GRE Subject Test: Math : Limits of Sequences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Concepts Of Convergence And Divergence

There are 2 series, \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}a_{n}\) and \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}b_{n}\), and they are both convergent. Is \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}a_{n} + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}b_{n}\) convergent, divergent, or inconclusive?

Possible Answers:

Inconclusive

Convergent

Divergent

Correct answer:

Convergent

Explanation:

Infinite series can be added and subtracted with each other.

\(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}a_{n} + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}b_{n} = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}( a_{n} + b_{n})\)

Since the 2 series are convergent, the sum of the convergent infinite series is also convergent.

 

Note: The starting value, in this case n=1, must be the same before adding infinite series together.

Example Question #2 : Concepts Of Convergence And Divergence

You have a divergent series \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}\) , and you multiply it by a constant 10. Is the new series \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}10* a_{n}\) convergent or divergent?

Possible Answers:

Inconclusive

Convergent

Divergent

Correct answer:

Divergent

Explanation:

This is a fundamental property of series.

For any constant c, if \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}\) is convergent then \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} c*a_{n}\) is convergent, and if \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}\) is divergent, \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} c* a_{n}\) is divergent.

 

\(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}\) is divergent in the question, and the constant c is 10 in this case, so \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} 10*a_{n}\) is also divergent.

Example Question #31 : Introduction To Series In Calculus

There are 2 series \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \left(\frac{3}{7}\right)^n\)and \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\left(\frac{5}{11}\right)^n\).

Is the sum of these 2 infinite series convergent, divergent, or inconclusive?

Possible Answers:

Inconclusive

Divergent

Convergent

Correct answer:

Convergent

Explanation:

A way to find out if the sum of the 2 infinite series is convergent or not is to find out whether the individual infinite series are convergent or not.

Test the first series 

\(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \left(\frac{3}{7}\right)^n\).

This is a geometric series with \(\displaystyle r = \frac{3}{7} < 1\).

By the geometric test, this series is convergent.

 

Test the second series 

\(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\left(\frac{5}{11}\right)^n\).

This is a geometric series with \(\displaystyle r = \frac{5}{11} < 1\).

By the geometric test, this series is convergent.

 

Since both of the series are convergent, \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \left(\frac{3}{7}\right)^n + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\left(\frac{5}{11}\right)^n\) is also convergent. 

Example Question #21 : Convergence And Divergence

Find the radius of convergence for the power series

\(\displaystyle \small \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(n!)^2x^n}{(2n)!}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small \small R=\frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \small R=4\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small R=2\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small R=\infty\)

\(\displaystyle \small R=0\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small R=4\)

Explanation:

We can use the limit

\(\displaystyle \small \lim_{n\to\infty} \left| \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right|\)

to find the radius of convergence. We have

\(\displaystyle \small \small \lim_{n\to\infty} \left| \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right|=\lim \left| \frac{x^{n+1}[(n+1)!]^2}{(2(n+1))!} \frac{(2n!)}{(n!)^2x^n}\right|\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small \small \small =\lim |x|\left| \frac{(2n)!}{(2n+2)!} \frac{[(n+1)!]^2}{(n!)^2}\right|=\lim |x|\left| \frac{(n+1)(n+1)}{(2n+1)(2n+2)}\right|=\frac{|x|}{4}< 1\)

\(\displaystyle \small \implies |x|< 4=R\)

This means the radius of convergence is \(\displaystyle \small R=4\).

Example Question #13 : Series Of Constants

Determine if the following series is divergent, convergent or neither.

 \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{n!}{2^{n+1}}\)

Possible Answers:

Both

Divergent

Convergent

Neither

Inconclusive

Correct answer:

Divergent

Explanation:

In order to figure if 

\(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{n!}{2^{n+1}}\)

is convergent, divergent or neither, we need to use the ratio test.

Remember that the ratio test is as follows.

Suppose we have a series \(\displaystyle \sum a_n\). We define,

\(\displaystyle L=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\left | \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right |\)

Then if 

\(\displaystyle L< 1\), the series is absolutely convergent.

\(\displaystyle L>1\), the series is divergent.

\(\displaystyle L=1\), the series may be divergent, conditionally convergent, or absolutely convergent.

Now lets apply the ratio test to our problem.

