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
Feb 27, 2017

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 u=n+1 => n=u-1 then u rarr oo as n rarr oo, And

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 1/e.

Feb 27, 2017

See below.

Explanation:

Using Strirling approximation

log n! =nlogn-n+O(logn)

we have

(3^n(n!))/(n^n) approx (3/e)^n but as 3/e > 1 the series diverges.