series converges or diverges by comparing it with another series. If you have a series \( \sum a_n \) and you know it converges, you can use another series \( \sum b_n \) to determine the same for it. For the Comparison Test:
- If \( a_n \leq b_n \) for every \( n \) from some point on, and \( \sum b_n \) converges, then \( \sum a_n \) also converges.
- Conversely, if \( a_n \geq b_n \) and \( \sum a_n \) diverges, \( \sum b_n \) also diverges.
Convergence
Convergence of a series \( \sum a_n \) means that as you sum the terms, the total approaches a specific number. In formal terms, if the partial sums \( S_N = a_1 + a_2 + \cdots + a_N \) approach a finite limit as \( N \to \infty \), the series converges.This is crucial when evaluating a series like \( \sum a_n \). If we know it converges, it tells us the terms \( a_n \) themselves become very small, diminishing towards zero as \( n \) increases. This convergence information was not sufficient to conclude the same for \( \sum b_n \) as even with \( b_n \to 0 \), different factors in size and tendency can alter convergence behavior drastically.
Divergence
A series \( \sum b_n \) diverges if the partial sums \( S_N = b_1 + b_2 + \cdots + b_N \) do not approach a fixed number as \( N \to \infty \). This means that adding more terms keeps changing the sum's value infinitely. Divergence implies that the adding process continues without settling.In the exercise, the fact that \( \frac{a_n}{b_n} \rightarrow \infty \) and \( \sum a_n \) converges, points towards the possibility of \( \sum b_n \) diverging. This happens because although \( b_n \) becomes smaller as \( n \to \infty \), it might not decrease swiftly enough to counterbalance the endless addition of more terms.
Limit of a Sequence
Understanding the limit of a sequence is foundational when studying convergence and divergence. The sequence \( \{b_n\} \) is said to have a limit \( L \) as \( n \to \infty \) if \( b_n \to L \). This essentially means that the terms \( b_n \) get closer and closer to \( L \) as \( n \) increases.In our particular instance, since \( \frac{a_n}{b_n} \to \infty \), this indicates that \( a_n \) is larger relative to \( b_n \), making \( b_n \to 0 \) faster. However, the precise rate of \( b_n \) approaching zero can determine if the series \( \sum b_n \) will converge or diverge, leading to the conclusion that \( \sum b_n \) diverges due to insufficient decay rate.