Calculus II Honors Math 231 D1H

Spring 2012
Midterm 2 Solutions
1A. Compute the limit of the following sequences, or say that the limit does not exist. For full credit, you
must provide justication for your answer.
(a) lim
n
n
2
n + 1
(b) lim
n
e
n
2n
2
+1
(c) lim
n
1
2
n
(d) lim
n
n
4
+ 3n
2
n
6
+ 2n
4
(e) lim
n
n

n
3
+ 1
(f) lim
n
1 +
10
n
7
n
Solution:
(a) Divide top and bottom by n
2
, and we have
lim
n
n
2
n + 1
= lim
n
1
1
n
+
1
n
2
= .
We can also note that the degree of the numerator is larger than the degree of the denominator,
and thus the sequence limits to .
(b) Let us rst consider
lim
n
n
2n
2
+ 1
= lim
n
1
2n +
1
n
= 0.
(Again, we could note that the degree of the denominator is larger than that of the numerator.)
Now, since e
x
is a continuous function, we know that
lim
n
e
n
2n
2
+1
= e
(lim
n
n
2n
2
+1
)
= e
0
= 1.
(c) Since 2
n
, we know that 1/2
n
0.
(d) The degree of the denominator is larger than that of the numerator, so the limit is 0.
(e) Writing
lim
n
n

n
3
+ 1
= lim
n
1

n + 1/n
2
= 0.
(f) Since 10 > 7, 10
n
/7
n
as n .
1
1B. Compute the limit of the following sequences, or say that the limit does not exist. For full credit, you
must provide justication for your answer.
(a) lim
n
n
3
n + 7
(b) lim
n
e
n
2
n
3
+1
(c) lim
n
1
(1.4)
n
(d) lim
n
n
3
+ 3n
n
15
+ 2n
4
(e) lim
n
n
2

n
5
+ 1
(f) lim
n
1 +
2
n
3
n
Solution:
(a) Divide top and bottom by n
3
, and we have
lim
n
n
3
n + 7
= lim
n
1
1
n
2
+
7
n
3
= .
We can also note that the degree of the numerator is larger than the degree of the denominator,
and thus the sequence limits to .
(b) Let us rst consider
lim
n
n
2
n
3
+ 1
= lim
n
1
n +
1
n
2
= 0.
(Again, we could note that the degree of the denominator is larger than that of the numerator.)
Now, since e
x
is a continuous function, we know that
lim
n
e
n
2
n
3
+1
= e
(lim
n
n
2
n
3
+1
)
= e
0
= 1.
(c) Since (1.4)
n
, we know that 1/(1.4)
n
0.
(d) The degree of the denominator is larger than that of the numerator, so the limit is 0.
(e) Writing
lim
n
n
2

n
5
+ 1
= lim
n
1

n + 1/n
4
= 0.
(f) Since 2/3 < 1, 2
n
/3
n
0 as n , so
lim
n
1 +
2
n
3
n
= 1.
2
1C. Compute the limit of the following sequences, or say that the limit does not exist. For full credit, you
must provide justication for your answer.
(a) lim
n
n
2
n
4
+ 1
(b) lim
n
e
n
2
2n
2
+1
(c) lim
n
1
2
n+4
(d) lim
n
2n
4
+ 3n
2
n
5
+ n
3
(e) lim
n
n

n + 1
(f) lim
n
1 +
4
n
3
n
Solution:
(a) Divide top and bottom by n
2
, and we have
lim
n
n
2
n
4
+ 1
= lim
n
1
n
2
+
1
n
2
= 0.
We can also note that the degree of the denominator is larger than the degree of the numerator,
and thus the limit is zero.
(b) Let us rst consider
lim
n
n
2
2n
2
+ 1
= lim
n
1
2 +
1
n
2
=
1
2
.
Since e
x
is a continuous function, we know that
lim
n
e
n
2
2n
2
+1
= e
(lim
n
n
2
2n
2
+1
)
= e
1/2
=

e.
(c) Since 2
n
, we know that 1/2
n
0. Then
lim
n
1
2
n+4
= lim
n
1
2
4
1
2
n
=
1
16
lim
n
1
2
n
= 0.
(d) The degree of the denominator is larger than that of the numerator, so the limit is 0.
(e) Writing
lim
n
n

n + 1
= lim
n

1 + 1/n
= .
(f) Since 4/3 > 1, 4
n
/3
n
as n .
2A. Compute the exact value of
(a)

n=1
3 2
1n
(b)

n=0

1
3

n
Solution:
(a) We write this as

n=1
3

1
2

n1
,
and this is a geometric series with a = 3 and r = 1/2, and thus this sums to
a
1 r
=
3
1 1/2
= 6.
3
(b) We know the formula

n=0
x
n
=
1
1 x
,
and here we have x = 1/3, so our sum is
1
1 1/3
=
1
2/3
=
3
2
.
2B. Compute the exact value of
(a)

n=1
2 3
1n
(b)

