Video Transcript
Determine whether the series, which
is the sum from π equals zero to β of π to the negative π, converges or
diverges.
We can try to find the convergence
of this series using the integral test. The integral test tells us that if
we have a function, π of π₯, which is continuous, positive, and decreasing on the
interval between π and β and that π of π is equal to π π. Then, if the integral from π to β
of π of π₯ with respect to π₯ is convergent, so is the sum from π equals π to β
of π π. And if the integral from π to β of
π of π₯ with respect to π₯ is divergent, so is the sum from π equals π to β of π
π. Now, the series weβre trying to
find the convergence of is this sum from π equals zero to β of π to the negative
π. Therefore, π π is equal to π to
the power of negative π. Since π of π is equal to π π,
we obtain that π of π₯ is equal to π to the negative π₯. Since weβre taking the sum from π
is equal to zero, this means that π is equal to zero.
And we now need to check whether π
is a continuous, positive, and decreasing function on the interval between zero and
β. π to the negative π₯ can also be
written as one over π to the π₯. Now, π to the π₯ is positive for
any value of π₯. Therefore, one over π to the π₯ is
also positive. So, weβve satisfied the condition
that π of π₯ is positive on our interval. Now, one over π to the π₯ is
continuous since π to the π₯ cannot be equal to zero at any value. Therefore, weβve also satisfied
this condition. And finally, since π to the π₯ is
an increasing function for all π₯, this means that one over π to the π₯ is a
decreasing function for all π₯. And so, weβve satisfied the last
condition on π of π₯.
Weβre therefore able to use the
integral test. We need to find the convergence of
the integral from zero to β of π to the negative π₯ with respect to π₯. We can use the fact that the
integral from π to the ππ₯ with respect to π₯ is equal to one over π π to the
ππ₯ plus π. In our case, π is equal to
negative one, and one over negative one is simply negative one. So, when we integrate π to the
negative π₯, we get negative π to the negative π₯. And this is, of course, between our
two bounds which is zero and β.
Since our upper bound is infinite,
we need to find the limit as π₯ tends to β of negative π to the negative π₯. And we mustnβt forget to subtract
negative π to the negative zero. When trying to evaluate this limit,
we can consider what happens as π₯ gets larger and larger and larger. As π₯ gets bigger, negative π₯ gets
more and more negative. Therefore, π to the power of
negative π₯ gets closer and closer to zero.
And so, we can say that this limit
is equal to zero. Then, we have π to the power of
negative zero, which is simply π to the power of zero. Anything to the power of zero is
one. And the two negative signs in front
of the term cancel out with one another to give us a positive sign. From here, we can evaluate that the
integral from zero to β of π to the negative π₯ with respect to π₯ is equal to
one. Therefore, we found that our
integral is convergent. And so, by the integral test, we
can say that the sum from π equals zero to β of π to the negative π is
convergent.