Absolute and conditional convergence
A series
Real or complex
Given any series
converges. It can be shown that whenever a series is absolutely convergent the series itself is convergent. However, as can be seen with the Alternating series test, some absolutely divergent series are convergent, and these are said to be conditionally convergent. The Ratio test for absolute convergence is a valuable tool for showing a series is absolutely convergent.
Terminology
- conditionally convergent
convergent, but absolutely divergent - absolutely convergent
convergent - divergent
absolutely and conditionally divergent