Do the sequences from the ratio and root tests converge to the same limit? [duplicate]

For example, if we have:

$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}a_n$$

Where the ratio test is satisfied. That is $\exists L$ s.t.

$$\lim_{n \to \infty} \left| \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right| = L < 1$$

Does this mean that for the same $L$ that the root test's terms converge as well? That is, is it true that:

$$\lim_{n \to \infty} \left| a_n^{1/n} \right| = L$$

This is for a homework problem, but the homework is not to prove the general case; I was just wondering if this was true or not.

The answer to your question is yes: for any $L \in [0,\infty]$, if $\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \rightarrow L$, then also $a_n^{\frac{1}{n}} \rightarrow L$.

Here is a stronger result:

Theorem: For any sequence $\{a_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$ of positive real numbers one has

$$\liminf_{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \leq \liminf_{n \rightarrow \infty} a_n^{\frac{1}{n}} \leq \limsup_{n \rightarrow \infty} a_n^{\frac{1}{n}} \leq \limsup_{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n}$$.

For a proof see e.g. $\S 5.3$ of these notes.

Note that the converse is not true: it is possible for the root test limit to exist but the ratio test limit not to. In fact we can get this just by mildly rearranging the terms of a convergent geometric sequence,e.g.

$\frac{1}{2}, \frac{1}{8}, \frac{1}{4}, \frac{1}{32}, \frac{1}{16} \ldots$

Here half of the successive ratios are $\frac{1}{4}$ and the other half are $2$, so the ratio test limit does not exist. But the root test limit is still $\frac{1}{2}$.

The limit

$\lim_{n\to\infty}\sup\left|\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right| = L < 1$

is always greater than or equal to the limit

$\lim_{n\to\infty}\sup\left| a_n^{1/n} \right| = L$

So the root test is stronger than the ratio test. One can find cases when the root test shows convergence but the ratio test does not. In fact, the ratio test is a corollary of the root test. For example see: S. Krantz Real Analysis and Foundations, Chapman and Hall/CRC (Remark 4.1 on page 105, second edition of the book). It comes out directly from the proof of the ratio test.