Integral Test And P-Series - LTCC Online

Integral Test and p-Series

The Integral Test

Consider a series S an such that an > 0 and an > an+1 We can plot the points (n,an) on a graph and construct rectangles whose bases are of length 1 and whose heights are of length an. If we can find a continuous function f(x) such that f(n) = an

then notice that the area of these rectangles (light blue plus purple) is an upper Reimann sum for the area under the graph of f(x). Hence Similarly, if we investigate the lower Reimann sum we see that

Since the first term is of a series has no bearing in its convergence or divergence, this proves the following theorem:

Note the contrapositive:

Example:

1. Consider the series:

   We use the Integral Test:

   Let f(x) = 1/x2

   

   Hence by the Integral Test converges.

   What does it converge to? We use a calculator to get 1.635...

2. Consider the series

   We use the Integral Test. Let

   Hence by the Integral Test diverges.

P-Series Test

A special case of the integral test is when 1 an = np for some p. The theorem below discusses this.

Proof:

We use the integral test with the function 1 f(x) = xp

For p not equal to 1, Note that this limit converges if

-p + 1 < 0 or p > 1 The limit diverges for p < 1

For p = 1 we have the harmonic series

and the integral test gives:

Another proof that the harmonic series diverges.

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