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Does ∑ (a_n + b_n) = ∑ a_n + ∑ b_n if the series is divergent?

I know ∑ (a_n + b_n) = ∑ a_n + ∑ b_n if ∑ a_n and ∑ b_n are convergent

But is ∑ (a_n + b_n) = ∑ a_n + ∑ b_n if ∑ a_n and ∑ b_n are divergent?

If ∑ (a_n + b_n) is divergent?

And does a convergent series and divergent series always sum up to a divergent one?

1 Answer

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  • 8 years ago
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    First question: Is ∑ (a_n + b_n) = ∑ a_n + ∑ b_n if ∑ a_n and ∑ b_n are divergent?

    Answer: Negative -- Here is a counter-example:

    ∑ ((-1)^(n+1) + 1^n) = ∑ 0 is clearly convergent to zero, but ∑ (-1)^(n+1) and ∑ 1^n are both divergent because the general term for either series does not go to zero as n goes to infinity.

    Second question: Do a convergent series and a divergent series always sum up to a divergent one?

    Answer: Affirmative -- Here is a quick indirect proof:

    If ∑ a_n + ∑ b_n = ∑ c_n where without loss of generality ∑ a_n is divergent and ∑ b_n is convergent, then write ∑ a_n = ∑ c_n - ∑ b_n (*). Now if ∑ c_n is convergent, the right hand side of (*) will be the difference or two convergent series, which in turn will be convergent. However the left hand side of (*) is divergent by assumption. The contradiction shows that ∑ c_n must be divergent.

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