Lesson plan

Root test

In mathematics, the root test (sometimes called the Cauchy root test or Cauchy's radical test) is a criterion for the convergence (a convergence test) of an infinite series. It depends on the quantity : \limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\sqrt[n] , where a_n are the terms of the series, and states that the series converges absolutely if this quantity is less than one, but diverges if it is greater than one. The root test was developed first by Augustin-Louis Cauchy who published it in his textbook Cours d'analyse (1821).

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Article summary

In mathematics, the root test (sometimes called the Cauchy root test or Cauchy's radical test) is a criterion for the convergence (a convergence test) of an infinite series. It depends on the quantity : \limsup_{n\rightarrow\infty}\sqrt[n] , where a_n are the terms of the series, and states that the series converges absolutely if this quantity is less than one, but diverges if it is greater than one. The root test was developed first by Augustin-Louis Cauchy who published it in his textbook Cours d'analyse (1821).

Key claims

  1. publication date: 1821 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the publication date is "1821". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356221722

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.