# [SOLVED]abs converge issue

#### dwsmith

##### Well-known member
The book says this isn't absolutely convergent but I keep getting it is by the ratio test. What is wrong?

The Fourier series for $f$ is $f(\theta) = 2\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{n + 1}}{n}\sin n\theta$.
Then
$$-\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{\infty}\left|\frac{(-1)^{n + 1}}{n}\right|.$$
By the ratio test, we have
\begin{alignat*}{3}
\lim_{n\to\infty}\left|\frac{(-1)^{n + 2}n}{(-1)^{n + 1}(n + 1)}\right| & = & \lim_{n\to\infty}\left|\frac{-n}{n + 1}\right|\\
& = & \lim_{n\to\infty}|-1|\frac{n}{n + 1}\\
& = & 1 < \infty
\end{alignat*}

I solved this problem in another manner but shouldn't I be able to get the same answer using the Ratio Test?

Last edited:

#### Reckoner

##### Member
I solved this problem in another manner but shouldn't I be able to get the same answer using the Ratio Test?
The ratio test is inconclusive if the limit $$L = 1$$. You are perhaps confusing this with the limit comparison test, which only requires the limit to exist and be nonzero in order to establish convergence or divergence.