Cauchy integral test

Statement: The function f(x) is non-negative monotonic decreasing function of x

such that un = f(x) for all n. Then the infinite series∑∞
𝑛=1 𝑢𝑛 and the
∞
integral∫1 𝑓(𝑥) dx converges or diverges together.

Ex 2.5

Test the convergent and divergent of the series

1
(1) ∑∞
1 2𝑥+3

1
Solution: Here 𝑢𝑛 =
2𝑥+3

1 1
Then 𝑢1 = =
2.1+3 5

1 1 1 1 1 1
𝑢2 = = , 𝑢3 = = , 𝑢4 = =
2.2+3 7 2.3+3 9 2.4+3 11

1 1 1 1
∑ 𝑢𝑛 = + + + +⋯
5 7 9 11

Which is monotonic decreasing function so that 𝑢𝑛 = 𝑓 (𝑛) = 𝑓(𝑥)

1
i.e 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
2𝑥+3

So, Cauchy integral test is applicable

∞ ∞ 1
We have, ∫1 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 = ∫1 𝑑𝑥
2𝑥+3

= [log (2𝑥 + 3)]1∞

= 𝑙𝑜𝑔∞ − 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 = ∞
∞
∫1 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 is divergent. Given series is divergent.
1
(4) ∑∞
1 𝑛2 +1

1
Solution: 𝑢𝑛 =
𝑛2 +1
1 1 1 1 1 1
Then 𝑢1 = = , 𝑢2 = = , 𝑢3 = =
12 +1 2 22 +1 5 32 +1 10

1 1 1 1
∑ 𝑢𝑛 = + + + +⋯
2 5 10 16

1
Which is monotonic decreasing function so that 𝑢𝑛 = 𝑓 (𝑛) = 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥 2 +1

By Cauchy integral test

∞ ∞ 1
∫1 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 = ∫1 𝑥 2 +1
𝑑𝑥

= [tan−1(𝑥)]1∞

= tan−1(∞) − tan−1(1)
𝜋 𝜋
= −
2 4
𝜋
=
4

Which is finite. It is convergent series.

Alternating series: If the terms of an infinite series are alternately positive and
negative then the series is called alternating series. A series defined by

∑∞
𝟏 (−𝟏)
𝒏+𝟏
𝒖𝒏 = 𝒖𝟏 − 𝒖𝟐 + 𝒖𝟑 − 𝒖𝟒 + ⋯ is called alternating series
1 1 1 1
Example: 1 − + − + − ⋯ is alternating series.
2 3 4 5

Leibnitz’s theorem:
Statement: If the terms of an infinite series defined by

∑∞
1 (−1)
𝑛+1
𝑢𝑛 = 𝑢1 − 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 − 𝑢4 + … are alternately positive and negative.
Each term is numerically less than preceding term. Then the series is convergent if

lim 𝑢𝑛 = 0
𝑛→∞

Proof: Let the series be denoted by 𝑢1 − 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 − 𝑢4 + ⋯where 𝑢1 > 𝑢2 , 𝑢3 >

𝑢4 , 𝑢5 > 𝑢6 , …. Consider 𝑠2𝑛 , the sum of 2n terms.
𝑠2𝑛 = 𝑢1 − 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 − 𝑢4 + 𝑢5 − 𝑢6 + ⋯ 𝑢2𝑛−1 − 𝑢2𝑛

𝑠2𝑛 = (𝑢1 − 𝑢2 ) + (𝑢3 − 𝑢4 ) + (𝑢5 − 𝑢6 ) + ⋯ (𝑢2𝑛−1 − 𝑢2𝑛 ) … (1)

Since 𝑢1 > 𝑢2 > 𝑢3 > 𝑢4 > 𝑢5 > 𝑢6 , ….. The expression in each bracket is
positive and 𝑠2𝑛 is always positive. The series (1) can also be written as

𝑠2𝑛 = 𝑢1 − [(𝑢2 − 𝑢3 ) + (𝑢4 − 𝑢5 ) + 𝑢2𝑛 ]

Since the expression in each bracket is positive and therefore 𝑠2𝑛 < 𝑢1 which is a
finite quantity. So 𝑠2𝑛 must tend to finite limit.

Let lim 𝑠2𝑛 = lim 𝑠2𝑛+1 = 𝑠 (a finite quantity)

𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞

We know

𝑢2𝑛+1 = 𝑠2𝑛+1 − 𝑠2𝑛

lim 𝑢2𝑛+1 = lim 𝑠2𝑛+1 − lim 𝑠2𝑛

𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞

=𝑠−𝑠

=0

lim 𝑢2𝑛 = 0
𝑛→∞

lim 𝑢𝑛 = 0. Proved
𝑛→∞

Example: Test the convergent of

1 1 1 1
1− + − + −⋯
2 3 4 5

Solution: The terms of an infinite series are alternately positive and negative. Each
term is numerically less than preceding term i.e 𝑢𝑛+1 < 𝑢𝑛 . The general term is
given by
1
𝑢𝑛 =
𝑛

1
lim 𝑢𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛
1
=
∞
=0

Hence by Leibnitz’s theorem it satisfies all three conditions. So, it is convergent

series.

Example: Test the convergence of the series

3 4 5
2− + − +⋯
2 3 4

Solution: In the given series

(1) The terms are alternately positive and negative

(2) Each term is numerically less than preceding term.
𝑛+1
(3) General term 𝑢𝑛 =
𝑛
𝑛+1
lim 𝑢𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛
=1
The third condition of alternating series test is not satisfied. The series is
oscillatory.

