Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ia/paper-1/9f/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 ia Paper 1 9F i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The comparison test for series says that an eventual upper bound by a convergent positive series proves convergence, while an eventual lower bound by a divergent positive series proves divergence. The p-series converges exactly when .
If , then for all sufficiently large , soand the series converges. If , choose . The allowed logarithmic bound, applied with exponent , gives eventually. Thusand the series diverges.
For , use the integral test for convergence: for an eventually positive decreasing function , and either both converge or both diverge. Here is decreasing for , and the substitution givesThis integral converges exactly when . Hence the polynomial-logarithmic series convergence classification isAll other allowed positive give divergence.
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