MAT1322C Practice Midterm 2

Instructions
◦ This is an 80-minute closed book test.
◦ The only calculators permitted are one of the following four Faculty-approved models:
Texas Instruments TI-30, Texas Instruments TI-34, Casio fx-260, Casio fx-300.
◦ If you are caught with any other make or model of calculator, then it will be confiscated,
allegations of academic fraud may be filed, and/or you may receive zero for this test.
◦ Read each question carefully.
◦ Questions 1–4 are multiple choice. No justification is needed.
◦ Questions 5–7 are long answer. You must justify your answers with a clear and complete
solution.
◦ Cellular phones, unauthorized electronic devices, or course notes are not allowed
during this test. Phones and devices must be turned off and put away in your bag.
Do not keep them in your possession such as in your pockets. If caught with such
a device or document, academic fraud allegations may be filed which may result in
you obtaining zero for this test.
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1
Multiple-choice Questions

Q1. The number N of bacteria in a culture satisfies the differential equation dN

dt
= kN , where t
is measured in hours. If there are initially 1000 bacteria and 3 hours later there are 3000
bacteria, find the number of bacteria expected 4 hours after the initial measurement. Round
your answer to the nearest integer.
A. 4327 B. 4819 C. 3711 D. 3628 E. 4658 F. 3226
Solution: A
dN 1
R R
Since dt
= kN , we have N
dN = k dt =⇒ ln |N | = kt + C =⇒ N = Aekt .
Since N (0) = 1000, we find A = 1000, so N (t) = 1000ekt .
ln(3)
Since N (3) = 3000, we find 3 = e3k =⇒ k = 3
.
ln(3)·t
Thus, N (t) = 1000e 3 = 1000(3)t/3 .
Finally, N (4) = 1000(3)4/3 ≈ 4327

∞
X 5n−1
Q2. Determine the sum of the geometric series 9 2n−2 if it exists.
n=1
2
3 12
A. 15 B. C. 1 D. E. 3 F. The series is divergent.
5 5

Solution: Q2. F
The general term of this series is
5n−1  5 n−1
an = 9
= 9 .
22n−2 4
The series is geometric with common ratio r = 5/4. Since |r| > 1, this series is divergent.

2
 2n+1
Q3. For all n ≥ 1, let an = 4n+2
. Which of the following statements is true?
∞
X
A. The sequence {an }∞
n=1 converges and the series an also converges.
n=1
∞
X
B. The sequence {an }∞
n=1 converges and the series an diverges.
n=1
∞
X
C. The sequence {an }∞
n=1 diverges and the series an converges.
n=1
∞
X
D. The sequence {an }∞
n=1 diverges and the series an also diverges.
n=1

Solution: Q3. B
2n + 1 2 1
For the sequence, we have lim an = lim = = . Thus, the sequence converges to 12 .
n→∞ n→∞ 4n + 2 4 2
P∞
Since limn→∞ an 6= 0, the series n=1 an is divergent by the Test for Divergence.

∞
X 5n (x − 3)n
Q4. What is the radius of convergence for √ ?
n=0
n + 5

1 1 1 8 3 2 3
A. R = 5
B. R = 6
C. R = 8
D. R = 5
E. R = 8
F. R = 5
G. R = 5

H. None of the above. Solution: Q4. A

We use the Ratio Test:

n+1 ·(x−3)n+1 √
|5 √
n+1+5
| |5(x − 3) n + 5|
lim 5n (x−3)n
= lim √ = |5(x − 3)|.
n→∞ | √n+5 | n→∞ n+6

Now for convergence, we need that this limit is less than 1:

1
|5(x − 3)| < 1 ↔ |x − 3| < .
5
So the radius of convergence is r = 51 .

3
Long-Answer Questions: Give detailed solutions, clearly showing each of your steps.

Q5. Use an appropriate test method to determine whether each of the following series is convergent
or divergent. State the conditions needed in order for the test to apply.
∞ ∞ ∞  n
X n3 + 2 X 1 X 2n + 1
(i) √ (ii) (iii)
n=1
n7 + 8 n=3
n(ln(n))2 n=1
5n
Solution:
3
(i) This is a series with positive terms an = √nn7+2 , we can apply the comparison test. The term
√ +8
an of this series is similar to n3 / n7 = 1/n1/2 . Hence we expect the series to be divergent. To
show this we need to give a lower bound for an . For all n ≥ 1, one has

