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If r < 1, then the series converges absolutely. If r > 1, then the series diverges. If r = 1, the root test is inconclusive, and the series may converge or diverge. The root test is stronger than the ratio test: whenever the ratio test determines the convergence or divergence of an infinite series, the root test does too, but not conversely. [1]
is used for the series, and, if it is convergent, to its sum. This convention is similar to that which is used for addition: a + b denotes the operation of adding a and b as well as the result of this addition, which is called the sum of a and b. Any series that is not convergent is said to be divergent or to diverge.
[4] [10] This is because if Σa n is convergent, a second convergent series Σb n can be found which converges more slowly: i.e., it has the property that lim n->∞ (b n /a n) = ∞. Furthermore, if Σa n is divergent, a second divergent series Σb n can be found which diverges more slowly: i.e., it has the property that lim n->∞ (b n /a n) = 0.
The more general class of p-series, =, exemplifies the possible results of the test: If p ≤ 0, then the nth-term test identifies the series as divergent. If 0 < p ≤ 1, then the nth-term test is inconclusive, but the series is divergent by the integral test for convergence.
The addition of two divergent series may yield a convergent series: for instance, the addition of a divergent series with a series of its terms times will yield a series of all zeros that converges to zero. However, for any two series where one converges and the other diverges, the result of their addition diverges.
If a series is convergent but not absolutely convergent, it is called conditionally convergent. An example of a conditionally convergent series is the alternating harmonic series. Many standard tests for divergence and convergence, most notably including the ratio test and the root test, demonstrate absolute convergence.
The Cauchy convergence test is a method used to test infinite series for convergence. It relies on bounding sums of terms in the series. It relies on bounding sums of terms in the series. This convergence criterion is named after Augustin-Louis Cauchy who published it in his textbook Cours d'Analyse 1821.
In mathematics, Dirichlet's test is a method of testing for the convergence of a series that is especially useful for proving conditional convergence. It is named after its author Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet , and was published posthumously in the Journal de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées in 1862.