Joe Foster

Infinite Series
Sum of an Infinite Sequence: An infinite series is the sum of an infinite sequence of numbers

a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an + · · · .

The goal of this section is to understand the meaning of such an infinite sum and to develop methods to calculate it. Since
there are infinitely many terms to add in an infinite series, we cannot just keep adding to see what comes out. Instead,
we look at the result of summing the first n terms of the sequences,

Sn := a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an .

Sn is called the nth partial sum. As n gets larger, we expect the partial sums to get closer and closer to a limiting value
in the same sense as the terms of a sequence approach a limit.

Example 1: To assign meaning to an expression like

1 1 1 1
1+ + + + + ···
2 4 8 16

we add the terms one at a time from the beginning to look for a pattern in how these partial sums grow:

Partial Sum Value

21 − 1
First: S1 = 1 1=
21−1

1 3 22 − 1
Second: S2 = 1 + = 2−1
2 2 2

1 1 7 23 − 1
Third: S3 = 1 + + = 3−1
2 4 4 2

.. .. ..
. . .

1 1 1 2n − 1
nth : Sn = 1 + + + · · · + n−1
2 4 2 2n−1

2n − 1 2n
   
1 1
S = lim Sn = lim = lim − = lim 2− 2.
n→∞ n→∞ 2n−1 n→∞ 2n−1 2n−1 n→∞ 2n−1

Since the sequence of partial sums converges, the infinite series converges. That is,
∞
X 1 1 1 1 1
=1+ + + + + · · · = 2.
n=1
2n−1 2 4 8 16

Page 1 of 5
MATH 142 - Infinite Series Joe Foster

Definitions: Given a sequence of numbers {an }∞

n=1 , an expression of the form

∞
X
an = a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an + · · ·
n=1

is an infinite series. The number an is the nth term of the series. The sequence {Sn }∞
n=1 defined by

n
X
Sn := an = a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an
n=1

is called the sequence of partial sums of the series, the number Sn being the nth partial sum.

If the sequence of partial sums converges to a limit L, we say that the series converges and that the sum is L. In this case
we write
∞
X
an = a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an + · · · = L.
n=1

If the sequence of partial sums of the series does not converge, we say that the series diverges.

Notation: Sometimes it is nicer, or even more beneficial, to consider sums starting at n = 0 instead. For example, we
can rewrite the series in Example 1 as
∞ ∞
X 1 X 1
= .
n=1
2n−1 n=0
2 n

At times it may also be nicer to start indexing at some number other than n = 0 or n = 1. This idea is called re-indexing
the series (or sequence). So don’t be alarmed if you come across series that do not start at n = 1.

Geometric Series: A geometric series is of the form

∞
X ∞
X
a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + · · · + arn + · · · = arn−1 = arn
n=1 n=0

in which a and r are fixed real numbers and a 6= 0. The ratio r can be positive (as in Example 1) or negative, as in
 n−1 ∞  n−1
1 1 1 1 X 1
1− + − + ···+ − + ··· = − .
3 9 27 3 n=1
3

If r = 1, the nth partial sum of the geometric series is

Sn = aa (1) + a(1)2 + a(1)3 + · · · + a(1)n−1 = na

and the series diverges since lim Sn = lim na = ±∞ (depending on the sign of a).
n→∞ n→∞

If r = −1, the series diverges since the nth partial sums alternate between a and 0.

S1 = a, S2 = a + a(−1) = 0, a + a(−1) = a(−1)2 = a, ...

Page 2 of 5
MATH 142 - Infinite Series Joe Foster

If |r| =
6 1, then we use the following “trick”:

Sn = a + ar + ar2 + · · · + srn−1
=⇒ rSn = ar + ar2 + ar3 + · · · + arn
=⇒Sn − rSn = a − arn
a − arn a(1 − rn )
=⇒ Sn = = .
1−r 1−r
a
If |r| < 1 then rn −→ 0 as n −→ ∞, so Sn −→ . If |r| > 1 then |rn | −→ ∞ as n −→ ∞ and the series diverges.
1−r

Convergence of Geometric Series: If |r| < 1, the geometric series a + ar + ar2 + · · · arn−1 + · · · converges:

∞
X a
arn−1 = , |r| < 1.
n=1
1−r

If |r| ≥ 1, the series diverges.

Example 2: Consider the series

∞
X (−1)n 5
.
n=0
4n

∞ ∞ ∞ n−1
(−1)n 5 X (−1)n−1 5 X

X 1
= = 5 − .
n=0
4n n=1
4n−1 n=1
4

1
So this series is a geometric series with a = 5 and r = − . Since |r| < 1 the series converges and so,
4
∞  n−1
X 1 5
5 − =
= 4
n=1
4 1 − − 14

Example 3: Express the repeating decimal 5.232323 . . . as the ratio of two integers.

