Calculus BC - 2022 AP Live Review Session 4

Convergent and Divergent Series

Type of Form of
Convergence/Divergence Info Conditions/Comments
Series Series
This sum of this type of infinite series
 If 0  r  1, then the series converges. is
a
.
Geometric
Series  ar n
n=0
If r  1, then the series diverges. 1− r
Be careful when finding the sum for a
series starting at a value other than 0.

nth Term Test  If lim an = 0, then the nth term test is

n →
If lim an  0, then the series diverges.
for an =1
n n → inconclusive and another test must be
Divergence used.


 If  f ( x) dx is a positive, finite value, f ( x) must be positive, continuous

 an 1
and decreasing
n =1 then the series converges.
Integral Test  
=  f ( n) If  f ( x) dx diverges, then the series
n =1 1
diverges.
 A series in this form with p = 1 is
1
p-series Test n
n =1
p
If p > 1, then the series converges.
If p  1 , then the series diverges. called the harmonic series.
 The series must all have positive
If 0  an  bn and  bn is known to terms.
n =1

converge, then a n converges.
Direct  n =1

Comparison an =1
n
If 0  bn  an and  bn is known to


Test
n =1

diverge, then a
n =1
n diverges.

an The series must all have positive

If an  0, bn  0, lim =L0
n → bn terms. The reciprocal will have the

same result.
Limit
Comparison a


n
and b
n =1
n is known to converge,
n =1
Test 
then a
n =1
n converges.

AP Calculus BC: Convergent and Divergent Series 2022 AP Live Bryan Passwater & Tony Record
 an The series must all have positive
If an  0, bn  0, lim =L0
n → b terms. The reciprocal will have the
n
Limit 
same result.
Comparison


a n
and b
n =1
n is known to diverge,
Test n =1

(cont’d)
then a
n =1
n diverges.

If lim an = 0 and an+1 < an , then The Error Bound is S − Sn  an+1 .

n→


 (−1)
n =1
n
an the series converges. The error of estimating the infinite
sum by using the first n terms is less
Alternating or than the first omitted term.
Series Test


 (−1)
n =1
n +1
an

a
an +1 an +1
If lim  1 , then n converges. If lim = 1 , then the ratio test is
n → an n → an
n =1

Ratio Test a
n =1
n
If lim
an +1
 1 , then


a n diverges.
inconclusive and another test must be
used.
n → an n =1

Topic Name Topic #

Geometric Series 10.2

nth Term Test for Divergence 10.3
Integral Test 10.4
p-Series 10.5
Direct Comparison/Limit Comparison Test 10.6
Alternating Series Test 10.7
Ratio Test 10.8

AP Calculus BC: Convergent and Divergent Series 2022 AP Live Bryan Passwater & Tony Record
Multiple Choice Practice
1. Level: AP2

an 5n
Given the series 
n =1 n !
, which of the following is the could be the correct set-up and conclusion for the

ratio test?

an 5n (n + 1)!
(A) lim   1; the series converges.
n → n ! an +1 5n +1

an +1 5n +1 n !
(B) lim   1; the series diverges.
n → ( n + 1) ! a 5n
n

an +1 5n +1 n !
(C) lim   1; the series converges.
n → ( n + 1)! an 5n
an +1 5n +1 n !
(D) lim   1; the series diverges.
n → ( n + 1)! an 5n

2. Level: AP2

Let a
n =1
n be an infinite series with an = f ( n ) . Which of the following conditions must be met to apply the

integral test?

(A) f ( x) is differentiable

(B) f ( x) is positive

(C) an is continuous

(D) an is decreasing

3. Level: AP2

Given the series  (−1)
n =1
n
an , which of the following conditions must be met in order to use the Alternating

Series Test?

I. an+1  an II. an  0 III. lim an = 0

n →

(A) I only
(B) I and III only
(C) III only
(D) I, II, and III

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4. Level: AP2
n 2 + 3n − 2

Given the series  3 , which of the following series can be used as a comparison for the Limit
n =1 n − n + 1
2

Comparison test.