Absolute convergence: An infinite series ∑ 𝑢𝑛 is said to be absolutely convergent

if ∑|𝑢𝑛 | is convergent where |𝑢𝑛 | denotes the absolute value of 𝑢𝑛 .

Example: The series is

1 1 1
1− + − +⋯
22 32 42
1 1 1
Here ∑ 𝑢𝑛 = 1 − + − +⋯
22 32 42

1 1 1
∑|𝑢𝑛 | = 1 + + + +⋯
22 32 42
Which is convergent by p-test (p = 2 > 1). Given series is convergent.
Notes

(1) Every absolute convergent series is also convergent.

(2) A convergent is not necessarily absolutely convergent.

Semi convergent or conditionally convergent:

An infinite series ∑ 𝑢𝑛 is said to be semi convergent or conditionally convergent if

∑ 𝑢𝑛 is convergent while ∑|𝑢𝑛 | is divergent.

Example: Prove that the given series is semi convergent

1 1 1
1− + − +⋯
√2 √3 √4
Solution: We have
1 1 1
∑ 𝑢𝑛 = 1 − + − +⋯
√2 √3 √4
The terms of an infinite series are alternately positive and negative. Each term is
numerically less than preceding term (𝑢𝑛+1 < 𝑢𝑛 ). The general term is
1
𝑢𝑛 =
√𝑛
1
Taking limit, we get lim 𝑢𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ √𝑛2

=0

Hence by Leibnitz’s theorem it is convergent.

Again
1 1 1
∑|𝑢𝑛 | = 1 + + + +⋯
√2 √3 √4
1 1 1
=1+ 1+ 1 + 1+⋯
22 32 42
Which is divergent by p-test (p = 0.5 < 1 )

∑|𝑢𝑛 | is divergent series. Since ∑ 𝑢𝑛 is convergent series while ∑|𝑢𝑛 | is divergent

series. Hence given series is semi convergent or conditionally convergent.

Example: Prove that given series is absolutely convergent

1 1 1
1− + − +⋯
2√2 3√3 4√4
1 1 1
Solution: ∑ 𝑢𝑛 = 1 − + − +. .
2√2 3√3 4√4

1 1 1
=1− 3 + 3 − 3 +⋯
22 32 42

Terms are alternately +ve and –ve, 𝑢𝑛+1 < 𝑢𝑛 and general term is
1
𝑢𝑛 =
𝑛√𝑛
1
lim 𝑢𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛√𝑛

=0

Therefore, it is convergent series by Leibnitz’s theorem.

Again
1 1 1
∑|𝑢𝑛 | = 1 + 3 + 3 + 3+⋯
22 32 42
Which is convergent series by p-test (p = 1.5 > 1). Since ∑ 𝑢𝑛 is convergent series
while ∑|𝑢𝑛 | is also convergent. Hence given series is absolutely convergent.

Ex 2.5

Test the convergent or divergent of the series

(−1)𝑛−1
(7) ∑∞
1
𝑛
5−𝑛
Solution: we have

𝑛(−1)𝑛−1
𝑢𝑛 =
5−𝑛
1(−1)1−1 2(−1)2−1
𝑢1 = = 5, 𝑢2 = = −50
5−1 5−2
3(−1)3−1
𝑢3 = = 375
5−3

∑ 𝑢𝑛 = 5 − 50 + 375 − ⋯

The terms are alternately positive and negative but each term is not less than
preceding term. Then Leibnitz’s theorem is not applicable.
𝑛
Let |𝑢𝑛 | =
5−𝑛

𝑛+1
|𝑢𝑛+1 | =
5−𝑛−1
By ratio test,
𝑛+1
𝑢𝑛+1 −𝑛−1
lim | | = lim 5 𝑛
𝑛→∞ 𝑢𝑛 𝑛→∞
5−𝑛
(𝑛 + 1)5−𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 5−𝑛−1 . 𝑛

=5>1

It is divergent series.
𝑛
(15) ∑∞
1 (−1)
𝑛+1
𝑛3 +1

𝑛
𝑢𝑛 = (−1)𝑛+1
𝑛3 + 1
1 2 3 4
𝑢1 = , 𝑢2 = − , 𝑢3 = , 𝑢4 = −
2 9 28 65
1 2 3 4
∑ 𝑢𝑛 = − + − +⋯
2 9 28 65
Terms are alternately positive and negative and 𝑢𝑛+1 < 𝑢𝑛 . General term is
𝑛
𝑢𝑛 =
𝑛3 + 1
𝑛
lim 𝑢𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛3 + 1

𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛3 (1 + )
𝑛3
1
= lim
𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛2 (1 + )
𝑛3
=0

By Leibnitz’s theorem, it is convergent. This implies that ∑ 𝑢𝑛 is convergent.

Again
1 2 3 4
∑|𝑢𝑛 | = + + + +⋯
2 9 28 65
𝑛
General term |𝑢𝑛 | = = 𝑣𝑛 (let)
𝑛3 +1

Now
𝑛
lim 𝑣𝑛 = lim
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 𝑛3 +1
𝑛
= lim
𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛3 (1 + )
𝑛3
1
== lim
𝑛→∞ 1
𝑛2 (1 + )
𝑛3
=0
1
𝑣𝑛 may be convergent. Let us choose another infinite series 𝑤𝑛 = which is
𝑛2
convergent by p-test (p = 2 > 1)

By comparison test

𝑣𝑛 1 𝑛2
lim = lim .
𝑛→∞ 𝑤𝑛 𝑛→∞ 2 1 1
𝑛 (1 + 3 )
𝑛
=1

Which is finite and non-zero. Then 𝑣𝑛 = ∑|𝑢𝑛 | is also convergent. Hence given
series is absolutely convergent.