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Exercise 1396Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Series › Find the sumL1Added 6 Nov 2026

Three series with computed sums

#geometric series#telescoping#arctan identity

Statement

Study the nature and, in case of convergence, compute the sum of the following series:

  1. ∑n≥12n+13n\displaystyle\sum_{n\ge1}\frac{2^{n+1}}{3^n};
  2. ∑n≥1ln⁡ ⁣(1−2n(n+1))\displaystyle\sum_{n\ge1}\ln\!\left(1-\frac{2}{n(n+1)}\right);
  3. ∑n≥1arctan⁡ ⁣(1n2+n+1)\displaystyle\sum_{n\ge1}\arctan\!\left(\frac{1}{n^2+n+1}\right).
Hint

For 1., factor as a geometric series. For 2., expand ln⁡(n−1)(n+2)n(n+1)\ln\frac{(n-1)(n+2)}{n(n+1)} and telescope. For 3., use arctan⁡a+arctan⁡b=arctan⁡a+b1−ab\arctan a+\arctan b=\arctan\frac{a+b}{1-ab} with x=−nx=-n, y=n+1y=n+1.

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Solution

(1) For n≥1n\ge1,
un+1un=2n+23n+1⋅3n2n+1=23<1,\frac{u_{n+1}}{u_n}=\frac{2^{n+2}}{3^{n+1}}\cdot\frac{3^n}{2^{n+1}}=\frac{2}{3}<1,
so by d'Alembert's ratio test the series converges. Moreover,
∑n≥12n+13n=2∑n≥1(23)n=2⋅2/31−2/3=2⋅2=4.\sum_{n\ge1}\frac{2^{n+1}}{3^n}=2\sum_{n\ge1}\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^n=2\cdot\frac{2/3}{1-2/3}=2\cdot2=4.
Hence the series converges with sum 44.

(2) For n≥1n\ge1,
1−2n(n+1)=(n−1)(n+2)n(n+1),1-\frac{2}{n(n+1)}=\frac{(n-1)(n+2)}{n(n+1)},
so
ln⁡ ⁣(1−2n(n+1))=ln⁡(n−1)+ln⁡(n+2)−ln⁡n−ln⁡(n+1).\ln\!\left(1-\frac{2}{n(n+1)}\right)=\ln(n-1)+\ln(n+2)-\ln n-\ln(n+1).
Regroup as
ln⁡(n+2)−ln⁡(n+1)−(ln⁡n−ln⁡(n−1)).\ln(n+2)-\ln(n+1)-\bigl(\ln n-\ln(n-1)\bigr).
The partial sum telescopes:
Sn=ln⁡(n+2)−ln⁡n−ln⁡3.S_n=\ln(n+2)-\ln n-\ln 3.
As n→+∞n\to+\infty, ln⁡(n+2)−ln⁡n=ln⁡ ⁣(1+2n)→0\ln(n+2)-\ln n=\ln\!\left(1+\frac2n\right)\to0, so Sn→−ln⁡3S_n\to-\ln3.
The series converges with sum −ln⁡3-\ln 3.

(3) Using arctan⁡a+arctan⁡b=arctan⁡a+b1−ab\arctan a+\arctan b=\arctan\frac{a+b}{1-ab} with x=−nx=-n and y=n+1y=n+1:
arctan⁡(−n)+arctan⁡(n+1)=arctan⁡11+n(n+1)=arctan⁡ ⁣(1n2+n+1).\arctan(-n)+\arctan(n+1)=\arctan\frac{1}{1+n(n+1)}=\arctan\!\left(\frac{1}{n^2+n+1}\right).
Since arctan⁡(−n)=−arctan⁡(n)\arctan(-n)=-\arctan(n),
arctan⁡ ⁣(1n2+n+1)=arctan⁡(n+1)−arctan⁡(n).\arctan\!\left(\frac{1}{n^2+n+1}\right)=\arctan(n+1)-\arctan(n).
The partial sum telescopes:
Sn=arctan⁡(n+1)−arctan⁡(1)=arctan⁡(n+1)−π4.S_n=\arctan(n+1)-\arctan(1)=\arctan(n+1)-\frac{\pi}{4}.
As n→+∞n\to+\infty, arctan⁡(n+1)→π/2\arctan(n+1)\to\pi/2. Hence Sn→π4S_n\to\frac{\pi}{4}: the series converges with sum π/4\pi/4.

Conclusion. (1) converges, sum 44; (2) converges, sum −ln⁡3-\ln3; (3) converges, sum π/4\pi/4.