1
(A) n
n =1
3


1
(B) n
n =1
2


(C) n
n =1


1
(D) n
n =1

5. Level: AP2
Which of the following infinite series diverges by the n-th term test?


(A)  ln(n)
n =1


ln( n)
(B) 
n =1 n

n3
(C) 
n =1 2
n


3n 2 + n − 4
(D) 
n =1 n 3 + 2n

6. Level: AP3
Which of the following converge?

1
(A) 
n =1 n

−1
(B) n
n =1


n −2
(C) 
n =1
3
n
 3
n4
(D) 
n =1 6n 2
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7. Level: AP3
 n −1
2
 4 
n =1  3 
is

(A) 6
(B) 8
(C) 12
(D) divergent

8. Level: AP3

n2 − 2
Which of the following statements about the series  3 is true?
n = 3 n + 4n + 1
2


1
(A) The series converges by the limit comparison test with n.
n =3


1
(B) The series converges by the limit comparison test with n
n =3
3
.


1
(C) The series diverges by the limit comparison test with n.n =3


1
(D) The series diverges by the limit comparison test with n
n =3
3
.

9. Level: AP3

n
Which of the following statements describes the series  (−1)
n =1
n

n+3
using the alternating series test?

(A) converges absolutely

(B) converges conditionally
(C) diverges
(D) alternating series test is inconclusive

AP Calculus BC: Convergent and Divergent Series 2022 AP Live Bryan Passwater & Tony Record
10. Level: AP3
Which of the following series converge?
  
3 1
 n  ( −1)
n
I. n
II. 2
III.
n=0 2 n =1 n =1

(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) I, II, and III

11. Level: AP3


2n + 1
Let a
n =1
n be a series whose n th partial sum is Sn =
5n − 3
. Which of the following statements is true?


(A) The series a
n =1
n diverges by the nth term test.


(B) The series a
n =1
n diverges by the p -series test.


(C) The series a
n =1
n converges because lim S n  0 .
n →

a
2
(D) The series n converges to .
n =1 5

12. Level: AP4

n −1

 x−2
For which of the following values of x does the series  
n =1 

3 
converge?

(A) x = −1
(B) x = 1
(C) x = −5
(D) x = 5

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13. Level: AP4


a
an +1
When applied to the series n , the ratio test yields the result lim = L . Which of the following could
n → an
n =1

be true?


a
1
(A) L = and n converges conditionally.
2 n =1

a
2
(B) L = and n diverges.
3 n =1


(C) L = 1 and a
n =1
n converges conditionally.

a
3
(D) L = and n converges absolutely.
2 n =1

14. Level: AP4

Which of the following series converge conditionally?

n 
2
  3/2
2 1
I.  (−1) n  
3
II.  (−1)n +1  
n
III.  (−1)
n =1
n +1
 
n
n =0 n =1

(A) I and II only

(B) I and III only
(C) III only
(D) I, II, and III

15. Level: AP3

Which of the following geometric series converge?

    
 n   n

I.     ( 0.99 ) III.  2 
n
II. 
n =0  3  n =0 n =1  e + 1 

(A) II only
(B) I and II only
(C) II and III only
(D) I, II, and III

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16. Level: AP3
Which of the following series converges?

( −1)
2 n −1

(A) 
n =1 n

n +1
 ( −1) 
n
(B)
n =1 3n − 2

( −1)
n −1

(C) 
n =1
3
n

2n
 ( −1) 
n
(D)
n =1 n99

17. Level: AP3

Which of the following series converge?


k2 + k 
k +3 
6k + 3
I. 
k =4 k −3
II. 
k =1 ( k − 2) + 1
2
III. k
k =1
3
+k

(A) I and III only

(B) I and II only
(C) III only
(D) II and III only

18. Level: AP4

Let a n = n . Which of the following series converges?

( 5nan + 3)
4

(A) 
n =1 2n 6 +3n5

n!
(B) 2
n =1
n
an

5n − 1
(C)  na
n =1 n

( −1) an
n

(D) 
n =1 n

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19. Level: AP4
Which of the following series can be shown to converge by the alternating series test?

( −1) cos ( n ) sin ( n )

2n  


   ( −1)
n −1
I. 2
II. III. 
n =1 n n =0 n n =1 n
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only

20. Level: AP4

Which of the following series can be shown to converge by the alternating series test?
3
1 27 125 n −1 n
I. −2+ −4+ + ... + an + ... , where an = ( −1)  n .
2 8 32 2

 2 n 
cos  
1 1 1 1 1
II. 1 − − + − − + −
1 1
−
1
+ ... + an + ... , where an =  3 
.
( n + 1)
2
8 18 16 50 72 49 128 162

1 32 33 34 35 36 3
n
+ ... + an + ... , where an = ( −1)
n +1
III. − + − + − .
2 5 8 11 14 17 3n − 1
(A) II only
(B) III only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only

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21. Level: AP
Which of the following series converge?
 
