Math 2.0

Sequences, series, summability Definition

Convergence of an infinite product

Builds on Infinite productConvergent sequence

Definition

Let (an)n≥1(a_n)_{n \ge 1} be a sequence of complex numbers, and consider the infinite product ∏n=1∞an\prod_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n. The product converges if there is an index mm such that:

  1. an≠0a_n \ne 0 for all n≥mn \ge m;
  2. the partial products qN=∏n=mNanq_N = \prod_{n=m}^{N} a_n converge to a limit qq as N→∞N \to \infty;
  3. q≠0q \ne 0.

The value of the product is then ∏n=1∞an=a1⋯am−1 q\prod_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n = a_1 \cdots a_{m-1} \, q. A product that does not converge diverges.

Remarks

The value does not depend on the choice of mm. If the product converges, then an→1a_n \to 1, since an=qn/qn−1a_n = q_n / q_{n-1} for n>mn > m. Example: ∏n=2∞(1−1/n2)\prod_{n=2}^{\infty} (1 - 1/n^2) converges with value 12\tfrac12. With m=2m = 2, the partial products are ∏n=2N(n−1)(n+1)n2=N+12N\prod_{n=2}^{N} \frac{(n-1)(n+1)}{n^2} = \frac{N+1}{2N}, which tend to 12≠0\tfrac12 \ne 0. Non-example: ∏n=2∞(1−1/n)\prod_{n=2}^{\infty} (1 - 1/n) has partial products 1/N→01/N \to 0, so it fails clause 3 for every mm and diverges. The product 0⋅2⋅2⋅2⋯0 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdots also diverges, because its tail products are growing powers of 22 with no limit.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 7 pages in order. The foundations come first.

Show the path as a graph
Each page uses the pages above it. The colour of the bar on a box shows how strong the evidence is, and the box also gives it as text. The list has the same pages.
  • no evidence level
  1. Complex numbers object
  2. Sequence definition
  3. Infinite product definition
  4. Real sequence definition
  5. Limit of a sequence definition
  6. Convergent sequence definition
  7. Convergence of an infinite product definition

Where this leads

3 pages build on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_product
About this page
TagH1Z2TKY3EQ
URIm2://H1Z2TKY3EQ
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC40A20
DefinesConvergence of an infinite product
UsesInfinite product, Convergent sequence
Changed2 November 2026

Markdown · JSON · Edit on GitHub

What this page needs for W1

  • an inventory row: the row of the inventory that the node accounts for (0 of 1)
  • a source with a locator (0 of 1)

The writing levels say how complete the text of a page is. They do not measure its truth.

What links here

Used by