Calculus 2 : Ratio Test

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #91 : Ratio Test

Find the radius of convergence of 

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can find the radius of convergence of

using the ratio test:

which means that 

So that  is the radius of convergence.

 

Example Question #92 : Ratio Test

Determine whether the series is convergent or divergent:

Possible Answers:

The series is divergent

The series is (absolutely) convergent

The series may be (absolutely) convergent, divergent, or conditionally convergent

The series is conditionally convergent

Correct answer:

The series is divergent

Explanation:

To determine whether the series given converges or diverges, we must use the Ratio Test, which states that for 

, if , then series is (absolutely) convergent; if , then the series may be (absolutely) convergent, divergent, or conditionally convergent; and if , then the series is divergent. 

So, we must evaluate the limit as given by the above formula:

Thus, the series is divergent. 

(The limit was solved by . As  approaches infinity, the negative terms go to zero, which makes zero in the denominator and  in the numerator, equalling infinity.)

Example Question #93 : Ratio Test

Determine if the series converges 

 

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined

Series converges

Series diverges

Correct answer:

Series converges

Explanation:

In order to test the convergence of the series, we use the ratio test.

If...

 the series is absolutely convergent

 the convergence is undetermined

 the series diverges

For this problem

And since 

 the series absolutely converges.

Example Question #94 : Ratio Test

Use the ratio test to figure out if the series 

converges.

Possible Answers:

It converges

it diverges to infinity

Correct answer:

It converges

Explanation:

an easy sequence to compare  to is , which we know converges.

We need to find 

 goes to zero so this limit is . Since the limit of the ratio is 1 and  converges,  must converge also.

Example Question #95 : Ratio Test

Can we use the Ratio Test to test the convergence/divergence of the infinite series  ?

Possible Answers:

No, the ratio test fails here.

Yes, and the series diverges

Yes, and the series converges

Correct answer:

No, the ratio test fails here.

Explanation:

To use the ratio test, we must first evaluate

Since the result of the limit is , the Ratio Test fails, and therefore we cannot use it in testing this series for convergence/divergence.

Example Question #96 : Ratio Test

Determine whether the series converges or diverges:

Possible Answers:

The series is conditionally convergent

The series converges

The series may be convergent, divergent, or conditionally convergent

The series diverges

Correct answer:

The series diverges

Explanation:

To determine whether the series converges or diverges, we must use the ratio test, which states that for the given series , and 

  , when L is equal to 1, then the series may be convergent, divergent, or conditionally convergent; when L is less than 1 then the series is convergent; and when L is greater than 1 the series is divergent.

Using the above test, we get

Because L is greater than 1, the series diverges.

Example Question #97 : Ratio Test

Determine the convergence of the series using the Ratio Test.

Possible Answers:

Series converges

Series diverges

Cannot be determined

Correct answer:

Series converges

Explanation:

The ratio test is defined as follows

where  is the n-th term of the series.

if the limit

  • is greater than , the series diverges
  • is less than , the series converges
  • equal to , the test is inconclusive

Finding the limit for the terms in our series,

Because the limit is less than ,

the series converges.

Example Question #98 : Ratio Test

Determine the convergence of the series using the Ratio Test.

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined

Series converges

Series diverges

Correct answer:

Series converges

Explanation:

The ratio test is defined as follows

where  is the n-th term of the series.

if the limit

  • is greater than , the series diverges
  • is less than , the series converges
  • equal to , the test is inconclusive

Finding the limit for the terms in our series,

Because the limit is less than ,

the series converges.

Example Question #99 : Ratio Test

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined

Series converges

Series diverges

Correct answer:

Series diverges

Explanation:

The ratio test is defined as follows

where  is the n-th term of the series.

if the limit

  • is greater than , the series diverges
  • is less than , the series converges
  • equal to , the test is inconclusive

Finding the limit for the terms in our series,

Because the limit is greater than ,

the series diverges.

Example Question #100 : Ratio Test

Determine the convergence of the series.

Possible Answers:

Series converges

Cannot be determined

Series diverges

Correct answer:

Series converges

Explanation:

The ratio test is defined as follows

where  is the n-th term of the series.

if the limit

  • is greater than , the series diverges
  • is less than , the series converges
  • equal to , the test is inconclusive

Finding the limit for the terms in our series,

Because the limit is less than ,

the series converges.

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