# Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?

• October 12th 2012, 03:52 PM
MathIsOhSoHard
Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
Is there a way to rewrite these following expressions so that they have $(-1)^n\cdot$ in front of them?

$\frac{\sin(n)+\cos(n)}{n^2}$

$(-2)^n\frac{1}{n^2+7}$
• October 12th 2012, 04:34 PM
chiro
Re: Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
Hey MathIsOhSoHard.

For the second one, if n is an integer then (-2)^n = 2^n * (-1)^n. The first one is different though and has no easy factorization with (-1)^n (but you can look at complex numbers).
• October 12th 2012, 04:43 PM
MathIsOhSoHard
Re: Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
Are you sure the first one can't be rewritten?
I need to show that $\sum^\infty_{n=1}\frac{\sin(n)+\cos(n)}{n^2}$ is either convergent or divergent and since the expression is an alternating series, I should be able to use Leibniz criterion however I need to rewrite it with $(-1)^n$ as a factor.
Are you sure this can't be done? :(
• October 12th 2012, 04:47 PM
skeeter
Re: Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
note ...

$\frac{\sin{n}+\cos{n}}{n^2} < \frac{\sqrt{2}}{n^2}$ for all $n$
• October 12th 2012, 05:31 PM
MathIsOhSoHard
Re: Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter
note ...

$\frac{\sin{n}+\cos{n}}{n^2} < \frac{\sqrt{2}}{n^2}$ for all $n$

Since $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{n^2}$ is convergent, $\frac{\sin(n)+\cos(n)}{n^2}$ must also be convergent.
But how to test if it is absolute convergent? Isn't there any ways to use the alternating series test? And how did you come up with the $\sqrt{2}$?
• October 12th 2012, 05:40 PM
skeeter
Re: Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
what makes you think the series is alternating? (because it's not)

as far as the value $\sqrt{2}$ , find the maximum value of the function $y = \sin{x} + \cos{x}$
• October 12th 2012, 06:43 PM
HallsofIvy
Re: Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
Quote:

Originally Posted by MathIsOhSoHard
Are you sure the first one can't be rewritten?
I need to show that $\sum^\infty_{n=1}\frac{\sin(n)+\cos(n)}{n^2}$ is either convergent or divergent and since the expression is an alternating series

Well, there's your first problem. This isn't an alternating series. $\frac{sin(1)+ cos(1)}{1^2}= 1.38177$ and $\frac{sin(2)+ cos(2)}{2^2}= 0.12328$ both of which are positive

Quote:

, I should be able to use Leibniz criterion however I need to rewrite it with $(-1)^n$ as a factor.
Are you sure this can't be done? :(
• October 12th 2012, 10:50 PM
hollywood
Re: Is there a way to rewrite these expressions?
I've always called it the alternating series test instead of Leibniz criterion - just in case you run across that terminology.

For absolute convergence, you can just say that:

$\left|\frac{\sin(n)+\cos(n)}{n^2}\right| \le \frac{|\sin(n)|+|\cos(n)|}{n^2} \le \frac{2}{n^2}$

It's true that skeeter's bound is tighter, but you don't need it to prove convergence.

- Hollywood