Chapter 9: Problem 56
If \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}\) is a convergent series of nonnegative numbers, can anything be said about \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\left(a_{n} / n\right) ?\) Explain.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_{n}}{n} \) converges.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
We are given a convergent series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n} \) with nonnegative terms, and we need to investigate the convergence of the series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_{n}}{n} \). The key here is that the terms \( a_n \) are nonnegative, and we want to see how the denominator \( n \) affects the convergence.
02
Convergence Implication by Comparison
Given that \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n} \) converges, we know that the terms \( a_n \) must get small enough quickly enough for the series to converge. If the terms are nonnegative and a series converges, then for large \( n \), \( a_n \to 0 \). In \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_n}{n} \), the terms are smaller than those in \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n \) by a factor of \( n \).
03
Application of the Limit Comparison Test
Consider using the Limit Comparison Test with the convergent series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n} \) and the new series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_{n}}{n} \). For large \( n \), test whether \( \frac{a_{n}/n}{a_{n}} = \frac{1}{n} \to 0 \), indicating that the terms in \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_{n}}{n} \) are significantly smaller than those in your reference series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n} \).
04
Implication of Non-Increasing Sequence
The series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_n}{n} \) involves terms \( \frac{a_n}{n} \) that decrease more rapidly than just \( a_n \) due to the division by \( n \). Thus, \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_{n}}{n} \) also converges since the terms become even smaller and the original series already converges.
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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 valuable tool in determining the convergence of a series. It allows us to compare a given series to another series whose convergence is already known.
- If you have two series, say \( \sum a_n \) and \( \sum b_n \), the Limit Comparison Test states that if \( \lim_{{n \to \infty}} \frac{a_n}{b_n} = c \), where \( 0 < c < \infty \), then either both series converge or both diverge.
- This test is particularly useful when evaluating the series \( \sum \frac{a_n}{n} \) when we know \( \sum a_n \) converges. We compare it to \( \sum \frac{1}{n} \), a well-known divergent series.
- If \( \frac{a_n}{b_n} \) becomes significantly smaller than 1 as \( n \to \infty \), it suggests that \( \sum \frac{a_n}{n} \) converges more easily than \( \sum a_n \).
Convergent Series
A convergent series is a sequence of numbers that sum up to a finite value as the number of terms grows to infinity.
- A series \( \sum a_n \) converges if the sequence of partial sums \( S_n = a_1 + a_2 + ... + a_n \) approaches a finite limit as \( n \) becomes very large.
- For a series to be convergent, it is crucial that the terms \( a_n \) decrease towards zero as \( n \) increases.
- Not every series with terms going to zero is convergent. The famous harmonic series \( \sum \frac{1}{n} \) is a classic example of divergence despite the terms tending closer to zero.
Nonnegative Terms
Nonnegative terms in a series imply that each term is zero or positive. This property simplifies the study of the series' convergence.
- Nonnegative terms ensure that the series \( \sum a_n \) is monotonically increasing, which simplifies the analysis of convergence.
- When terms are nonnegative, partial sums consistently grow or remain the same, providing a clearer path to deducing whether the series converges or diverges.
- For a convergent series with nonnegative terms, the partial sums do not oscillate and always have a definite upper bound.