# The Ratio Test and the Root Test

It is a fact that an increasing sequence of real numbers that is bounded above must converge.

The picture shows an increasing sequence that is bounded above by some number M. It seems reasonable that the terms of the sequence will have to start "piling up" below the line, and at the place where they pile up the sequence will converge. A careful proof of this fact uses a deep property of the real numbers called the Least Upper Bound Axiom.

Suppose is a series with positive terms. The partial sums

obviously form an increasing sequence. If the partial sums are bounded above,

for some M, then the fact above implies that the series converges.

Now let be a series with positive terms. Let

The Ratio Test says:

1. If , the series converges.
2. If , the series diverges.
3. If , the test fails.

The reason the test works is that, in the limit, the series looks like a geometric series with ratio L. Look at the case by way of example. Choose a positive number so . For n sufficiently large,

These inequalities give

The right side is a convergent geometric series. The inequality shows that its sum is an upper bound for the partial sums of the series on the left. By the fact I stated at the start, the series on the left converges. Hence, the original series converges, since it's just

This is a finite number ( ) plus the series , which I know converges.

A similar argument works if .

When do you use the Ratio Test? Ratios are fractions, and they tend to simplify nicely if the top and bottom contain products or powers. For example, if the term of the series contains {\it factorials}, you ought to give the Ratio Test serious consideration.

Example. Does converge or diverge?

I'll approach this example as if it didn't appear in a discussion of the Ratio Test. What do you do?

The Zero Limit Test is easy to apply. However, since

the Zero Limit Test fails.

The series is not geometric, and it's not a p-series.

The Integral Test is inapplicable. What would mean as a continuous function? How would you integrate it?

It's possible to apply a comparison test; do you see how?

The Ratio Test is probably the easiest way to show that this series converges. One indication that the Ratio Test is worth trying is that is a product. The Ratio Test works well with products and powers, because cancellation may occur when you form .

Form the ratio of successive terms:

Take the limit as :

The limit is less than 1. The series converges, by the Ratio Test.

Example. Does converge or diverge?

First, note that

the product of the numbers from 1 to . For example, if , , and

I'll apply the Ratio Test. Note that if I replace n with in , I get . So I have

I'll stop for a second and show the details of the next simplification:

Thus, my limit is

The limiting ratio is less than 1, so the series converges by the Ratio Test.

Example. Does converge or diverge?

so the Zero Limit Test fails.

The series is not geometric, and it's not a p-series. I don't think you'd want to integrate ! And it's not clear how to do this using a comparison.

Form the ratio of successive terms:

Take the limit as :

Since , the series converges, by the Ratio Test.

Example. Does the series converge or diverge?

What happens if I try to use the Ratio Test? The limiting ratio is

The Ratio Test fails.

• In general, the Ratio Test will fail if the general term is a rational function.

In this case, limit comparison is a better choice. Since , I'll compare the given series to :

The limit is a finite positive number. converges, since it's a p-series with . Hence, the original series converges by Limit Comparison.

The Root Test is similar to the Ratio Test. Instead of taking the limit of successive quotients of terms, you take the limit of roots of terms.

Let be a series with positive terms. Compute

The Root Test says:

1. If , the series converges.
2. If , the series diverges.
3. If , the test fails.

Heuristically, when k is large, , so . This says that the series is approximately geometric for large k, so it converges if the ratio L is less than 1 and diverges if the ratio L is greater than 1.

You might consider using the Root Test if the general term of the series has lots of powers, since these will simplify when you take the root.

Example. Does the series converge or diverge?

The series converges, by the Root Test.

Example. Does the series converge or diverge?

In this case, the Root Test would probably not be a good choice. Why? Because I'd have on the bottom, and I don't see an easy way to compute the limit of that expression.

Instead, the factorial suggests using the Ratio Test. The limiting ratio is

Since the limiting ratio is less than 1, the series converges by the Ratio Test.

Example. Does the series converge or diverge?

Take the root of the term:

I need to compute . I'll compute the limit of the top.

Let . Then

Hence,

Hence,

Therefore,

The limiting ratio is less than 1. Hence, the series converges, by the Root Test.

Example. Does the series converge or diverge?

Compute the root of the term:

I need to compute the limit .

Let . Then

Hence,

It follows that . Hence, the series converges, by the Root Test.

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