# Math Help - Yet another series question

1. ## Yet another series question

Determine whether the following diverges or converges:

$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k!}{k^{k}}$

The ratio test is inconclusive, and it seems like I'll need to use some form of the comparison test, but I'm stuck on where to begin.

2. Originally Posted by Pinkk
Determine whether the following diverges or converges:

$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k!}{k^{k}}$

The ratio test is inconclusive, and it seems like I'll need to use some of the comparison test, but I'm stuck one where to begin.

Note that for $k > 2$ that

$k! < k^k$

check the case k =4

$1\cdot 2\cdot 3 \cdot 4 < 4\cdot 4 \cdot 4 \cdot 4$

3. Originally Posted by Pinkk
Determine whether the following diverges or converges:

$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k!}{k^{k}}$

The ratio test is inconclusive, and it seems like I'll need to use some form of the comparison test, but I'm stuck on where to begin.
actually the ratio test works very nicely. you'll get $\lim_{k\to\infty} \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_k} = \frac{1}{e} < 1,$ and so the series is convergent.

4. For the ratio test I got:

$\lim_{k\to \infty}\frac{(k+1)k!}{k\cdot k^{k}}\cdot \frac{k^{k}}{k!}=\lim_{k\to \infty} \frac{k+1}{k}=1$

And I understand that $k! \le k^{k}$, but I'm not sure how to apply that using a comparison; I always end up setting up a comparison where the larger series is divergent, which doesn't help.

5. Originally Posted by Pinkk
Determine whether the following diverges or converges:

$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k!}{k^{k}}$

The ratio test is inconclusive, and it seems like I'll need to use some form of the comparison test, but I'm stuck on where to begin.
Use NoncomAlg observation

$\lim_{k \to \infty} \bigg|\frac{(k+1)!}{(k+1)^{k+1}}\cdot \frac{k^k}{k!} \bigg|$

$\lim_{k \to \infty} \bigg|\frac{(k+1)!}{(k+1)^{k}(k+1)}\cdot \frac{k^k}{k!} \bigg|$

$\lim_{k \to \infty} \bigg| \frac{k^k}{(k+1)^k}\bigg|$

$\lim_{k \to \infty} \bigg| \left( \frac{k}{k+1}\right)^k\bigg|=\lim_{k \to \infty} \bigg| \left( \frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{k}}\right)^k\bigg|=\frac{1}{e}$

6. Bah, I'm an idiot; forgot to change the base of $k^{k}$. Thanks.

7. here's a related question: what is $\lim_{k\to\infty} \frac{k}{\sqrt[k]{k!}}$ ?

8. $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k^{k}}{k!}$

$\lim_{k\to \infty}\frac{a_{k+1}}{a_{k}}=\lim_{k\to \infty}\frac{(k+1)^{k+1}}{(k+1)k!}\cdot \frac{k!}{k^{k}}=\lim_{k\to \infty}(\frac{k+1}{k})^{k} = e$

And since $e > 1$, by the ratio test, the series diverges.

I guess you can see that it diverges that since $k^{k}\ge k!$, the sequence is increasing, which means $\lim_{k\to \infty} a_{k} \ne 0$, and the series must therefore diverge.

9. Originally Posted by Pinkk
$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k^{k}}{k!}$

$\lim_{k\to \infty}\frac{a_{k+1}}{a_{k}}=\lim_{k\to \infty}\frac{(k+1)^{k+1}}{(k+1)k!}\cdot \frac{k!}{k^{k}}=\lim_{k\to \infty}(\frac{k+1}{k})^{k} = e$

And since $e > 1$, by the ratio test, the series diverges.

I guess you can see that it diverges that since $k^{k}\ge k!$, the sequence is increasing, which means $\lim_{k\to \infty} a_{k} \ne 0$, and the series must therefore diverge.
my question was to find $\lim_{k\to\infty} \frac{k}{\sqrt[k]{k!}}.$ the point here's that $\lim_{k\to\infty} \left| \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_k} \right|=\lim_{k\to\infty} \sqrt[k]{|a_k|},$ if one of the limits exists of course. that's why the ratio test is inconclusive if and only if the root test is

inconclusive. now let $a_k=\frac{k^k}{k!}.$ you showed that $\lim_{k\to\infty} \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_k}=e.$ thus we must also have $e=\lim_{k\to\infty} \sqrt[k]{a_k}=\lim_{k\to\infty} \frac{k}{\sqrt[k]{k!}}.$

10. You seem to like series. Try this one

$
\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} 2^{n} -1
$

11. My mistake for misreading your question. Also, for some reason our Calculus 3 class omits teaching the root test, so I'll have to read up on that on my own when time permits. Right now, I have to focus on the material that's gonna be on my upcoming exam.

And I'll try that one another time, my brain is dead for the day.

12. Give it a try sometime.

It's a sneaky series that find it's way into my first test on infinite series last semester. It took 15 minutes for me to figure it out.

13. Well, I'm pretty sure it'll diverge because if I recall correctly from class, since you can express that series as:

$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}2^{k} -\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}1$

It is pretty obvious $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}1$ will diverge, so the whole series diverges. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

14. It is necessary to use ratio test if the given sequence is a decreasing sequence so i d wish to know how to prove k!/k^k is decreasing everywhere ......

15. Originally Posted by Pinkk
Well, I'm pretty sure it'll diverge because if I recall correctly from class, since you can express that series as:

$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}2^{k} -\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}1$

It is pretty obvious $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}1$ will diverge, so the whole series diverges. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
I made a mistake with the question.

it is supposed to be

$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}2^{\frac{1}{k}} -1$

Other than that it would be trivial