Maths WorkshopMaths problems with full solutions
Exercise 724Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Series › Convergence testsL1Added 2 Nov 2026

Cancellation revealed by a Taylor expansion

#Taylor expansion#equivalents#cancellation

Statement

Study ∑n≥1(1n−sin⁡1n)\displaystyle\sum_{n\ge1}\left(\frac1n-\sin\frac1n\right).

Hint

Expand sin⁡x=x−x36+o(x3)\sin x=x-\frac{x^3}6+o(x^3) at x=1nx=\frac1n.

Show solutionHide solution

Solution

Idea. The two terms 1n\frac1n and sin⁡1n\sin\frac1n almost cancel, so comparing the difference with 1n\frac1n would be a blunder.

Computation.
1n−sin⁡1n=1n−(1n−16n3+o ⁣(1n3))=16n3+o ⁣(1n3).\frac1n-\sin\frac1n=\frac1n-\left(\frac1n-\frac1{6n^3}+o\!\left(\frac1{n^3}\right)\right)=\frac1{6n^3}+o\!\left(\frac1{n^3}\right).
So the terms are positive for large nn and equivalent to 16n3\frac1{6n^3}.

Conclusion. ∑1n3\sum\frac1{n^3} converges, so the serie ∑n≥1(1n−sin⁡1n)\displaystyle\sum_{n\ge1}\left(\frac1n-\sin\frac1n\right) converges.

Remark. Each time the leading terms cancel, one has to go one order further in the expansion.