After completing this section, students should be able to do the following.

  • Understand why bounds for remainders are necessary.
  • Approximate the value of a series that converges by the alternating series test.
  • Approximate the value of a series that converges by the integral test.
  • Estimate the value of a convergent series by a term in the sequence of partial sums.
  • Understand when a better approximation can be produced by using the sequence of partial sums and error bounds.