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Exercise 726Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Series › Convergence testsL1Added 2 Nov 2026

Absolute, conditional or no convergence

#absolute convergence#alternating series#p-series

Statement

For each real pp, determine whether ∑n≥1(−1)nnp\displaystyle\sum_{n\ge1}\frac{(-1)^n}{n^p} is absolutely convergent, conditionally convergent, or divergent.

Hint

Three ranges: p>1p>1, 0<p≤10<p\le1 and p≤0p\le0. Use the pp-series test and the alternating series test.

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Solution

p>1p>1. ∑1np\sum\frac1{n^p} converges, so the series converges absolutely.

0<p≤10<p\le1. ∑1np\sum\frac1{n^p} diverges, so there is no absolute convergence. But 1np\frac1{n^p} is decreasing with limit 00, so by the alternating series test the series converges. It is conditionally convergent.

p≤0p\le0. The terms (−1)nnp=(−1)nn∣p∣\frac{(-1)^n}{n^p}=(-1)^nn^{|p|} do not tend to 00 (their absolute value is ≥1\ge1), so the series diverges.

Summary.
- p>1p>1: absolutely convergent,
- 0<p≤10<p\le1: conditionally convergent,
- p≤0p\le0: divergent.

Remark. For p=1p=1 the sum is −ln⁡2-\ln2: a conditional convergence that is deeply sensitive to the order of the terms.