When to use the root test. Is this not a good situation to use it?












2












$begingroup$


I'm having trouble seeing when to use the root test. nth powers occur, but I think the ratio test is easier:



enter image description here



Here is the problem:



$$sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{x^n}{n^44^n}$$



So the ratio test seems to work here, but can't the root test be used to? The problem is that the $n^4$ doesnt play well with the root test right?



Here is the beginning of my solution with the ratio test:



$$biggr lbrack frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x^{n+1}}{(n+1)^4 * 4^{n+1}} * frac{n^4*4^n}{x^n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x*n^4}{(n+1)^4 * 4} biggr rbrack = frac{x}{4}$$



So I don't think the explanation for when to use the root test is totally right right? I can't really use it here because the $n^4$ causes some problems with the root test right?










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    2












    $begingroup$


    I'm having trouble seeing when to use the root test. nth powers occur, but I think the ratio test is easier:



    enter image description here



    Here is the problem:



    $$sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{x^n}{n^44^n}$$



    So the ratio test seems to work here, but can't the root test be used to? The problem is that the $n^4$ doesnt play well with the root test right?



    Here is the beginning of my solution with the ratio test:



    $$biggr lbrack frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x^{n+1}}{(n+1)^4 * 4^{n+1}} * frac{n^4*4^n}{x^n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x*n^4}{(n+1)^4 * 4} biggr rbrack = frac{x}{4}$$



    So I don't think the explanation for when to use the root test is totally right right? I can't really use it here because the $n^4$ causes some problems with the root test right?










    share|cite|improve this question









    $endgroup$















      2












      2








      2





      $begingroup$


      I'm having trouble seeing when to use the root test. nth powers occur, but I think the ratio test is easier:



      enter image description here



      Here is the problem:



      $$sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{x^n}{n^44^n}$$



      So the ratio test seems to work here, but can't the root test be used to? The problem is that the $n^4$ doesnt play well with the root test right?



      Here is the beginning of my solution with the ratio test:



      $$biggr lbrack frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x^{n+1}}{(n+1)^4 * 4^{n+1}} * frac{n^4*4^n}{x^n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x*n^4}{(n+1)^4 * 4} biggr rbrack = frac{x}{4}$$



      So I don't think the explanation for when to use the root test is totally right right? I can't really use it here because the $n^4$ causes some problems with the root test right?










      share|cite|improve this question









      $endgroup$




      I'm having trouble seeing when to use the root test. nth powers occur, but I think the ratio test is easier:



      enter image description here



      Here is the problem:



      $$sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{x^n}{n^44^n}$$



      So the ratio test seems to work here, but can't the root test be used to? The problem is that the $n^4$ doesnt play well with the root test right?



      Here is the beginning of my solution with the ratio test:



      $$biggr lbrack frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x^{n+1}}{(n+1)^4 * 4^{n+1}} * frac{n^4*4^n}{x^n} biggr rbrack = biggr lbrack frac{x*n^4}{(n+1)^4 * 4} biggr rbrack = frac{x}{4}$$



      So I don't think the explanation for when to use the root test is totally right right? I can't really use it here because the $n^4$ causes some problems with the root test right?







      sequences-and-series






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      asked Apr 10 at 2:43









      Jwan622Jwan622

      2,39211632




      2,39211632






















          2 Answers
          2






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          3












          $begingroup$

          When doing a root test,
          powers of $n$ can be ignored
          because,
          for any fixed $k$,



          $lim_{n to infty} (n^k)^{1/n}
          =1
          $
          .



          This is because
          $ (n^k)^{1/n}
          =n^{k/n}
          =e^{k ln(n)/n}
          $

          and
          $lim_{n to infty} frac{ln(n)}{n}
          =0$
          .



          An easy,
          but nonelementary proof of this is this:



          $begin{array}\
          ln(n)
          &=int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t}\
          &<int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t^{1/2}}\
          &=2t^{1/2}|_1^n\
          &lt 2sqrt{n}\
          text{so}\
          dfrac{ln(n)}{n}
          &<dfrac{2}{sqrt{n}}\
          end{array}
          $



          Therefore
          $ (n^k)^{1/n}
          =n^{k/n}
          =e^{k ln(n)/n}
          lt e^{2k/sqrt{n}}
          to 1
          $
          .






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            4












            $begingroup$

            It doesn't cause any problems, because $lim_{ntoinfty}sqrt[n]{n^4}=1.$ Actually, the root test is stronger than the ratio test. Sometimes the root test limit exists, but the ratio test limit does not. However, if they both exist, then they are equal. Which is why if one limit is $1$ you shouldn't try the other, even though the root test is stronger.






            share|cite|improve this answer









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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes








              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              3












              $begingroup$

              When doing a root test,
              powers of $n$ can be ignored
              because,
              for any fixed $k$,



              $lim_{n to infty} (n^k)^{1/n}
              =1
              $
              .



              This is because
              $ (n^k)^{1/n}
              =n^{k/n}
              =e^{k ln(n)/n}
              $

              and
              $lim_{n to infty} frac{ln(n)}{n}
              =0$
              .



