# Math Help - sum of series convergence or divergence?

1. ## sum of series convergence or divergence?

Determine whether the series is convergent or divergent. If it is convergent, find its sum. If it is divergent, enter NONE.

i thought it was 0..that's wrong help please?

2. Originally Posted by Jessica11
Determine whether the series is convergent or divergent. If it is convergent, find its sum. If it is divergent, enter NONE.

$\sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{{5^n + 4^n }}
{{20^n }}} = \sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{1}
{{4^n }}} + \sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{1}
{{5^n }}}$

3. Originally Posted by Jessica11
Determine whether the series is convergent or divergent. If it is convergent, find its sum. If it is divergent, enter NONE.

i thought it was 0..that's wrong help please?

The terms of the series go to zero (that's one of the conditions for convergence), but their sum does not.

4. Originally Posted by redsoxfan325
The terms of the series go to zero (that's one of the conditions for convergence), but their sum does not.
That's not necessarily true. The terms going to zero says nothing of the convergence or divergence of a series.

5. Originally Posted by Danny
That's not necessarily true. The terms going to zero says nothing of the convergence or divergence of a series.
I said that's one of the conditions. The terms have to go to zero for the series to converge, but obviously it alone doesn't imply convergence.

6. Originally Posted by redsoxfan325
I said that's one of the conditions. The terms have to go to zero for the series to converge, but obviously it alone doesn't imply convergence.
I simply don't want people to think that the terms going to zero implies convergence! It was the way it was stated - those that don't know might find the implication.

7. Originally Posted by Jessica11
Determine whether the series is convergent or divergent. If it is convergent, find its sum. If it is divergent, enter NONE.
i thought it was 0..that's wrong help please?
@ Danny & redsoxfan325
What are you both talking about?
There is nothing in that post about terms of the series converging to zero.
The OP did think that the sum of the series is zero.

8. Originally Posted by Plato
@ Danny & redsoxfan325
What are you both talking about?
There is nothing in that post about terms of the series converging to zero.
The OP did think that the sum of the series is zero.
My comment was not to the OP but for those reading this thread. I often see that student's think that terms going to zero imply convergence. I just wanted to re-iterate that that is not necessarily true - that's all.

9. so if it is convergent then how do I find the sum of it?

10. Originally Posted by Plato
$\sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{{5^n + 4^n }}
{{20^n }}} = \sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{1}
{{4^n }}} + \sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{1}
{{5^n }}}$
Each is a geometric series that converges. Treat each separately, find the sum, the add.

11. thank you!