Calculus 10th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1-28505-709-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-28505-709-5

Chapter 9 - Infinite Series - 9.4 Exercises - Page 616: 21

Answer

The series diverges by limit comparison.

Work Step by Step

$\Sigma_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{n^{k-1}}{n^k+1}, k\gt2$ Let's compare the original series with the series $\Sigma_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{n^{k-1}}{n^k}=\Sigma_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n}$, which diverges by p-series, where $p=1$, $0\lt1\leq1$ Now let's use limit comparison: If $\lim\limits_{n \to \infty}\frac{a_n}{b_n}=L$, where $L$ is both finite and positive, then either both series diverge or both series converge, depending on the convergence or divergence of $b_n$: $\lim\limits_{n \to \infty}\frac{n^{k-1}}{n^k+1}\times\frac{n^k}{n^{k-1}}$ $\lim\limits_{n \to \infty}\frac{n^k}{n^k+1}=\frac{\infty}{\infty}$ $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$ is an indeterminate form, so let's use L'Hopital's rule: $\lim\limits_{n \to \infty}\frac{kn^{k-1}}{kn^{k-1}}=1$ Because $1$ is a finite and positive number, by limit comparison we can conclude that the original series also diverges.
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