Exercise 1508Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Series › Convergence testsL1Added 2 Nov 2026
A ratio test that fails, and how to conclude
#ratio test#central binomial coefficients#induction#Stirling
Statement
Let . Show that diverges.
Hint
The ratio tends to , so d'Alembert says nothing. Prove by induction that .
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Solution
The ratio test is inconclusive.
A lower bound. We prove by induction. For : . Assume it for . Then
where the last inequality is equivalent (squaring) to , i.e. .
Conclusion. diverges (), so diverges by comparison.
With Stirling. , and the series diverges for the same reason.
Remark. Note that yet . The series of is the Taylor series of at .