Cauchy Condensation Test

Theorem
Let $\sequence {a_n}: n \mapsto \map a n$ be a decreasing sequence of strictly positive terms in $\R$ which converges with a limit of zero.

That is, for every $n$ in the domain of $\sequence {a_n}$: $a_n > 0$, $a_n \ge a_{n + 1}$, and $a_n \to 0$ as $n \to +\infty$.

Then the series:


 * $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty a_n$

converges the condensed series:


 * $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty 2^n \map a {2^n}$

converges.

Necessary Condition
We will first show that:
 * if the condensed series $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty 2^n \map a {2^n}$ converges

then:
 * $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty a_n$ converges as well.

Assume $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty 2^n \map a {2^n}$ converges.

Consider the graph of $\sequence {a_n}$ and the partial sums of $\sum 2^n \map a {2^n}$:


 * Cauchycondensation1.png

The dotted black line represents the sequence $\sequence {a_n}$.

The $n$th rectangle has:


 * Base equal to $2^n$


 * Altitude equal to $\map a {2^n}$

The series of partial sums of the areas of the rectangles are:


 * $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^N 2^n \map a {2^n}$

which is precisely the defined condensed series.

The series $\sum a_n$ can be viewed as the sum of the areas of rectangles with width $1$ and height $a_n$.

The diagram suggests that the partial sums of $\sum a_n$ are not greater than the condensed partial sums:


 * $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^N a_n \le \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^N 2^n \map a {2^n}$

To formalize this claim, observe that because $\sequence {a_n}$ is decreasing:


 * $a_1 + \underbrace {a_2 + a_3}_{\le 2 a_2} + \underbrace {a_4 + a_5 + a_6 + a_7}_{\le 4 a_4} + \cdots + a_N \le a_1 + 2 a_2 + 4 a_4 + \cdots + 2^N \map a {2^N}$

As $n \to +\infty$, the converges by hypothesis.

Hence $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty a_n$ also converges, by the Comparison Test.

Sufficient Condition
We will show that if $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty a_n$ converges, the condensed series $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty 2^n \map a {2^n}$ converges as well.

Assume $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty a_n$ converges.

From the Combination Theorem for Sequences, $2\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty a_n = \displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty 2 a_n$ converges as well.

Consider, then, the graph of $\sequence {a_n}$ and of the partial sums of what will be shown to equal $\displaystyle \frac 1 2 \sum 2^n \map a {2^n}$:


 * Cauchycondensation2.png

The dotted black line represents the sequence $\sequence {a_n}$.

The $n$th rectangle has:


 * Base equal to $2^n$


 * Altitude equal to $\map a {2 \cdot 2^n}$

The series of partial sums of the areas of the rectangles are:

From Deletion of Terms from a Sequence, it is justified to examine only the behavior of $n$ for $n \ge 2$.

The series $\sum a_n$ can be viewed as the sum of the area of rectangles with height $a_n$ and width $1$.

The diagram suggests that the partial sums of $\sum a_n$ satisfy the following inequality:

To formalize this claim, observe that because $\sequence {a_n}$ is decreasing:

By hypothesis, the converges as $n \to +\infty$.

Hence the condensed series converges as well, by the Comparison Test.

Also see

 * Cauchy Condescension Test