n=0

1
5

n
Solution:
(a) We write this as

n=1
2

1
3

n1
,
and this is a geometric series with a = 2 and r = 1/3, and thus this sums to
a
1 r
=
2
1 1/3
=
2
2/3
= 3.
(b) We know the formula

n=0
x
n
=
1
1 x
,
and here we have x = 1/5, so our sum is
1
1 1/5
=
1
4/5
=
5
4
.
2C. Compute the exact value of
(a)

n=1
4 4
1n
(b)

n=0

1
2

n
Solution:
(a) We write this as

n=1
4

1
4

n1
,
and this is a geometric series with a = 4 and r = 1/4, and thus this sums to
a
1 r
=
4
1 1/4
=
4
3/4
=
16
3
.
4
(b) We know the formula

n=0
x
n
=
1
1 x
,
and here we have x = 1/2, so our sum is
1
1 1/2
=
1
1/2
= 2.
3A. In each case, determine whether the series converges or diverges. For full credit, you must provide
justication for your answer.
(a)

n=1
1
n
2
(b)

n=1
1
n
(c)

n=1
(1)
n
n
(d)

n=1
(1)
n
n
(e)

n=1
n
2n
4
+ 4
+
1
n
6
+ 2
n
(f)

n=1
cos n
n
2
(g)

n=1
n
7
2
n
(h)

n=1

n
n
2
+ 1

n
Solution:
(a) power test, p > 1, converges.
(b) power test, p 1, diverges.
(c) Alternating Series test, terms are decreasing and limit on 0, converges.
(d) lim
n
a
n
= 0, series diverges.
(e) We break up the sum into pieces, and write

n=1
n
2n
4
+ 4
+
1
n
6
+ 2
n
=

n=1
n
2n
4
+ 4
+

n=1
1
n
6
+

n=1
2
n
.
The second sum converges by the power test, and the last is a geometric series with ratio < 1. To
see that the rst sum converges, we can do one of two ways: rst use the fact that
0
n
2n
4
+ 4

n
2n
4
=
1
n
3
and the last term is a convergent series using the power test. Or we can note that if we choose
a
n
=
n
2n
4
+ 4
, b
n
=
1
n
3
,
then
lim
n
a
n
b
n
= lim
n
n
4
2n
4
+ 4
=
1
2
,
and since

n
b
n
converges, so does

n
a
n
. Since all three sums are convergent, the entire sum is
convergent.
5
(f) We want to use the comparison test, but note that this only works if the terms are positive, and
these terms are not positive! But let us consider instead the sum

n=1
|cos(n)|
n
2
.
Since
0 |cos(n)| 1,
we have that
0
|cos(n)|
n
2

1
n
2
.
Since the right-most term represents a convergent sum, we know that

n=1
|cos(n)|
n
2
converges. Therefore

n=1
cos(n)
n
2
is an absolutely convergent sequence, and is therefore convergent.
(g) We use the Ratio Test. We have
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
(n + 1)
7
2
n
n
7
2
n+1
= lim
n
1
2
(n + 1)
7
n
7
=
1
2
.
Since 1/2 < 1, this sum is absolutely convergent.
(h) We use the Root Test. We have that
lim
n
n

a
n
= lim
n
n
n
2
+ 1
= 0.
Since 0 < 1, this sum is absolutely convergent.
3B. In each case, determine whether the series converges or diverges. For full credit, you must provide
justication for your answer.
(a)

n=1
1
n
(b)

n=1
1
n
3
(c)

n=1
(1)
n
n
1/2
(d)

n=1
(1)
n
n
(e)

n=1
1
n
4
+ 2
n
(f)

n=1
sinn
n
2
(g)

n=1
n
14
3
n
(h)

n=1

n
2
n
4
+ 1

n
Solution:
6
(a) power test, p 1, diverges.
(b) power test, p > 1, converges.
(c) Alternating Series test, terms are decreasing and limit on 0, converges.
(d) lim
n
a
n
= 0, series diverges.
(e) We break up the sum into pieces, and write

n=1
1
n
4
+ 2
n
=

n=1
1
n
4
+

n=1
2
n
The rst sum converges by the power test, and the second is a geometric series with ratio < 1.
Since both sums are convergent, the entire sum is convergent.
(f) We want to use the comparison test, but note that this only works if the terms are positive, and
these terms are not positive! But let us consider instead the sum

n=1
|sin(n)|
n
2
.
Since
0 |sin(n)| 1,
we have that
0
|sin(n)|
n
2

1
n
2
.
Since the right-most term represents a convergent sum, we know that

n=1
|sin(n)|
n
2
converges. Therefore

n=1
sin(n)
n
2
is an absolutely convergent sequence, and is therefore convergent.
(g) We use the Ratio Test. We have
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
(n + 1)
14
3
n
n
14
3
n+1
= lim
n
1
3
(n + 1)
14
n
14
=
1
3
.
Since 1/3 < 1, this sum is absolutely convergent.
(h) We use the Root Test. We have that
lim
n
n

