Sequences, series, summability Proof
Proof of the limit comparison test
Builds on Limit of a sequenceComparison testA series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are boundedPartial sum
Proof
- Apply the definition of the limit with . There is such that for all .
- So for . Since , this gives and for .
- Both series have nonnegative terms. By the criterion for nonnegative series, each converges if and only if its partial sums are bounded above.
- Assume that converges, and let be its sum. Since , every finite sum of terms is at most . This follows from the same criterion, as in the comparison test.
- For , step 2 gives
- The right side of step 5 does not depend on . For , the partial sum is at most . So the partial sums of are bounded above, and converges by step 3.
- Conversely, assume that converges, with sum . In the same way, for ,
- So the partial sums of are bounded above, and converges by step 3.
Idea
When tends to a positive number , the two sequences are eventually within constant factors of each other. Constant factors and finitely many initial terms cannot change whether partial sums stay bounded.
Reading path
To understand this page from the ground up, read these 58 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof of the approximation property of the supremum, Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction, Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers, Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence, Proof of the comparison test, Proof that convergent sequences are bounded, Proof of the monotone convergence theorem for sequences, Proof that a series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded.
- Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
- Element definition
- Integers object
- Mathematical induction concept
- Ordered field definition
- Proposition concept
- Rational numbers object
- Real numbers object
- Sequence definition
- Set bounded above definition
- Set definition
- Ring of integers statement
- Implication definition
- Predicate definition
- The reals form a field statement
- Real sequence definition
- Supremum definition
- Ordered pair definition
- Universal quantifier definition
- The rationals form a field statement
- Bounded sequence definition
- Limit of a sequence definition
- Monotone sequence definition
- Series definition
- Completeness axiom statement
- Cartesian product definition
- Subset definition
- The rationals form an ordered field statement
- Convergent sequence definition
- Partial sum definition
- Binary relation definition
- Order on the reals definition
- Convergent series definition
- Antisymmetric relation definition
- Reflexive relation definition
- Transitive relation definition
- Sum of a series definition
- Preorder definition
- Partial order definition
- Total order definition
- Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction proof
- The reals form an ordered field statement
- Absolute value definition
- Proof of the approximation property of the supremum proof
- Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers proof
- Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence proof
- Approximation property of the supremum statement
- Triangle inequality statement
- Epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence statement
- Proof that convergent sequences are bounded proof
- Proof of the monotone convergence theorem for sequences proof
- Convergent sequences are bounded statement
- Monotone convergence theorem for sequences statement
- Proof that a series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded proof
- A series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded statement
- Proof of the comparison test proof
- Comparison test statement
- Proof of the limit comparison test proof
Where this leads
2 pages build on this one.
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | 4776JMPX1R |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://4776JMPX1R |
| Kind | proof |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 40A05 |
| Proves | Limit comparison test |
| Uses | Limit of a sequence, Comparison test, A series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded, Partial sum |
| Changed | 4 November 2026 |
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