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Let us define for every kN and every large enough xR, log[k](x)={log[k1](log(x))k>0xk=0. It is well known, from the series condensation theorem, that for 0<pR,kN and large enough MN that n=Man(p,k)=n=M1nlog(n)log[2](n)log[k1](n)(log[k](n))p diverges for p1 and converges for p>1.
By enlarging k to k+1 for a fixed 0<p1 we see that there is no asymptotically lower bound of the general term of these diverging series (we can always find an asymptotically smaller general term that still diverges for these series), i.e. lim

and \sum a_n(p,k+1) is still diverging.
In addition by reducing p>1 to p-\varepsilon>1 by a small enough \varepsilon>0 for a fixed k we see that there is not asymptotically upper bound of the general term of these converging series (we can always find an asymptotically larger general term that still converges for these series), i.e. \begin{split} \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{a_n(p,k)}{a_n(p-\varepsilon,k)} & = \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{{n\log(n)\log^{[2]}(n)\ldots\log^{[k]}(n)^{p-\varepsilon}}}{{n\log(n)\log^{[2]}(n)\ldots(\log^{[k]}(n))^{p}}}\\ & = \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{1}{{(\log^{[k+1]}(n))^\varepsilon}} = 0 \end{split}

and \sum a_n(p-\varepsilon,k) is still converging.

And now the questions:

  • Is it true in general?

  • Does for all diverging series \sum a_n there exists a diverging series \sum b_n such that \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{b_n}{a_n} = 0\;?

  • And does for all converging series \sum a_n there exists a converging series \sum b_n such that \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{a_n}{b_n}=0\;?

  • Finally, is there an asymptotic bound between converging and diverging series?

1 Answers1

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  1. Suppose a_n>0 for all n and \sum_n a_n=\infty. Let s_n:=\sum_{j\le n}a_j. Let n_1<n_2<\cdots be natural numbers such that s_{n_{k+1}}-s_{n_k}>k for all k. Let b_n:=a_n/k if n_k<n\le n_{k+1}, so that t_{n_{k+1}}-t_{n_k}>1 for all k, where t_n:=\sum_{j\le n}b_j. Then \sum_n b_n\ge\sum_k 1=\infty and b_n/a_n\to0.

  2. Suppose a_n>0 for all n and s:=\sum_n a_n<\infty. Let again s_n:=\sum_{j\le n}a_j. Let n_1<n_2<\cdots be natural numbers such that s_{n_{k+1}}-s_{n_k}\le s-s_{n_k}<1/k^3 for all k. Let b_n:=k a_n if n_k<n\le n_{k+1}, so that t_{n_{k+1}}-t_{n_k}<1/k^2 for all k, where again t_n:=\sum_{j\le n}b_j. Then \sum_n b_n\le\sum_k 1/k^2<\infty and b_n/a_n\to\infty.

Iosif Pinelis
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