23 23 23
5.232323 . . . = 5 + + + + ···
100  1002 1003 
23 1 1
=5+ 1+ + + ···
100 100 1002
∞  n−1
23 X 1 1
=5+ a = 1, r=
100 n=1 100 100
 
23 1
=5+ 1
100 1 − 100
23 100
=5+ ·
100 99
518
=
99

Page 3 of 5
MATH 142 - Infinite Series Joe Foster

Example 4: Find the sum of the telescoping series

∞
X 1
.
n=1
n(n + 1)

If we take the partial sum decomposition,

∞  
X 1 X 1 1
= − ,
n=1
n(n + 1) n=1 n n + 1

then its easy to see that the partial sums are,

       
1✄ 1✄ 1✄ 1✄ 1✄ 1✄ 1 1 n→∞
Sn = 1 − + − + − + ···+ − =1− −→ 1.
✄2 ✄2 ✄3 ✄3 ✄4 ✄
n n+1 n+1

∞
X 1
Since the sequence of partial sums converges, the series converges and so = 1
n=1
n(n + 1)
∞
X
Theorem: If the series an converges, then lim an = 0.
n→∞
n=1

∞ ∞
Suppose {Sn }n=1 converges to L. Then note that {Sn+1 }n=1 also converges to L. So then,

0 = L − L = lim Sn+1 − lim Sn = lim (Sn+1 − Sn ) = lim an+1 = lim an .

n→∞ n→∞ n→∞ n→∞ n→∞

P∞
SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE: This theorem does NOT say that if lim an = 0 then n=1 an converges.
n→∞

∞
X
The nth Term Test for Divergence: The series an diverges if lim an fails to exist or is different from zero.
n→∞
n=1
P∞
SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE: This theorem does NOT say that if lim an = 0 then n=1 an converges.
n→∞

∞
X ∞
X
1. n2 diverges since lim n2 = ∞. 3. (−1)n+1 diverges since lim (−1)n+1 does not ex-
n→∞ n→∞
n=1 n=1
∞
ist.
X n+1 n+1
2. diverges since lim = 1 6= 0.
n=1
n n→∞ n
X
Combining Series: If an = A and bn = B, then

∞
X ∞
X
1) Sum Rule : (an + bn ) = A + B, 2) Constant Multiple Rule : can = cA, for any c ∈ R.
n=1 n=1

Some True Facts:

1. Every non-zero constant multiple of a divergent series diverges.

P
∞
 1 diverges
 n=1


X X X
2. If an converges and bn diverges, then (an ± bn ) diverges.
P∞
 n=1 (−1) diverges

 ∞ (1 + (−1)) = 0
P
X X X n=1
Caution! (an + bn ) can converge when both an and bn diverge!.

Adding/Deleting Terms: Adding/deleting a finite number of terms will not alter the convergence or divergence of a
series.

Page 4 of 5
MATH 142 - Infinite Series Joe Foster

Practice Problems
Determine whether the following series converge or diverge. In the case of convergence, give the sum of the series.

∞ ∞ ∞
X 1 X X 2
1. 8. 0.8n−1 − 0.3n 15.
n=1
2n n=1 n=2
n2 −1
∞ ∞ ∞
n2 + 1
 
X n+1 X X 2
2. 9. ln 16.
n=1
2n −3 n=1
2n2 + 1 n=1
n 2 + 4n + 3

∞ ∞ ∞
X n2 X X 3
3. 10. cosn (1) 17.
n=2
n2 − 1 n=1 n=1
n(n + 3)
∞ ∞ ∞  
X n(n + 2) X
−1
X n
4. 11. tan (n) 18. ln
n=1
(n + 3)2 n=1 n=1
n+1
∞ ∞  ∞ 
1 + 2n

X X 3 2 X 
5. 12. + 19. e1/n − e1/(n+1)
n=1
3n n=1
5n n n=1
∞ ∞  ∞ 
1 + 3n
    
X X 1 1 X 1 1
6. 13. + 20. cos − cos
n=1
2n n=1
en n(n + 1) n=1
n2 (n + 1)2
∞
X √ X∞
en
∞
X
7. 2 14. 21. 6(0.9)n−1
n

n=1 n=1
n2 n=1

Write the following numbers as a ratio of two integers.

22 0.222222 . . . 24 3.417417 . . . 26 1.53424242 . . .

23 0.737373 . . . 25 6.2545454 . . . 27 7.1234512345 . . .

Solutions to Practice Problems

1. Diverges 11. Diverges 20. cos(1) − 1

2. Diverges 12. Diverges 21. 60

3. Diverges e 2
13. 22.
e−1 9
4. Diverges
14. Diverges 73
5 23.
5. 3 99
2 15.
2 1138
6. Diverges 24.
5 333
16.
7. Diverges 6 344
25.
32 11 55
8. 17.
7 6 5063
26.
9. Diverges 18. Diverges 3300
cos(1) 237, 446
10. 19. e − 1 27.
1 − cos(1) 33, 333

Page 5 of 5