- #1
JG89
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Suppose the infinite series [tex] \sum a_v [/tex] is NOT absolutely convergent. Suppose it also has an infinite amount of positive and an infinite amount of negative terms.
Say we want to prove it converges by proving the sequence of partial sums, A_n, are Cauchy.
Then we need to prove that for every positive epsilon, [tex] |A_n - A_m| < \epsilon [/tex], for n and m sufficiently large.
Note that [tex] |A_n - A_m| = |a_1 + a_2 + ... + a_n - (a_1 + a_2 + ... + a_m)| = |a_{n+1} + a_{n+2} + ... + a_m| [/tex].
Some of these terms are positive, some negative. Are we allowed to "separate" the positive and negative terms? Like this:
Say P_n is the sequence of positive terms and N_n is the sequence of negative terms in the sum [tex] |a_{n+1} + a_{n+2} + ... + a_m| [/tex]. Then can we write [tex] |a_{n+1} + a_{n+2} + ... + a_m| = |P_1 + P_2 + ... + P_i + N_1 + N_2 + ... + N_j| [/tex] ?
It seems to me like this should be fine, since this is a finite sum. But we are going to have to take n and m larger and larger for epsilon getting smaller and smaller, so I am not sure.
Say we want to prove it converges by proving the sequence of partial sums, A_n, are Cauchy.
Then we need to prove that for every positive epsilon, [tex] |A_n - A_m| < \epsilon [/tex], for n and m sufficiently large.
Note that [tex] |A_n - A_m| = |a_1 + a_2 + ... + a_n - (a_1 + a_2 + ... + a_m)| = |a_{n+1} + a_{n+2} + ... + a_m| [/tex].
Some of these terms are positive, some negative. Are we allowed to "separate" the positive and negative terms? Like this:
Say P_n is the sequence of positive terms and N_n is the sequence of negative terms in the sum [tex] |a_{n+1} + a_{n+2} + ... + a_m| [/tex]. Then can we write [tex] |a_{n+1} + a_{n+2} + ... + a_m| = |P_1 + P_2 + ... + P_i + N_1 + N_2 + ... + N_j| [/tex] ?
It seems to me like this should be fine, since this is a finite sum. But we are going to have to take n and m larger and larger for epsilon getting smaller and smaller, so I am not sure.
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