Questions tagged [power-series]

Questions about the properties of functions of the form $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}a_n (x-c)^n$, where the $a_n$ are real or complex numbers, and $x$ is real or complex.

A series of the form $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n (x-c)^n$$ is called a power series, and can be used to expand functions. The center $c$ is often $0$ and the radius of convergence $R$ is given by $R = \left(\limsup\limits_{n\to\infty}\sqrt[n]{|a_n|}\right)^{-1}$.

Power series for some common functions are: \begin{align} \frac{1}{1-x}&=\sum_{n=0}^\infty x^n\quad(|x|\lt1)\\\ \ln(1+x)&=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nx^{n+1}}{n+1}\quad(|x|\leq 1, x\neq -1)\\\ \arctan(x)&=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nx^{2n+1}}{2n+1}\quad(|x|\leq 1,x\neq \pm i)\\\ \tan(x)&=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{|B_{2n}|(4^n-1)4^n }{(2n)!}x^{2n-1}\quad(|x|< \pi/2)\\\ \sin(x)&=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{(-1)^n x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}\\\ \cos(x)&=\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^n x^{2n}}{(2n)!}\\\ e^x &= \sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{x^n}{n!}\\\ \end{align}

If convergence is not an issue or if you are working over a different domain than $\mathbb{R}$ or $\mathbb{C}$, consider using the tag instead.

8489 questions
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Power series expansion of f(x)=1/(1-x) around x=0 and x=-1

For the power series expansion of the function $f(x)$ I worked out the at $x=0$ the power series expansion is $$1(x-0)^n$$ and at $x=-1$ the power series expansion is $$\left(\frac{1}{2^n}+1\right)\cdot(x+1)^n$$ I was hoping to confirm these…
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How do you solve $10^{-3/20}$ as $1/2^{1/2}$?

My electronics lecturer was able to instantly solve $10^{-3/20}$ as $1/2^{1/2}$, but he was not able to explain it to me because he said that it was just a number he was very familiar with. FYI, the value $10^{-3/20}$ was derived from the gain…
Harmony
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How fast can $[x^n] f(x)$ be calculated, given some restrictions?

If we suppose that $[x^n] f(x)$ represents the coefficient of $x^n$ in a power series or generating function, I'd like to know how fast it can be calculated. There are some restrictions that I'd like to consider, which probably change the question. …
Matt Groff
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show that $ 4 = \sum_{n=1}^\infty (-2)^{n+1}\frac{n+2}{n!} $

I need to show that $$ 4 = \sum_{n=1}^\infty (-2)^{n+1}\frac{n+2}{n!} $$ by considering $$ \frac d{dx}(x^2e^{-x})$$ I found that $ \frac d{dx}(x^2e^{-x}) = 2xe^{−x}−x^2e^{−x}$ What would be the next step to show the equality?
Togepi
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Radius of convergence of $\sum k!(x+3)^k$

$\sum k!(x+3)^k$ Ok, I've tried and I'm a bit stuck... The sum is something like: $1+(x+3)+2(x+3)^2$ So $|\dfrac{x+3}{1}|<1 \Rightarrow -4
Jim
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Complex Power Series Weird Convergence

I'm trying to find a compex power series centered at $i$ with convergence radius $\sqrt{2}$ which converges for $z=1$ but not for $z=-1$. Any help?
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Powers and Power Series'

When doing some problems I came across the function: $$f(x)=\frac{x}{1-2x}$$ I realised that the Maclaurin expansion of this function was: $$f(x)=x+2x^2+4x^3+16x^4...$$ Evaluate at $x=1$ to get $$f(1)=1+2+4+16...$$ I have a few of questions about…
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Need explain how to find sum of series

Can someone explain me how to find sum of next series: $\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^4 \tan^{n-1}(x)$ Thanks for answers in advance.
Nikita
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Test validity of approximation by multiplying 2 series

How can I best explain that the approximation of these two series is valid? $$ e^{-t} \cos(2t) \approx 1-t $$ The test should be made by multiplying the series. I looked at the series and am now wondering if the approximation is valid and how best…
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Power series coefficients

I've been trying for days now to find a closed form for the coefficients of the power series about $x=0$ of the function $$ f(x)=\exp\left(r^2\frac{x(n-2)-x^2(n-1)+x^n}{(x-1)^2}\right), $$ but I always end up with an infinite series at best. Can it…
Ziofil
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Find first five terms of the power series representation for the function

f(x) = ${e^x cos(x^2)}$ So I have the answer which is ${1+x+\frac{x^2}{2!}+\frac{x^3}{3!}+(\frac{1}{4!}-\frac{1}{2!})x^4+...}$ So I know that ${e^x = \sum\frac{x^n}{n!}}$ and that ${cos(x)=\sum(-1)^n\frac{x^{2n}}{(2n)!}}$ However I don't…
boidkan
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Why does csc(z) only have 1st order poles?

$\csc{z} = \frac{1}{\sin{z}}$ is said (in my text book) to have only simple (1st order) poles. I can see that this is justified since the Laurent series expansion is: $$ \csc{z} = \frac{1}{z} + \frac{z}{6} + \frac{7 z^3}{360} + ... $$ However, I do…
xyz
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Explanation on how to turn a numerical sequence into a power serie

I'm taking a calculus class, but I skipped school the past week due to health problems. I spoke to my teacher and classmates and they told me that they had seen power series topic. So I got a copy of the notes, but I can't still figure out the…
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Calculus(power series)

Hi could anyone help me solve this problem.(without expanding the function). I cant seem to get it. Express the function as a power series $$\ln\left(\frac{1+x}{1-x}\right)$$ I managed to split the $\ln(1+x)-\ln(1-x)$ apart but i do not know how to…
ys wong
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Maclaurin Series application

This was something that popped up in class and confused me... So knowing that the power series may be differentiated term by term inside the interval of convergence, using the Maclaurin series you can derive the differentiation formula for the…
Kennan
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