Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / ia / Paper 1 / 3D / Solution

The alternating series test says that if $a_n\ge 0$ decreases to $0$, thenconverges. Taking $a_n=n^{-1/2}$ proves convergence of the given series.

It is not absolute convergence, because the series of absolute values is the p-serieswhich diverges since $p=1/2\le 1$. Thus the original series has conditional convergence.

For an explicit divergent rearrangement of a series, take unused positive terms, which are the even-indexed terms, until the partial sum exceeds $1$, then take the first unused negative term. Next take positive terms until the sum exceeds $2$, then the next unused negative term, and continue. Both the positive and negative subseries have infinite total magnitude, so this procedure uses every term. The negative term inserted at stage $m$ tends to zero, while the preceding partial sum exceeds $m$; consequently these rearranged partial sums tend to $+\infty$. This is a divergent series with exactly the prescribed terms.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.