MATH 131A, FALL 2006

HOMEWORK 8 SOLUTIONS

3.7, ex. 3: (b) Since

1 1 1
= − ,
(α + n)(α + n + 1) α+n α+n+1
it follows that the nth partial sum equals:
n
X 1
sn =
(α + k)(α + k + 1)
k=0
n  
X 1 1
= −
α+k α+k+1
k=0
1 1
= −
α α+n+1
1
→ ,
α
as n → ∞. Therefore, the given series converges and its sum is 1/α.

(c) Using partial fractions, we obtain

1 1/2 1 1/2
= − +
k(k + 1)(k + 2) k k+1 k+2
   
1 1 1 1 1 1
= − − − .
2 k k+1 2 k+1 k+2
The nth partial sum therefore equals
n
X 1
sn =
k(k + 1)(k + 2)
k=1
n    
1X 1 1 1 1
= − − −
2 k k+1 k+1 k+2
k=1
= (lots of cancellations)
   
1 1 1 1 1
= − − −
2 1 2 n+1 n+2
 
1 1 1 1
= − +
2 2 n+1 n+2
1
→ ,
4
as n → ∞. Therefore, the series converges to 1/4. 

3.7, ex. 4: Let Xn and Yn be the nth partial sums of

P P
xn and yn respectively. Since both
series converge, by definition the sequences (Xn ) and (Yn ) converge, say, to X, Y , respectively.
Thus (Xn + Yn ) converges to X + Y . Since the nth partial sum of the series (xn + yn ) (by
P
1
2
P
commutativity of addition) equals Xn + Yn , it follows that (xn + yn ) converges to X + Y . 

3.7, ex. 6: (a) We showed in class that the sequence (sin n) is divergent. A completely analogous
P
argument shows that (cos n) is divergent, hence does not converge to 0. Therefore, cos n
diverges.
P 1
(b) We will use the Cauchy criterion. Let ε > 0 be arbitrary. Since the series n2
is
convergent, there exists K ∈ N such that for all m > n ≥ K, we have
m
X 1
< ε.
k2
k=n+1

(The left-hand side is just the (absolute value) of the difference between the mth and nth partial
P 1 P 1 P cos n
sum of the series k2
= n2
.) Let sn be the nth partial sum of the series n2
. Then, using
the fact |cos n| ≤ 1, we obtain
 m 
 X cos k 
|sm − sn | = 
 
 2
k 

k=n+1
m  
X  cos k 
≤ 
 k2 

k=n+1
m
X 1
≤
k2
k=n+1
< ε,
as long as m > n ≥ K. By the Cauchy convergence criterion, it follows that the given series
converges. 
P
3.7, ex.8: Yes. Suppose that an converges and an > 0. Then an → 0, so there exists K ∈ N
such that an < 1, for all n ≥ K. Therefore, 0 < a2n < an , for all n ≥ K, so by the comparison
P 2
test the series an converges. 

3.7, ex. 11: Since ak > 0, for all k, we have

a1 + · · · + an a1
bn = > .
n n
P1 P a1 P
The harmonic series n diverges, hence so does n . Therefore, bn diverges by the Com-
parison Test.