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Exercise 1393Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Series › Find the sumL1Added 6 Nov 2026

Three logarithmic series

#logarithmic series#telescoping#conditional convergence

Statement

Study the nature of the following series and, in case of convergence, compute their sum:
un=ln⁡ ⁣(1+1n),vn=ln⁡ ⁣(1−1n),wn=ln⁡ ⁣(1+(−1)nn).u_n=\ln\!\left(1+\frac1n\right),\qquad v_n=\ln\!\left(1-\frac1n\right),\qquad w_n=\ln\!\left(1+\frac{(-1)^n}{n}\right).

Hint

Use ln⁡(1+x)=ln⁡a−ln⁡b\ln(1+x)=\ln a-\ln b when 1+x=a/b1+x=a/b, and write partial sums to observe telescoping.

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Solution

1. Series ∑un\sum u_n. For n≥1n\ge1,
un=ln⁡ ⁣(n+1n)=ln⁡(n+1)−ln⁡n.u_n=\ln\!\left(\frac{n+1}{n}\right)=\ln(n+1)-\ln n.
The partial sum from n=1n=1 to NN telescopes:
SN=∑n=1N(ln⁡(n+1)−ln⁡n)=ln⁡(N+1)−ln⁡1=ln⁡(N+1).S_N=\sum_{n=1}^{N}(\ln(n+1)-\ln n)=\ln(N+1)-\ln 1=\ln(N+1).
As N→+∞N\to+\infty, SN→+∞S_N\to+\infty: the series diverges.

2. Series ∑vn\sum v_n. The term vnv_n is defined for n≥2n\ge2. For n≥2n\ge2,
vn=ln⁡ ⁣(n−1n)=ln⁡(n−1)−ln⁡n.v_n=\ln\!\left(\frac{n-1}{n}\right)=\ln(n-1)-\ln n.
The partial sum from n=2n=2 to NN telescopes:
TN=∑n=2N(ln⁡(n−1)−ln⁡n)=ln⁡1−ln⁡N=−ln⁡N.T_N=\sum_{n=2}^{N}(\ln(n-1)-\ln n)=\ln 1-\ln N=-\ln N.
As N→+∞N\to+\infty, TN→−∞T_N\to-\infty: the series diverges (to −∞-\infty).

3. Series ∑wn\sum w_n. The term wnw_n is defined for n≥2n\ge2. Split the partial sum into blocks:
w2p=ln⁡ ⁣(2p+12p),w2p+1=ln⁡ ⁣(2p2p+1).w_{2p}=\ln\!\left(\frac{2p+1}{2p}\right),\qquad w_{2p+1}=\ln\!\left(\frac{2p}{2p+1}\right).
Note that w2p+w2p+1=0w_{2p}+w_{2p+1}=0 for every p≥1p\ge1, since 2p+12p⋅2p2p+1=1\frac{2p+1}{2p}\cdot\frac{2p}{2p+1}=1.

Odd partial sums. For N≥1N\ge1:
Z2N+1=∑n=22N+1wn=∑p=1N(w2p+w2p+1)=0.Z_{2N+1}=\sum_{n=2}^{2N+1}w_n=\sum_{p=1}^{N}(w_{2p}+w_{2p+1})=0.

Even partial sums. For N≥1N\ge1:
Z2N=∑n=22Nwn=ln⁡ ⁣(32)+∑p=2N(w2p−1+w2p).Z_{2N}=\sum_{n=2}^{2N}w_n=\ln\!\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)+\sum_{p=2}^{N}(w_{2p-1}+w_{2p}).
But for p≥2p\ge2, w2p−1+w2p=ln⁡ ⁣(2p−12p)+ln⁡ ⁣(2p+12p)w_{2p-1}+w_{2p}=\ln\!\left(\frac{2p-1}{2p}\right)+\ln\!\left(\frac{2p+1}{2p}\right) — the cancellation now leaves ln⁡2N+12N\ln\frac{2N+1}{2N}:
Z2N=ln⁡32+ln⁡34+ln⁡54+⋯+ln⁡2N+12N=ln⁡2N+12N.Z_{2N}=\ln\frac{3}{2}+\ln\frac{3}{4}+\ln\frac{5}{4}+\cdots+\ln\frac{2N+1}{2N}=\ln\frac{2N+1}{2N}.
Indeed the product telescopes:
32⋅34⋅54⋅56⋯2N+12N=2N+12N.\frac{3}{2}\cdot\frac{3}{4}\cdot\frac{5}{4}\cdot\frac{5}{6}\cdots\frac{2N+1}{2N}=\frac{2N+1}{2N}.
As N→+∞N\to+\infty, Z2N=ln⁡ ⁣(1+12N)→0Z_{2N}=\ln\!\left(1+\frac{1}{2N}\right)\to0.

Conclusion. Both Z2NZ_{2N} and Z2N+1Z_{2N+1} tend to 00, so the sequence of partial sums (ZN)(Z_N) converges to 00. Hence the series ∑wn\sum w_n converges with sum 00.