              An easy,
              but nonelementary proof of this is this:



              $begin{array}\
              ln(n)
              &=int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t}\
              &<int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t^{1/2}}\
              &=2t^{1/2}|_1^n\
              &lt 2sqrt{n}\
              text{so}\
              dfrac{ln(n)}{n}
              &<dfrac{2}{sqrt{n}}\
              end{array}
              $



              Therefore
              $ (n^k)^{1/n}
              =n^{k/n}
              =e^{k ln(n)/n}
              lt e^{2k/sqrt{n}}
              to 1
              $
              .






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                3












                $begingroup$

                When doing a root test,
                powers of $n$ can be ignored
                because,
                for any fixed $k$,



                $lim_{n to infty} (n^k)^{1/n}
                =1
                $
                .



                This is because
                $ (n^k)^{1/n}
                =n^{k/n}
                =e^{k ln(n)/n}
                $

                and
                $lim_{n to infty} frac{ln(n)}{n}
                =0$
                .



                An easy,
                but nonelementary proof of this is this:



                $begin{array}\
                ln(n)
                &=int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t}\
                &<int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t^{1/2}}\
                &=2t^{1/2}|_1^n\
                &lt 2sqrt{n}\
                text{so}\
                dfrac{ln(n)}{n}
                &<dfrac{2}{sqrt{n}}\
                end{array}
                $



                Therefore
                $ (n^k)^{1/n}
                =n^{k/n}
                =e^{k ln(n)/n}
                lt e^{2k/sqrt{n}}
                to 1
                $
                .






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  3












                  3








                  3





                  $begingroup$

                  When doing a root test,
                  powers of $n$ can be ignored
                  because,
                  for any fixed $k$,



                  $lim_{n to infty} (n^k)^{1/n}
                  =1
                  $
                  .



                  This is because
                  $ (n^k)^{1/n}
                  =n^{k/n}
                  =e^{k ln(n)/n}
                  $

                  and
                  $lim_{n to infty} frac{ln(n)}{n}
                  =0$
                  .



                  An easy,
                  but nonelementary proof of this is this:



                  $begin{array}\
                  ln(n)
                  &=int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t}\
                  &<int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t^{1/2}}\
                  &=2t^{1/2}|_1^n\
                  &lt 2sqrt{n}\
                  text{so}\
                  dfrac{ln(n)}{n}
                  &<dfrac{2}{sqrt{n}}\
                  end{array}
                  $



                  Therefore
                  $ (n^k)^{1/n}
                  =n^{k/n}
                  =e^{k ln(n)/n}
                  lt e^{2k/sqrt{n}}
                  to 1
                  $
                  .






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  When doing a root test,
                  powers of $n$ can be ignored
                  because,
                  for any fixed $k$,



                  $lim_{n to infty} (n^k)^{1/n}
                  =1
                  $
                  .



                  This is because
                  $ (n^k)^{1/n}
                  =n^{k/n}
                  =e^{k ln(n)/n}
                  $

                  and
                  $lim_{n to infty} frac{ln(n)}{n}
                  =0$
                  .



                  An easy,
                  but nonelementary proof of this is this:



                  $begin{array}\
                  ln(n)
                  &=int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t}\
                  &<int_1^n dfrac{dt}{t^{1/2}}\
                  &=2t^{1/2}|_1^n\
                  &lt 2sqrt{n}\
                  text{so}\
                  dfrac{ln(n)}{n}
                  &<dfrac{2}{sqrt{n}}\
                  end{array}
                  $



                  Therefore
                  $ (n^k)^{1/n}
                  =n^{k/n}
                  =e^{k ln(n)/n}
                  lt e^{2k/sqrt{n}}
                  to 1
                  $
                  .







                  share|cite|improve this answer












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                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Apr 10 at 3:32









                  marty cohenmarty cohen

                  75.6k549130




                  75.6k549130























                      4












                      $begingroup$

                      It doesn't cause any problems, because $lim_{ntoinfty}sqrt[n]{n^4}=1.$ Actually, the root test is stronger than the ratio test. Sometimes the root test limit exists, but the ratio test limit does not. However, if they both exist, then they are equal. Which is why if one limit is $1$ you shouldn't try the other, even though the root test is stronger.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$


















                        4












                        $begingroup$

                        It doesn't cause any problems, because $lim_{ntoinfty}sqrt[n]{n^4}=1.$ Actually, the root test is stronger than the ratio test. Sometimes the root test limit exists, but the ratio test limit does not. However, if they both exist, then they are equal. Which is why if one limit is $1$ you shouldn't try the other, even though the root test is stronger.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$
















                          4












                          4








                          4





                          $begingroup$

                          It doesn't cause any problems, because $lim_{ntoinfty}sqrt[n]{n^4}=1.$ Actually, the root test is stronger than the ratio test. Sometimes the root test limit exists, but the ratio test limit does not. However, if they both exist, then they are equal. Which is why if one limit is $1$ you shouldn't try the other, even though the root test is stronger.






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          It doesn't cause any problems, because $lim_{ntoinfty}sqrt[n]{n^4}=1.$ Actually, the root test is stronger than the ratio test. Sometimes the root test limit exists, but the ratio test limit does not. However, if they both exist, then they are equal. Which is why if one limit is $1$ you shouldn't try the other, even though the root test is stronger.







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered Apr 10 at 3:00









                          MelodyMelody

                          1,28012




                          1,28012






























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