5.1 Series

Series is a summation according to the order of the sequence.

Definition 5.1.1 Assuming V is a linear space, {an}n≥1,an∈V,∀n≥1, then ∑n=1+∞an is called a series.

Definition 5.1.2 Assuming the partial sum sequence (also sum of first N terms) is SN=∑n=1Nan∈V, ∥⋅∥ is a norm on V, then series ∑n=1+∞an is convergent if ∃S∈V such that limN→+∞SN→S i.e. ∀ϵ>0, ∃Nϵ such that ∀N≥Nϵ, ∥S−SN∥<ϵ. At this time S is called the sum of series ∑n=1+∞an.

Definition 5.1.3 Series ∑n=1+∞an is divergent if it’s not convergent.

Note

The sum of series.

Example 5.1.1 Geometric series 1+x+x2+⋯. When ∥x∥<1, it’s convergent, and

1 + x + x2 + ⋅⋅⋅ = (1 − x )−1

If x∈R or C, ∥x∥ is the absolute value |x|; if x is a square matrix, ∥x∥ is the norm of matrix.

Proof. SN=1+x+⋯+xN−1(1−x)SN=1+x+⋯+xN−1−(x+x2+⋯+xN−1+xN)=1−xN∥(1−x)SN−1∥=∥−xN∥≤∥x∥N→0,N→+∞∥SN−(1−x)−1∥≤∥1−x−1∥∥(1−x)SN−1∥→0

Therefore, SN=(1−x)−1.

Example 5.1.2 an=1n(n+1), n≥1. We have

                          1                       1      1                   1
a1 + ⋅⋅⋅ + aN = ∖lef t(1 − 2-∖right) + ⋅⋅⋅ + ∖left(N-− N--+-1 ∖right) = 1 − N-+--1 → 1