By Mark Zegarelli

An important type of series is called the p-series. A p-series can be either divergent or convergent, depending on its value. It takes the following form:


Here’s a common example of a p-series, when p = 2:


Here are a few other examples of p-series:


Remember not to confuse p-series with geometric series. Here’s the difference:

  • A geometric series has the variable n in the exponent — for example,


  • A p-series has the variable in the base — for example


As with geometric series, a simple rule exists for determining whether a p-series is convergent or divergent.

A p-series converges when p > 1 and diverges when p < 1.

Here are a few important examples of p-series that are either convergent or divergent.

When p = 1: the harmonic series

When p = 1, the p-series takes the following form:


This p-series is important enough to have its own name: the harmonic series. The harmonic series is divergent.

When p = 2, p = 3, and p = 4

Here are the p-series when p equals the first few counting numbers greater than 1:


Because p > 1, these series are all convergent.

When p = 1/2

When p = 1/2 the p-series looks like this:


Because p 1, this series diverges. To see why it diverges, notice that when n is a square number, say n = k2, the nth term equals


So this p-series includes every term in the harmonic series plus many more terms. Because the harmonic series is divergent, this series is also divergent.