Alternating series theorem

From Calculus
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Statement

Consider a series of the form:

Suppose the following three conditions hold for the series:

  1. Alternating signs: All the s are nonzero and the sign of is opposite the sign of .
  2. Monotonically decreasing in magnitude: for all .
  3. Terms approach zero: .

Then the series is a convergent series. It may be an absolutely convergent series or a conditionally convergent series, depending on whether the series of the absolute values of its terms converges.