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Exercise 361Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Series › Convergence testsL1Added 2 Nov 2026

The Bertrand series, all cases

#Bertrand series#parameters#integral test#comparison

Statement

Determine, depending on the real parameters α\alpha and β\beta, the nature of
∑n≥21nα(ln⁡n)β.\sum_{n\ge2}\frac1{n^\alpha(\ln n)^\beta}.

Hint

Split into α>1\alpha>1, α<1\alpha<1 and α=1\alpha=1. A power of nn, however small, beats every power of ln⁡n\ln n.

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Solution

α>1\alpha>1. Choose α′∈(1,α)\alpha'\in(1,\alpha). Whatever the sign of β\beta, (ln⁡n)−β≤nα−α′(\ln n)^{-\beta}\le n^{\alpha-\alpha'} for large nn (a power of ln⁡n\ln n is negligible against a positive power of nn). So un≤1nα′u_n\le\frac1{n^{\alpha'}}, and the series converges.

α<1\alpha<1. Choose α′∈(α,1)\alpha'\in(\alpha,1). Whatever the sign of β\beta, (ln⁡n)β≤nα′−α(\ln n)^\beta\le n^{\alpha'-\alpha} for large nn. So un≥1nα′u_n\ge\frac1{n^{\alpha'}}, and the series diverges.

α=1\alpha=1. For β>0\beta>0 the function 1x(ln⁡x)β\frac1{x(\ln x)^\beta} is positive and decreasing. With u=ln⁡xu=\ln x,
∫2∞dxx(ln⁡x)β=∫ln⁡2∞duuβ,\int_2^\infty\frac{dx}{x(\ln x)^\beta}=\int_{\ln2}^\infty\frac{du}{u^\beta},
finite iff β>1\beta>1. Fix an integer n≥2n\geq 2. On [n:n+1][n:n+1], we have
1(n+1)α(ln⁡(n+1))β≤f≤1nα(ln⁡n)β.\frac1{(n+1)^\alpha(\ln (n+1))^\beta} \leq f \leq \frac1{n^\alpha(\ln n)^\beta}.
Integrating on [N:N+1][N:N+1] gives
1(n+1)α(ln⁡(n+1))β≤∫nn+1f(x)dx≤1nα(ln⁡n)β.\frac1{(n+1)^\alpha(\ln (n+1))^\beta} \leq \int_n^{n+1} f(x) dx \leq \frac1{n^\alpha(\ln n)^\beta}.
Taking the sum from n=2n=2 to yields
∑n≥21(n+1)α(ln⁡(n+1))β≤∫2=∞f(x)dx≤∑n=2+∞1nα(ln⁡n)β.\sum_{n\geq 2} \frac1{(n+1)^\alpha(\ln (n+1))^\beta} \leq \int_2^{=\infty} f(x) dx \leq \sum_{n=2}^{+\infty} \frac1{n^\alpha(\ln n)^\beta}.
Thus the serie ∑n≥21(n+1)α(ln⁡(n+1))β\sum_{n\geq 2} \frac1{(n+1)^\alpha(\ln (n+1))^\beta} and the integral ∫2+∞f(x)dx\int_2^{+\infty} f(x) dx have the same nature.

For β≤0\beta\le0, 1n(ln⁡n)β≥1n\frac1{n(\ln n)^\beta}\ge\frac1n for n≥3n\ge3: divergence.

Conclusion. The series converges iff α>1\alpha>1, or α=1\alpha=1 and β>1\beta>1.