Exercise 2.7.8

Consider each of the following propositions. Provide short proofs for those that are true and counterexamples for any that are not.

(a)
If ∑ ⁡ a n converges absolutely, then ∑ ⁡ a n 2 also converges absolutely.
(b)
If ∑ ⁡ a n converges and ( b n ) converges, then ∑ ⁡ a n b n converges.
(c)
If ∑ ⁡ a n converges conditionally, then ∑ ⁡ n 2 a n diverges.

Answers

(a)
True since ( a n ) → 0 so eventually a n 2 ≤ | a n | meaning ∑ ⁡ a n 2 converges by a comparsion test with ∑ ⁡ | a n | .
(b)
False, let a n = ( − 1 ) n ∕ n and b n = ( − 1 ) n ∕ n . ∑ ⁡ a n converges by the alternating series test, but ∑ ⁡ a n b n = ∑ 1 ∕ n diverges.
(c)
True, suppose ( n 2 a n ) converges, since ( n 2 a n ) → 0 we have | n 2 a n | < 1 for n > N , implying | a n | < 1 ∕ n 2 . But if | a n | < 1 ∕ n 2 then a comparsion test with 1 ∕ n 2 implies a n converges absolutely, contradicting the assumption that a n converges conditionally. Therefore ∑ ⁡ n 2 a n must diverge.
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2022-01-27 00:00
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