Let
Is positive and continuous on the interval ? Yes No
The derivative,
Is decreasing on the interval ? Yes No
Evaluate the improper integral:
Does the infinite series converge or diverge? Converge Diverge
We determine the convergence or divergence of an infinite series using a related improper integral.
Integral Test
Integral Test Suppose that the function is positive, continuous, and decreasing on
the interval , and suppose that the terms of an infinite series are given by the
corresponding function values, i.e., .
Then the improper integral and the associated infinite series both converge or both diverge. In other words, the behavior of the improper integral determines the behavior of the associated series.
Then the improper integral and the associated infinite series both converge or both diverge. In other words, the behavior of the improper integral determines the behavior of the associated series.
It is sufficient for the function to be decreasing eventually, i.e., on an interval of the
form for some number .
The rationale for the integral test is that both the improper integral and the the sum of an infinite series can be interpreted as the area under a graph. Moreover, these areas will be comparable. Hence, we can use the logic of the comparison theorem of improper integrals: “less than convergent is convergent and greater than divergent is divergent”. The two figures below show that if the function satisfies the hypotheses of the integral test and if , then we can use the behavior of the integral to make conclusions about the behavior of the series.
example 1 Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
Consider the function, Note that . This function is positive and continuous on the interval . To check that is decreasing, we need to verify that on the interval . Recall that if the derivative is negative then the function is decreasing. By the quotient rule, which is negative on the interval . Thus is decreasing on this interval. Having verified that the conditions of the Integral Test are met, we compute the improper integral: The improper integral converges, so by the Integral Test, the associated infinite series also converges.
Consider the function, Note that . This function is positive and continuous on the interval . To check that is decreasing, we need to verify that on the interval . Recall that if the derivative is negative then the function is decreasing. By the quotient rule, which is negative on the interval . Thus is decreasing on this interval. Having verified that the conditions of the Integral Test are met, we compute the improper integral: The improper integral converges, so by the Integral Test, the associated infinite series also converges.
(problem 1a) Use the integral test to determine whether the infinite series converges
or diverges.
(problem 1b) Use the integral test to determine whether the infinite series converges
or diverges.
Let
Is positive and continuous on the interval ?Yes No
The derivative,
Is decreasing on the interval ? Yes No
Evaluate the improper integral:
Does the infinite series converge or diverge?Converge Diverge
example 2 Determine whether the series converges or diverges.
Consider the function so that . This function is positive and continuous on the interval . To see that the function is decreasing, compute the derivative: which is negative if . Hence is eventually decreasing and we can use the integral test: The improper integral diverges, so by the Integral Test, the associated infinite series also diverges.
Consider the function so that . This function is positive and continuous on the interval . To see that the function is decreasing, compute the derivative: which is negative if . Hence is eventually decreasing and we can use the integral test: The improper integral diverges, so by the Integral Test, the associated infinite series also diverges.
(problem 2a) Use the integral test to determine whether the infinite series converges
or diverges.
Let
Is positive and continuous on the interval ?Yes No
The derivative,
Is decreasing on the interval ? Yes No
Evaluate the improper integral:
Does the infinite series converge or diverge? Converge Diverge
(problem 2b) Use the integral test to determine whether the infinite series converges
or diverges.
Let
Is positive and continuous on the interval ?Yes No
The derivative,
Is decreasing on the interval ? Yes No
Evaluate the improper integral (hint, use integration by parts):
Does the infinite series converge or diverge? Converge Diverge
p-series Let . The infinite series is called a -series. In the special case , the series is
known as the harmonic series.
We have seen in the section on improper integrals that the -integral
converges if and diverges if . Since the function is continuous, positive, and decreasing on the interval , the integral test can be applied to conclude that the associated -series has the same behavior. This is stated in the following theorem.
If the series starts at some number , then we shall still refer to the series as a -series,
and the behavior is the same as if it started at .
Video Lesson
Here is a detailed, lecture style video on the Integral Test:
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