3n − 1   −1 
 n
3n n100
I.  II.  III.   
n =1 n! n =1 7 n n =1  e 

(A) I only (B) III only (C) I and III only (D) I, II, and III

22. Level: AP4

 −1  3
n
3 3 3 3
What is the sum of the series − + − + ... +   + ... ?
 2 4 8  2  
2
(A)


6
(B)


6
(C)
2 + 1

(D) The series diverges.

23. Level: AP4

 
Consider the series  an where f (n) = an . Which of the following statements about f ( x) and
n=2
a
n=2
n could

be true?


a
1
(A) f ( x) = and n converges by the integral test.
x n=2

a
1
(B) f ( x) = and n converges by the integral test.
2x n=2


(C) f ( x) = xe x and a
n=2
n diverges by the integral test.


a
1
(D) f ( x) = and diverges by the integral test.
x ( ln ( x ) )
2 n
n=2

AP Calculus BC: Convergent and Divergent Series 2022 AP Live Bryan Passwater & Tony Record
24. Level: AP4
If 0  an  b n where an and bn are both decreasing sequences for n  0 , which of the following must be
true?
 
(A) If  an converges, then
n =0
b
n=0
n converges.

 
(B) If  bn diverges, then a n converges.
n=0 n =0

 ( −1)
n
(C) If lim bn = 0 , then an converges.
n →
n =0

 

 ( −1) a
n
(D) If bn converges, then n converges.
n =0 n =0

25. Level: AP4


np
Given  (−1)n
n =1 n2 − 3
, for what value(s) of p will the series be conditionally convergent?

(A) p  1
(B) p = 1
1 3
(C)  p
2 2
(D) 0  p  1

26. Level: AP4



a
1
Consider the series n where lim an = . Which of the following must be true?
n → 2
n =1


(A) The series a
n =1
n diverges by the nth term test.


(B) The series a
n =1
n converges by the nth term test.


(C) The series a
n =1
n converges by the ratio test.


(D) The series a
n =1
n could converge or diverge.

AP Calculus BC: Convergent and Divergent Series 2022 AP Live Bryan Passwater & Tony Record
27. Level: AP5

 −2   n

The sum of the geometric series  4   is −1 where k is a constant. What is the value of k ?
n =1  k 

2
(A) k = − (B) k = 6 (C) k = 8 (D) k = 10
5

28. Level: AP5



 ne
−n
Which of the following is true when the integral test is applied to the series where f ( x) = xe− x ?
n =1

 ne
 2
f ( x ) dx =
−n
(A) 1 e
and
n =1
converges.

  
 f ( x ) dx converges and  ne =  f ( x ) dx .
−n
(B)
1 1
n =1

 

 f ( x ) dx diverges and the series  ne

−n
(C) diverges.
1
n =1

(D) The conditions for the integral test are not met and the integral test cannot be applied.

29. Level: AP5


Which of the following could be a valid conclusion of the integral test for the series a
n =1
n where f (n) = an

and f (n) is known to be positive and decreasing ?


(A) The series a n diverges because f ( x) is not continuous over the interval 1, ) .
n =1

 
(B) The series a
n =1
n diverges because  1
f ( x)dx  0 .


(C) The series a n converges to 2 because f ( x) is differentiable over the interval 1, ) and
n =1

 1
f ( x)dx = 2 .
 
(D) The series a n converges because f ( x) is continuous over the interval 1, ) and  f ( x)dx = 8 .
1
n =1

AP Calculus BC: Convergent and Divergent Series 2022 AP Live Bryan Passwater & Tony Record
30. Level: AP5
  −n
n3 k 
For which value(s) of k do both n
n =1
k2
and   + 1
n =1  2 
converge?

(A) −  k  −2

(B) −4  k  − 3
(C) k  −4 or k > 2

(D) −4  k  0 and k  3

AP Calculus BC: Convergent and Divergent Series 2022 AP Live Bryan Passwater & Tony Record