a
n
= lim
n
n
2
n
4
+ 1
= 0.
Since 0 < 1, this sum is absolutely convergent.
3C. In each case, determine whether the series converges or diverges. For full credit, you must provide
justication for your answer.
7
(a)

n=1
16
n
2
(b)

n=1
1
n
1/2
(c)

n=1
(1)
n
n
(d)

n=1
(1)
n
n
2
(e)

n=1
n
2n
2
+ 4
+
1
n
3
+ 5
n
(f)

n=1
cos n
n
5
(g)

n=1
(2n + 1)
3
5
n
(h)

n=1

1
n
2
+ 1

n
Solution:
(a) power test, p > 1, converges.
(b) power test, p 1, diverges.
(c) Alternating Series test, terms are decreasing and limit on 0, converges.
(d) lim
n
a
n
= 0, series diverges.
(e) We break up the sum into pieces, and write

n=1
n
2n
2
+ 4
+
1
n
3
+ 5
n
=

n=1
n
2n
2
+ 4
+

n=1
1
n
3
+

n=1
5
n
.
The second sum converges by the power test, and the last is a geometric series with ratio < 1.
However, the rst sum diverges. To see this, choose
a
n
=
n
2n
2
+ 4
, b
n
=
1
n
,
then
lim
n
a
n
b
n
= lim
n
n
2
2n
2
+ 4
=
1
2
,
and since

n
b
n
diverges, so does

n
a
n
. The sum of a divergent series and a convergent series
is divergent.
(f) We want to use the comparison test, but note that this only works if the terms are positive, and
these terms are not positive! But let us consider instead the sum

n=1
|cos(n)|
n
5
.
Since
0 |cos(n)| 1,
we have that
0
|cos(n)|
n
5

1
n
5
.
Since the right-most term represents a convergent sum, we know that

n=1
|cos(n)|
n
5
8
converges. Therefore

n=1
cos(n)
n
5
is an absolutely convergent sequence, and is therefore convergent.
(g) We use the Ratio Test. We have
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
(2n + 3)
3
5
n
(2n + 1)
3
5
n+1
= lim
n
1
5
(2n + 3)
3
(2n + 1)
3
=
1
5
.
Since 1/5 < 1, this sum is absolutely convergent.
(h) We use the Root Test. We have that
lim
n
n

a
n
= lim
n
1
n
2
+ 1
= 0.
Since 0 < 1, this sum is absolutely convergent.
4A. Find the domain of convergence of each of these power series:
(a)

n=1
(1)
n
nx
n
(b)

n=1
(x 2)
n
n!
Solution:
(a) We rst use the Ratio Test to domain the radius of convergence. We compute
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
n + 1
n
|x| = |x| .
Therefore if |x| < 1, the series is absolutely convergent; if |x| > 1, the series is divergent. We need
to compute directly at the indeterminate points.
If x = 1, then the sum is

n=1
(1)
n
n, and if x = 1, then the sum is

n=1
n. In either case,
the terms do not limit onto zero and therefore the series does not converge. Therefore the domain
of convergence is (1, 1).
(b) We rst use the Ratio Test to domain the radius of convergence. We compute
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
n!
(n + 1)!
|x 2| = |x 2| lim
n
1
n + 1
= 0
for any value of x, and therefore the series converges for all x.
4B. Find the domain of convergence of each of these power series:
(a)

n=1
nx
n
(b)

n=1
(x + 3)
n
n!
Solution:
9
(a) We rst use the Ratio Test to domain the radius of convergence. We compute
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
n + 1
n
|x| = |x| .
Therefore if |x| < 1, the series is absolutely convergent; if |x| > 1, the series is divergent. We need
to compute directly at the indeterminate points.
If x = 1, then the sum is

n=1
(1)
n
n, and if x = 1, then the sum is

n=1
n. In either case,
the terms do not limit onto zero and therefore the series does not converge. Therefore the domain
of convergence is (1, 1).
(b) We rst use the Ratio Test to domain the radius of convergence. We compute
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
n!
(n + 1)!
|x + 3| = |x + 3| lim
n
1
n + 1
= 0.
for any value of x, and therefore the series converges for all x.
4C. Find the domain of convergence of each of these power series:
(a)

n=1
n
1
x
n
(b)

n=1
(3x 2)
n
n!
Solution:
(a) We rst use the Ratio Test to domain the radius of convergence. We compute
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
n
n + 1
|x| = |x| .
Therefore if |x| < 1, the series is absolutely convergent; if |x| > 1, the series is divergent. We need
to compute directly at the indeterminate points.
If x = 1, then the sum is

n=1
(1)
n 1
n
, and if x = 1, then the sum is

n=1
1
n
. In the former,
the series converges by the Alternating Series Test; in the latter is diverges by the power test.
Therefore the domain of convergence is [1, 1).
(b) We rst use the Ratio Test to domain the radius of convergence. We compute
lim
n

a
n+1
a
n

= lim
n
n!
(n + 1)!
|3x 2| = 0
for any value of x, and therefore the series converges for all x.
10