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Question 726: Ratio Limit One Allows Both Harmonic Divergence and Squared-Reciprocal Convergence

On this page
  1. Original question and givens
  2. Definition and scope
  3. Step-by-step derivation
  4. Reverse checks
  5. Result
  6. This question review and source binding

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P1000-0726 · q-20261015-advance-20261117-r02-ratio-test-series-0051

Original question and givens

Use a_n=1/(n+shift)^p with p=1∈{1,2}, shift=1≥1, n≥0. Give (exponent, shift, absolute_ratio_description, ratio_limit, actual_series_status, ratio_test_scope).

  • G001 — Use a_n=1/(n+shift)^p with p=1∈{1,2}, shift=1≥1, n≥0. Give (exponent, shift, absolute_ratio_description, ratio_limit, actual_series_status, ratio_test_scope).

Definition and scope

For p=1 and p=2 the ratio limit is 1; the classification comes from harmonic blocks and a telescoping bound, so the ratio test is inconclusive.

Step-by-step derivation

S001 · implies

Before

a_n=1/(n+1)^1, n≥0

After

|a_(n+1)/a_n|=((n+1)/(n+2))^1

Conditions: none

Derive the absolute ratio from the full positive-term formula.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: successive_ratio · Uses: G001

S002 · implies

Before

(n+1)/(n+2)=1−1/(n+2)

After

ratio limit=1

Conditions: none

The growing denominator makes the relative error vanish; the denominator itself does not vanish.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: rational_ratio_limit · Uses: G001, S001

S003 · implies

Before

k=n+s; block k=s·2^j through s·2^(j+1)−1

After

s·2^j terms, each >1/(s·2^(j+1))

Conditions: none

Each complete dyadic block has an explicit term count and denominator bound.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: harmonic_block_count · Uses: G001, S002

S004 · implies

Before

block sum > (s·2^j)/(s·2^(j+1))

After

every block sum >1/2; J blocks sum >J/2

Conditions: none

Arbitrarily many blocks make partial sums unbounded; a finite starting shift s does not change the conclusion.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: unbounded_harmonic_partials · Uses: G001, S003

S005 · implies

Before

same ratio limit1 for both exponent families

After

L=1 alone does not decide convergence

Conditions: none

The classification comes from the separate complete-tail arguments above, not from the ratio limit1.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: inconclusive_ratio_boundary · Uses: G001, S004

Reverse checks

  • S005 · premise_and_result_audit — Finite checks do not prove an infinite tail; retain this step's quantifiers, nonzero denominators and absolute values.
  • S004 · premise_and_result_audit — Finite checks do not prove an infinite tail; retain this step's quantifiers, nonzero denominators and absolute values.
  • S003 · premise_and_result_audit — Finite checks do not prove an infinite tail; retain this step's quantifiers, nonzero denominators and absolute values.
  • S002 · premise_and_result_audit — Finite checks do not prove an infinite tail; retain this step's quantifiers, nonzero denominators and absolute values.
  • S001 · premise_and_result_audit — Finite checks do not prove an infinite tail; retain this step's quantifiers, nonzero denominators and absolute values.

Result

(1, 1, abs_ratio=((n+1)/(n+2))^1, 1, divergent_harmonic_tail, L_equal_one_is_inconclusive)

The full substitutions and premise audits recover the original answer, retaining its field order and verdict meanings.

This question review and source binding

Review date: 2026-10-26

Original questions, answers, step expressions, numeric ASTs and historical records are retained. Source candidate labels remain historical and are not overwritten as formal proof.

Source hashes and review receipts
  • input commit: 0f7be61e2c22317a4075561dc822c87d881a50db
  • original question SHA-256: e14bc1837d0454579ae680029edeb80f435071b1c108419181e00a0c17e6244f
  • candidate record SHA-256: 7a9382ce2648adfbd7932106898097c4aab9e4b7f58dc107489ba7bff4932d88
  • semantic review receipt SHA-256: 6c2c6d46aded7582a11ac41a8c0b3bdde2669a53bdb6e796eea2039994a02772
  • question-first witness SHA-256: 77e43898df9efdbf8094ad81fe4ab91cf4b4bd82f481eb9b4699b73cb4da612b
  • Lean: NOT_RUN · human review: NOT_PERFORMED
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