Comparison test: Let ∑n=1∞an\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n and ∑n=1∞bn\sum_{n=1}^\infty b_n be with an≥0a_n\ge 0 and bn≥0b_n\ge 0 for all nn.

  • If 0≤an≤bn0 \le a_n \le b_n for all sufficiently large nn and ∑bn\sum b_n is a , then ∑an\sum a_n is convergent.
  • If 0≤an≤bn0 \le a_n \le b_n for all sufficiently large nn and ∑an\sum a_n is a , then ∑bn\sum b_n diverges.
Remarks

This test reduces many convergence questions to comparisons with standard benchmark series, and it is complemented by the when direct inequalities are hard to establish.