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Exercise 1175Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Differentiation › Taylor expansionsL2Added 3 Nov 2026

Convergence of three series via expansions

#series#equivalents#comparison

Statement

Determine the nature of:
1. ∑(1n−sin⁡1n)\displaystyle\sum\left(\frac1n-\sin\frac1n\right),
2. ∑(e−(1+1n)n)\displaystyle\sum\left(e-\left(1+\frac1n\right)^n\right),
3. ∑(nsin⁡1n−1)\displaystyle\sum\left(n\sin\frac1n-1\right).

Hint

Find an equivalent of the general term of the form cnα\frac cn^\alpha and compare with a Riemann series.

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Solution

1. sin⁡1n=1n−16n3+o ⁣(1n3)\sin\frac1n=\frac1n-\frac1{6n^3}+o\!\left(\frac1{n^3}\right), so 1n−sin⁡1n∼16n3>0\frac1n-\sin\frac1n\sim\frac1{6n^3}>0. Convergent (comparison with ∑1n3\sum\frac1{n^3}).

2. By the expansion (1+1n)n=e−e2n+o ⁣(1n)\left(1+\frac1n\right)^n=e-\frac e{2n}+o\!\left(\frac1n\right), the term is ∼e2n>0\sim\frac e{2n}>0. Divergent (comparison with the harmonic series).

3. nsin⁡1n−1=−16n2+o ⁣(1n2)∼−16n2n\sin\frac1n-1=-\frac1{6n^2}+o\!\left(\frac1{n^2}\right)\sim-\frac1{6n^2}. The terms are eventually of constant sign (negative), so the series converges (absolutely) by comparison with ∑1n2\sum\frac1{n^2}.

Remark. The sign of the general term must be constant (at least eventually) for equivalents to give a valid conclusion. For terms of changing sign, equivalents may fail.