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.

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Evaluation of the limit for a power series yields an absolute value polynomial; how do I find R?

I'm asked to find the radius of convergence for $\sum\frac{(x-1)^{2n}}{4^n}$ I used the root test, as this is easiest because of all the n-th power terms. However, when I evaluate the limit, I have an $|(x-1)^2|$ term, and this must be $<4$. If I…
Aleksandr Hovhannisyan
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Find the sum of $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{n}}{n(n+1)}$

Find the sum of $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{n}}{n(n+1)}$ on its domain of convergence. This is my idea. We have the radius of convergence is $R=1$. And $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{x^{n}}{n(n+1)}=\dfrac{1}{x}\cdot \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}…
anvo
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Power series over integral change of variables

Let $y$ be given by $$y=\int_x^\infty \frac{dx'}{(1+x'^2)^\alpha}$$ where $\alpha>1$. Is it possible to express the following as a series: $$x(1+x^2)^{\alpha-1}=\sum a_n\left(\frac{1}{y}\right)^n$$
Ivan
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Convergence of sum of power series and numerical series.

Considering the following series $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{n}{2^n}(x+2)^n + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{n^3}{\sqrt {n!}}$$ We need to calculate the domain of convergence of this series. Well the first series is a power series, it's easy to…
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Identifying the series $\sum\limits_{k=-\infty}^{\infty} 2^k x^{2^k}$

I came across following bi-infinite sum: $\sum_{k=-\infty}^{\infty} 2^k x^{2^k}$ Is this a known series? After some plotting I have the feeling that it could be equal or very similar to $-\frac{1}{\ln(2) \ln(x)}$ for all $x\in(0,1)$. Is my…
otmar
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What is the power series and domain for this function?

$$f(x)= \frac{x}{1+5x^2}$$ I got the power series: $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n (5^n)(x^{2n+1})$$ Assuming this is correct I would think the domain would be $$(-5^{1/3}, 5^{1/3})$$ because the absolute value for convergence would be…
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Find sum of power series. Having a small mistake.

Find the sum of the series. My answer is $-\frac{3}{4}$, but it should be $\frac{3}{4}$. Where did i make a mistake? $$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{n}{3^n} $$ $$ \frac{d}{dx} (\frac{1}{1-x}) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{d}{dx} (x^n) $$ $$…
devDNA
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Abel's theorem power series

I am trying to show that if the power series $\sum (a_nx^n)$ coverges to a function f for $|x|
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How does $\sum_{t=0}^\infty(1-\frac2n)^t\frac{e^{-n\lambda }(n\lambda)^t}{t!}=e^{-n\lambda}\sum_{t=0}^\infty \frac{[\lambda(n-2)]^t}{t!}.$

How does $$\sum_{t=0}^\infty(1-\frac2n)^t\frac{e^{-n\lambda }(n\lambda)^t}{t!}=e^{-n\lambda}\sum_{t=0}^\infty \frac{[\lambda(n-2)]^t}{t!}.$$All I see is $e^{-n\lambda}$ getting pulled out.
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Is my answer to this power series representation problem right?

Find power series representation of the function $f(x) = \frac{3}{x+2}$ \begin{align*}f(x) = \left(\frac{3}{x}\right)\frac{1}{1-\left(-\frac{2}{x}\right)} = \left(\frac{3}{x}\right) \sum{\left(-\frac{2}{x}\right)}^{n}\end{align*}
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Series expansion of $ \frac{x}{\ln (1+x)}$

What are coefficients in the expansion of series for $$ \frac{x}{\ln (1+x)} = \sum_{n=0}^\infty A_n \frac{x^n}{n!}?$$ Do they have a name?
Narasimham
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Calculating sum

$$a_n=n+n \cdot 5^n \quad n \geq 0$$ $$b_n=\sum_{k=0}^{n-1} a_k \quad n \geq 1, b_0=0$$ Find explicit expression for: $$\sum_{n \geq 0} b_n x^n$$ So we have $\sum_{n \geq 0} \Big( \sum_{k=0}^{n-1} k + k \cdot 5^k \Big) x^n$. Should somehow I…
dash
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Can you make a power series for $y=x^2$?

I tried to make a power series for $y=x^2$ by starting with $f^{-1}(x)=\sqrt{x}$ and applying Lagrange Inversion theorem with $a=1$, but it didn't converge. In fact, the best you could observe from the graph was that $1^2=1$, everywhere else it…
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Looking for "an easy to understand" proof for following Power series

I'm looking for proof for the following Power series $exp(X) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \frac{X^{k}}{k!}$ If X is $A_{nxn}$ matrix, then prove the series is converge Given $\exp(X) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \frac{X^{k}}{k!}$ $\sin(X) = \sum_{k=0}^{n}…
1234
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Rewriting a power series as a geometric series?

For this series, find the radius of convergence and write it as a geometric series and give a formula if $x>3$ $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{2^{n+1}}(x-3)^n$$ Now finding the radius of convergence wasn't too difficult and I'll save you guys the…
Lemon
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