What is the interval of convergence of sum_1^oo (3x-2)^(n)/(1+n+n^(x) ?

1 Answer
Dec 6, 2016

The series converges for 1/3<=x<1

Explanation:

We can use the ratio test and see for what values of x:

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

Calculate:
L= lim_(n->oo) |(3x-2)^(n+1)/(1+n+1+(n+1)^x)(1+n+n^x)/(3x-2)^n|

L= lim_(n->oo) |(3x-2)^(n+1)/(3x-2)^n||(1+n+n^x)/(2+n+(n+1)^x)|

L= |(3x-2)|lim_(n->oo) |(1+n+n^x)/(2+n+(n+1)^x)|= |(3x-2)|

So the series is certainly convergent for:

|(3x-2)| < 1

that is for:

1/3 < x < 1

And certainly divergent for x < 1/3" and "x>1

On the boundaries, where L=1 the test is in inconclusive, we must analyse the two cases:

For x=1/3 the series becomes:

sum_1^oo (-1)^n/(1+n+n^(1/3))

If we write this as:

-sum_1^oo (-1)^(n+1)/(1+n+n^(1/3))

We can see that for every n we have that:

(-1)^(n+1)/(1+n+n^(1/3)) < (-1)^(n+1)/n

and as the second series is the alternate armonic series that is convergent, so is the first.

For x=1 the series becomes:

sum_1^oo 1/(1+2n)

We can us the integral test to show that this series is not convergent:

lim_(x->oo) int_1^x dt/(1+2t) = -ln3 + lim_(x->oo) 1/2ln(1+2x) = +oo

In conclusion the series converges for x in [1/3,1)