Let  

\(\displaystyle a_n=\frac{n!}{2^{n+1}}\)

and

\(\displaystyle a_{n+1}=\frac{{(n+1)!}}{2^{(n+1)+1}}=\frac{(n +1)!}{2^{n+2}}\)

Now 

\(\displaystyle L=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\left | \frac{\frac{(n+1)!}{2^{n+2}}}{\frac{n!}{2^{n+1}}} \right |\)

\(\displaystyle =\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\left | \frac{2^{n+1}(n+1)!}{2^{n+2}n!} \right |\).

Now lets simplify this expression to 

\(\displaystyle =\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\left | \frac{n+1}{2} \right |\)

\(\displaystyle =\frac{1}{2}\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\left | n+1 \right |\)

\(\displaystyle =\frac{1}{2}*\infty=\infty\).

Since \(\displaystyle \infty>1\),

we have sufficient evidence to conclude that the series is divergent.

 

Example Question #31 : Types Of Series

Calculate the sum of the following infinite geometric series:

\(\displaystyle \sum_{k=0}^{\infty}17\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^k\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{102}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{104}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{101}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{103}{5}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{102}{5}\)

Explanation:

This is an infinite geometric series.

The sum of an infinite geometric series can be calculated with the following formula,

\(\displaystyle S = \frac{a_{1}}{1-r}\) , where \(\displaystyle a_{1}\) is the first value of the summation, and r is the common ratio.

Solution:

Value of \(\displaystyle a_{1}\) can be found by setting \(\displaystyle k = 0\)

\(\displaystyle a_{1}=17\)

r is the value contained in the exponent

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{1}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle S=\frac{a_{1}}{1-r}\)

 \(\displaystyle S=\frac{17}{1-\frac{1}{6}} = \frac{17*6}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle S=\frac{102}{5}\)

 

Example Question #7 : Sequences & Series

Determine how many terms need to be added to approximate the following series within \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{1000}\)

\(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^n\frac{4}{(n!)^2}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4\)

Explanation:

This is an alternating series test.

In order to find the terms necessary to approximate the series within \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{1000}\) first see if the series is convergent using the alternating series test. If the series converges, find n such that \(\displaystyle b_{n+1} < \frac{1}{1000}\)

Step 1:

An alternating series can be identified because terms in the series will “alternate” between + and –, because of \(\displaystyle (-1)^n\)

Note: Alternating Series Test can only show convergence. It cannot show divergence.

If the following 2 tests are true, the alternating series converges.

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = (-1)^n * b_{n}\)

  1.        \(\displaystyle \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} b_{n} = 0\)
  2.        {\(\displaystyle b_{n}\)} is a decreasing sequence, or in other words \(\displaystyle b_{n=1}' < 0\)

Solution:

\(\displaystyle b_{n}=\frac{4}{(n!)^2}\)

1. \(\displaystyle \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}b_{n}\)

\(\displaystyle \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}\frac{4}{(n!)^2} =0\)

2. {\(\displaystyle b_{n}\)} is a decreasing functon, since a factorial never decreases.

Since the 2 tests pass, this series is convergent.

Step 2:

Plug in n values until \(\displaystyle b_{n+1} < \frac{1}{1000}\)

\(\displaystyle b_{4}=\frac{4}{(4!)^2}=\frac{1}{144} > \frac{1}{1000}\)

\(\displaystyle b_{5}=\frac{4}{(5!)^2}=\frac{1}{3600} < \frac{1}{1000}\)

4 needs to be added to approximate the sum within \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{1000}\).

Example Question #8 : Sequences & Series

Evaluate: \(\displaystyle \large \large \sum_{x=1}^{10} \frac {1}{n}\). (Round to 4 places)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \large \large 2.9289\)

\(\displaystyle \large \large \large 2.929\)

\(\displaystyle \large \large 2.92903\)

\(\displaystyle \large 2.92897\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \large \large \large 2.929\)

Explanation:

Step 1: Plug in values into the function and add up the fraction:

\(\displaystyle \large 1+\frac {1}{2}+\frac {1}{3}+\frac {1}{4}+\frac {1}{5}+\frac {1}{6}+\frac {1}{7}+\frac {1}{8}+\frac {1}{9}+\frac {1}{10}\)

Step 2: Find the sum of the fractions....

We can convert the fractions to decimals:

\(\displaystyle \large 1+.5+.3333+.25+.2+.1666+.142857+.125+.1111+.1\)

\(\displaystyle \large =2.92896\)

Step 3: Round to \(\displaystyle \large 4\) places...

\(\displaystyle \large \large 2.92896 \implies 2.9290\implies 2.929\)

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