How do you apply the ratio test to determine if Sigma (3^n(n!))/(n^n) from n=[1,oo) is convergent to divergent?
2 Answers
It is divergent.
Explanation:
We can apply d'Alembert's ratio test:
Suppose that;
S=sum_(r=1)^oo a_n \ \ , and\ \ L=lim_(n rarr oo) |a_(n+1)/a_n|
Then
if L < 1 then the series converges absolutely;
if L > 1 then the series is divergent;
if L = 1 or the limit fails to exist the test is inconclusive.
So our series is;
S=sum_(n=1)^oo (3^n(n!))/n^n
So our test limit is:
L = lim_(n rarr oo) | {(3^(n+1)((n+1)!))/(n+1)^(n+1)}/{(3^n(n!))/n^n}|
\ \ \ = lim_(n rarr oo) | (3^(n+1)(n+1)!)/(n+1)^(n+1) * n^n/(3^n n!}|
\ \ \ = lim_(n rarr oo) | (3 * 3^n(n+1) * n!)/(n+1)^(n+1) * n^n/(3^n n!}|
\ \ \ = lim_(n rarr oo) | (3 (n+1))/(n+1)^(n+1) * n^n|
\ \ \ = lim_(n rarr oo) | (3n^n )/(n+1)^n |
\ \ \ = 3 \ lim_(n rarr oo) | (n/(n+1))^n |
\ \ \ = 3 \ lim_(n rarr oo) (n/(n+1))^n
\ \ \ = 3/e
\ \ \ ~~ 1.1 > 1
Hence the series is divergent.
In case you are wondering how the final limit was established; it is a standard limit in disguise:
Let
lim_(n rarr oo) (n/(n+1))^n = lim_(u rarr oo) ((u-1)/u)^(u-1)
" " = lim_(u rarr oo) (1-1/u)^u / (1-1/u)
" " = {lim_(u rarr oo) (1-1/u)^u }/ {lim_(u rarr oo)(1-1/u)}
" " = lim_(u rarr oo) (1-1/u)^u
Which courtesy of Leonhard Euler is standard limit with known value
See below.
Explanation:
Using Strirling approximation
we have