Does the series #sum_(n=1)^oo(-1)^nlnn/sqrtn# converge or diverge?

1 Answer
Nov 16, 2017

The series:

#sum_(n=1)^oo (-1)^n lnn/sqrtn#

is convergent.

Explanation:

Consider the function:

#f(x) = lnx/sqrtx# with #x > 0#

evaluate the derivative using the quotient rule:

#(df)/dx = ( sqrtx d/dx lnx - lnx d/dx sqrtx)/(sqrtx)^2#

#(df)/dx = ( sqrtx/x - lnx/(2sqrtx))/x#

#(df)/dx = 1/x( 1/sqrtx - lnx/(2sqrtx))#

#(df)/dx = ( 2 - lnx)/(2xsqrtx)#

For #x > e^2# we have that #lnx > 2# and then #(df)/dx < 0#, so that #f(x)# is monotone decreasing.

It follows that for #n > 7#:

#(1) " " ln(n+1)/sqrt(n+1) < lnn/sqrtn#

The limit:

#lim_(x->oo) lnx/sqrtx#

is in the indeterminate form #oo/oo# so we can solve it using l'Hospital's rule:

#lim_(x->oo) lnx/sqrtx = lim_(x->oo) (d/dx lnx)/(d/dx sqrtx) = lim_(x->oo ) (1/x) / (1/(2sqrtx)) = lim_(x->oo) 2/sqrtx = 0#

In particular for #x = n#:

#(2) " " lim_(n->oo) lnn/sqrtn = 0#

As for #n>1# we have that #lnn/sqrtn > 0# the series:

#sum_(n=1)^oo (-1)^n lnn/sqrtn#

is an alternating series, and using Leibniz' criteria, we can see that #(1)# and #(2)# prove that the series is convergent.