Computer Science I / Sequences and Series
Practice question · True or false

The terms of a series shrinking toward zero is not enough to make the series converge.

Hints
  1. Consider the harmonic series.
  2. Grouping its terms gives blocks each summing to at least a half.
Show the answer

True

Why

True. 1/n\sum 1/n diverges although its terms tend to zero: grouping as 1/3+1/4>1/21/3+1/4 > 1/2, then the next four terms >1/2> 1/2, and so on gives unboundedly many half-units. Terms tending to zero is necessary for convergence and not sufficient, the distinction the nth-term test makes precise.

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