How do you use the integral test to determine the convergence or divergence of 1+1/sqrt2+1/sqrt3+1/sqrt4+...?

1 Answer
May 8, 2017

The series is divergent and therefore has no finite sum.

Explanation:

This is defined by the formula

t_n = 1/sqrt(n)

Therefore, if the integral

int_1^(oo) 1/sqrt(n) dn

Has a calculable value, then the series converges. The integral can be rewritten as

S = lim_(t->oo) int_1^t n^(-1/2) dn

S = [2n^(1/2)]_1^t

S = lim_(t->oo) 2sqrt(t) - lim_(t->oo) 2(1)^(1/2)

The first limit obviously has value of oo, therefore the series diverges and has no finite sum.

Hopefully this helps!