# double factorial series problem

In the problem the sum is given as $$\sum\limits_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(2n-1)!!}{(2n)!!}$$ and then when I try to solve it using Gauss's test I get $$\frac{a_{n}}{a_{n+1}}=\frac{2n+2}{2n+1}$$ but in the solution there is given: $$\frac{a_{n}}{a_{n+1}}=\frac{2n}{2n-1}$$

my reasoning was:

$$\frac{a_{n}}{a_{n+1}}=\frac{\frac{(2n-1)!!}{(2n)!!}}{\frac{(2n+1)!!}{(2n+2)!!}}=\frac{1\cdot3\cdot...\cdot(2n-1) \times 2\cdot4\cdot...\cdot2n\cdot(2n+2)}{2\cdot4\cdot...\cdot2n \times 1\cdot3\cdot(2n-1)\cdot(2n+1)}=\frac{2n+2}{2n+1}$$ I believe that I made a mistake, but I don't know where?

• What is it you are trying to do? – Ron Gordon Nov 3 '15 at 17:55
• Your calculation of the ratio $\frac{a_n}{a_{n+1}}$ is correct. The one you quote seems to have an index off by one issue. The ratio is unfortunately not directly useful in dealing with the issue of convergence. – André Nicolas Nov 3 '15 at 17:58
• To see is my reasoning true or not, because from that point I can solve the rest of the problem... – mlata Nov 3 '15 at 17:58
• As an aside, $\displaystyle\sum_{n=0}^\infty \bigg[\frac{(2n-3)!!}{(2n)!!}\bigg]^2~=~\frac4\pi$ – Lucian Nov 3 '15 at 20:41

$$\frac{(2n-1)!!}{(2n)!!} = \frac{(2n)!}{(2n)!!^2} = \frac{1}{4^n}\binom{2n}{n}$$ but the RHS behaves like $\frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi n}}$, hence the series is diverging. Also without the exact asymptotics:
$$\left(\frac{(2n-1)!!}{(2n)!!}\right)^2 = \prod_{k=1}^{n}\left(1-\frac{1}{2k}\right)^2 = \frac{1}{4}\prod_{k=1}^{n}\left(1-\frac{1}{k}\right)\prod_{k=2}^{n}\left(1+\frac{1}{4k(k-1)}\right) \geq \frac{1}{4n}.$$