Using the Limit Comparison Test

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 87 views

Introduction

In mathematics, series are an essential concept in understanding the behavior of functions and sequences. A series is a sum of terms that can be finite or infinite. Evaluating a series involves determining whether it converges or diverges, and if it converges, finding its sum. In this article, we will evaluate the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ .

Understanding the Series

The given series is an infinite series, which means it has an infinite number of terms. The series is defined as the sum of the terms $\frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ , where $n$ starts from 1 and goes to infinity. The numerator of the term is a quadratic expression, while the denominator is a cubic expression.

Breaking Down the Series

To evaluate the series, we need to break it down into smaller parts. We can start by analyzing the numerator and denominator separately.

Numerator

The numerator of the term is $3n^2 + 5n - 2$ . This is a quadratic expression, which can be factored as $(3n - 1)(n + 2)$ .

Denominator

The denominator of the term is $4n^3 + 7$ . This is a cubic expression, which cannot be factored easily.

Using the Limit Comparison Test

One way to evaluate the series is to use the limit comparison test. This test involves comparing the given series with a known convergent or divergent series.

Limit Comparison Test

The limit comparison test states that if we have two series $\sum a_n$ and $\sum b_n$ , and the limit of $\frac{a_n}{b_n}$ as $n$ approaches infinity is a finite positive number, then either both series converge or both series diverge.

Applying the Limit Comparison Test

In this case, we can compare the given series with the series $\sum \frac{1}{n^2}$ . This series is known to converge.

Calculating the Limit

To apply the limit comparison test, we need to calculate the limit of $\frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7} \div \frac{1}{n^2}$ as $n$ approaches infinity.

Calculating the Limit

To calculate the limit, we can simplify the expression by dividing the numerator and denominator by $n^2$ .

Simplifying the Expression

The expression becomes $\frac{3 + \frac{5}{n} - \frac{2}{n^2}}{4 + \frac{7}{n^3}}$ .

Taking the Limit

As $n$ approaches infinity, the terms $\frac{5}{n}$ , $\frac{2}{n^2}$ , and $\frac{7}{n^3}$ approach zero.

Calculating the Limit

The limit of the expression is $\frac{3}{4}$ .

Conclusion

Using the limit comparison test, we have shown that the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ converges.

Final Answer

The final answer is that the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ converges.

Further Discussion

In this article, we have evaluated the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ using the limit comparison test. The series converges, and we have shown that it is comparable to the series $\sum \frac{1}{n^2}$ .

Future Work

In the future, we can explore other methods for evaluating the series, such as using the ratio test or the root test.

References

[1] "Series" by MathWorld
[2] "Limit Comparison Test" by MathWorld
[3] "Convergence Tests" by MathWorld

Keywords

Series
Limit comparison test
Convergence
Divergence
MathWorld
Convergence tests

Conclusion

In conclusion, the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ converges. We have used the limit comparison test to show that the series is comparable to the series $\sum \frac{1}{n^2}$ , which is known to converge. This result has important implications for the study of series and their convergence.

Introduction

In our previous article, we evaluated the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ using the limit comparison test. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the series and its evaluation.

Q: What is the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ ?

A: The series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ is an infinite series, which means it has an infinite number of terms. The series is defined as the sum of the terms $\frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ , where $n$ starts from 1 and goes to infinity.

Q: Why is the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ important?

A: The series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ is important because it is a classic example of a series that can be evaluated using the limit comparison test. The series is also a good example of how to use the limit comparison test to determine whether a series converges or diverges.

Q: How did you evaluate the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ ?

A: We evaluated the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ using the limit comparison test. We compared the series with the series $\sum \frac{1}{n^2}$ , which is known to converge. We then calculated the limit of $\frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7} \div \frac{1}{n^2}$ as $n$ approaches infinity.

Q: What is the limit of $\frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7} \div \frac{1}{n^2}$ as $n$ approaches infinity?

A: The limit of $\frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7} \div \frac{1}{n^2}$ as $n$ approaches infinity is $\frac{3}{4}$ .

Q: What does the limit of $\frac{3}{4}$ mean?

A: The limit of $\frac{3}{4}$ means that the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ converges. This is because the series is comparable to the series $\sum \frac{1}{n^2}$ , which is known to converge.

Q: What are some other methods for evaluating the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ ?

A: Some other methods for evaluating the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ include using the ratio test or the root test.

Q: What is the ratio test?

A: The ratio test is a method for determining whether a series converges or diverges. The ratio test involves calculating the limit of $\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n}$ as $n$ approaches infinity.

Q: What is the root test?

A: The root test is a method for determining whether a series converges or diverges. The root test involves calculating the limit of $\sqrt[n]{|a_n|}$ as $n$ approaches infinity.

Q: Can you provide some examples of how to use the ratio test and the root test?

A: Yes, here are some examples of how to use the ratio test and the root test:

Ratio Test

Suppose we want to evaluate the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2}$ . We can use the ratio test to determine whether the series converges or diverges.

Calculate the limit of $\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n}$ as $n$ approaches infinity.
If the limit is less than 1, the series converges.
If the limit is greater than 1, the series diverges.

Root Test

Suppose we want to evaluate the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2}$ . We can use the root test to determine whether the series converges or diverges.

Calculate the limit of $\sqrt[n]{|a_n|}$ as $n$ approaches infinity.
If the limit is less than 1, the series converges.
If the limit is greater than 1, the series diverges.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions about the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 2}{4n^3 + 7}$ and its evaluation. We have also discussed some other methods for evaluating the series, including the ratio test and the root test.