Chapter 9: Problem 54
Which series converge, and which diverge? Give reasons for your answers. If a series converges, find its sum. $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{\cos n \pi}{5^{n}}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The series converges and its sum is \( \frac{5}{6} \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Series
The given series is \( \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{\cos n \pi}{5^{n}} \). Notice that \( \cos n \pi \) alternates between 1 and -1 as \( n \) changes, thus focusing only on the denominator \( 5^{n} \).
02
Recognize the Alternating Series
Since \( \cos n \pi = (-1)^{n} \), the series can be rewritten as \( \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{n}}{5^{n}} \). This is an alternating series because the term changes sign with each successive term.
03
Check Convergence with Alternating Series Test
An alternating series \( \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^n a_n \) converges if \( a_n \) is decreasing and \( \lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = 0 \). Here, \( a_n = \frac{1}{5^{n}} \), which is a decreasing sequence approaching 0 as \( n \) approaches infinity.
04
Determine the Sum Form
Since the series is a form of geometric series \( \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} ar^n \) with \( a = 1 \) and \( r = -\frac{1}{5} \), its sum when \(|r| < 1\) is given by \( \frac{a}{1-r} \).
05
Calculate the Sum of the Series
Apply the sum formula for a geometric series: \( \text{Sum} = \frac{1}{1-(-\frac{1}{5})} = \frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{5}} = \frac{1}{\frac{6}{5}} = \frac{5}{6} \). Thus, the series converges to \( \frac{5}{6} \).
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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 series whose terms alternate between positive and negative. This happens due to the presence of a factor like \((-1)^n\) in each term. Such a factor changes the sign of each term based on whether \(n\) is even or odd. For example, consider the series \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{n}}{5^{n}}\:\
- When \(n\) is even, \((-1)^n = 1\), so the term is positive.
- When \(n\) is odd, \((-1)^n = -1\), so the term flips and becomes negative.
Geometric Series
A geometric series is characterized by each term being a constant multiple, or ratio, of the previous term. Its general form is \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} ar^n\. Here, \(a\) is the first term, and \(r\) is the common ratio. An important property of geometric series is its convergence criteria:
- The series converges if the absolute value of the common ratio is less than 1, i.e., \|r| < 1\.
- If it converges, the sum of the series is given by \frac{a}{1-r}\.
Alternating Series Test
The Alternating Series Test is a powerful tool for determining the convergence of alternating series. This test tells us that an alternating series \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^n a_n\ converges if two conditions are met:
- The sequence \((a_n)\) is decreasing, meaning each term is smaller than the previous one.
- As \(n\) approaches infinity, the term \(a_n\) approaches zero precisely, i.e., \lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = 0\.
- \(\frac{1}{5^n}\) is a decreasing sequence because as \(n\) increases, \(5^n\) grows, making each fraction smaller.
- Furthermore, the limit \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{1}{5^{n}} = 0\, confirming the convergence of the series.