n3 + 2 n3 n3 1
√ ≥ √ ≥ √ = 1/2 ≥ 0
n7 + 8 n7 + 8 9n7 3n
1
P∞ 1
and the series 3 n=1 n1/2 is divergent (p-series with p = 1/2 ≤ 1). We conclude by comparison
∞ 3
X n +2
test that the series √ is divergent.
n=1
n7 + 8
1
(ii) This is a series with positive terms an = n(ln(n)) 2 . We will use the integral test. The function
1
f (x) = x(ln(x))2 is continuous, positive, and satisfies an = f (n).
Moreover
0 (ln(x))2 + x × 2 ln(x)
x ln(x) + 2
f (x) = − 2 4
=− 2 <0
x (ln(x)) x (ln(x))3
for x > 1, hence f is decreasing on (1, ∞).
One has
Z ∞ Z t Z ln(t)
1 1 1
dx = lim dx = lim du
3 x(ln(x))2 t→∞ 3 x(ln(x))
2 t→∞ ln(3) u2
" #ln(t)
−1 1 1 1
= lim = − lim = .
t→∞ u ln(3) t→∞ ln(t) ln(3)
ln(3)
R∞ 1
Hence the improper integral 3 x(ln(x))2
dx is convergent. By the integral test, the series
∞
X 1
is convergent.
n=3
n(ln(n))2

4
 2n+1 n


(iii) This is a series with positive terms an = 5n
. We use the root test. One has
 n  n1
p
n 2n + 1 2n + 1
|an | = =
5n 5n
 
2 1
= × 1+ .
5 2n
∞
2n+1 n
p 2
P

Hence lim n
|an | = 5
< 1. By the root test, we conclude that the series 5n
is
n→∞ n=1
convergent.

∞
X n
Q6. 1. Does the following series converge: (−1)n+1 ? Justify your answer.
n=3
n2 +4
2. Does the series above converge absolutely? Please justify your answer.
3. Give an upper bound on the absolute value of the error if we use the first 1000 terms of
the series to approximate its sum.
You do NOT need to compute S1000 . Just give the maximum possible error.
Solution:
(1) We use the alternating series test. First, we show that the terms are decreasing:
n n+1
bn = , bn+1 =
n2 +4 (n + 1)2 + 4

We need to show bn+1 ≤ bn :

n+1 n
2
≤ 2
(n + 1) + 4 n +4
n+1 n
≤ 2
n2 + 2n + 5 n +4
(n + 1)(n2 + 4) ≤ n · (n2 + 2n + 5)
n3 + n2 + 4n + 4 ≤ n3 + 2n2 + 5n
4 ≤ n2 + n
which is satisfied for n ≥ 2. Hence the general term is decreasing for indices n ≥ 2 (the first
term is 51 , the second term is 14 , but then the third term is already 13
3
).
For the second condition of the AST, we check:
n 1
lim = lim = 0.
n→∞ n2 + 4 n→∞ n

Hence the series converges by the alternating series test.

5
 P∞ n
(2) To check whether the series converges absolutely means to check whether n=1 n2 +4 converges.
We use a simple comparison:
∞ ∞ ∞
X n X n 1 X1
≥ = · .
n=1
n2 + 4 n=1 4n2 4 n=1 n

The last series is the harmonic series which diverges as a p-series with p = 1. So the series of
absolute values diverges, hence the series is NOT absolutely convergent.
(3) By the Alternating Series Estimation Theorem, we have

|error| = |s − sn | ≤ bn+1 .

If we use S1000 , then the absolute value of the error is at most

1001
b1001 = ≈ 0.00099899
(1001)2 + 4

∞
X xn+1
Q7. Consider the power series
n=0
(n + 1)3n+1
Find its radius of convergence and find its interval of convergence.
Be sure to name any series tests you use to find this interval. Show all your work!
Solution: We apply the Ratio test:
xn+2
(n+2)3n+2 xn+2 (n + 1)3n+1 (n + 1)|x| |x|
lim xn+1
= lim n+1 n+2
= lim = .
n→∞ n→∞ x (n + 2)3 n→∞ 3(n + 2) 3
(n+1)3n+1

Thus the radius of convergence is R = 3 and the series is convergent when |x| < 3 and divergent
for |x| > 3. Therefore,
We have also to check the end points:
x = 3 For x = 3, we have ∞
P 3n+1
P∞ 1
P∞ 1
n=0 (n+1)3n+1 = n=0 n+1
= m=1 m .

This is the Harmonic series, which is divergent.

P∞ (−3)n+1 P∞ (−1)n+1 1
x = −3 For x = −3, we have n=0 (n+1)3n+1 = n=0 n+1
. Using bn = n+1
, we find
1 1
i) bn+1 = n+1
< n
= bn for all n ≥ 0, and
1
ii) lim bn = lim = 0.
n→∞ n→∞ n + 1
P∞ (−3)n+1
Thus, n=0 (n+1)3n+1 converges by virtue of the AST.
Therefore, interval of convergence of the given power series is −3 ≤ x < 3.