How do you apply the ratio test to determine if Sigma (3^n(n!)^2)/((2n)!) from n=[1,oo) is convergent to divergent?

1 Answer
Jan 21, 2017

Prove that: lim_(n->oo) abs (a_(n+1)/a_n) <1

Explanation:

The ratio test states that a necessary condition for the series:

sum_(n=1)^oo a_n

to converge is that

L = lim_(n->oo) abs (a_(n+1)/a_n) <= 1

If L<1 the condition is also sufficient, while for L=1 the test is inconclusive.

Calculate the expression of the ratio for this series:

abs (a_(n+1)/a_n) = ( (3^(n+1) ((n+1)!)^2) / (2(n+1)!)) / ( (3^n (n!)^2)/ ((2n)!)) = 3^(n+1)/3^n ((n+1)!)^2/((n!)^2) ((2n)!)/ ((2(n+1))!)

abs (a_(n+1)/a_n) = 3 (n+1)^2/((2n+2)(2n+1))=3/2 (n+1)/(2n+1)

Passing to the limit:

lim_(n->oo) abs (a_(n+1)/a_n) = lim_(n->oo)3/2 (n+1)/(2n+1) = 3/4 < 1

so the series is convergent.