Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2015 / Prelims / Mathematics II / 3 / a

For a series of complex numbers, form the partial sums $S_N={\sum }_{n=1}^N{a}_n$. The series converges when these partial sums have a finite limit of a sequence $S\in \mathbb{C}$:The series has absolute convergence when ${\sum }_{n=1}^{\infty }|a_n|$ converges as a series of nonnegative real numbers. A series beginning at $n=0$ uses the same definitions with that starting index.

Let $T_N={\sum }_{n=1}^N|a_n|$ and $S_N={\sum }_{n=1}^N{a}_n$. If $(T_N)$ converges, it is a Cauchy sequence. Thus, for every $\epsilon >0$, some $N$ makeswhere the triangle inequality gives the bound. Therefore $(S_N)$ is a Cauchy sequence in the complex numbers. These form a complete metric space, so $(S_N)$ has a finite limit of a sequence. Equivalently, apply the Cauchy criterion for series. Hence absolute convergence implies convergence.

The finite geometric series identity, obtained by subtracting $t$ times the sum from the sum itself, givesFor $0<t<1$, the geometric sequence $t^{N+1}$ tends to zero by Question 2(a)(iii). Therefore