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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Irrationally termed converging infinite series

Some power series consist of an infinite number of rational terms converging to an irrational limit. Is there a series expansion /expression built on terms of powers of $\pi$ or $e$ summing up to 1 ? If not, any proof that a such cannot exist?
Narasimham
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Generalization of Maclaurin series?

The Maclaurin series for a function $f$ is $$f(x)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{f^{(n)}(0)x^n}{n!}$$ Suppose that instead of the $x^n$ we picked up a function $g_n$? We can write $$f(x)=a_0+a_1g_1(x)+a_2g_2(x)+\ldots\\f'(x)=b_1a_1+b_2a_2g_2'(x)+...$$ hence…
user153330
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Find the radius of convergence about the origin

I need to find the radius of convergence about the origin for this function $$ G(z) = \left(\frac{1 - \sqrt{1-4abz^2}}{2}\right) $$ where, $$ \\ a+b = 1, \\ 0 < b < \frac 12 $$ I'm finding it hard to convert $G(z)$ to a power series and if I use…
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For what values of x does the series $1+\frac{x}{3}+\frac{x^2}{5}+\frac{x^3}{7}+\cdot\cdot\cdot$ converge?

For what values of x does the series $1+\frac{x}{3}+\frac{x^2}{5}+\frac{x^3}{7}+\cdot\cdot\cdot$ converge? The solution states: The general term is of the form $u_n(x)=\frac{x^{n-1}}{(2n-1)}$, and…
Gineer
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How did Euler give a sum to the divergent series $...x^{-3}+x^{-2}+x^{-1}+1+x^1+x^2+x^3.. = 0$?

In Prof Norman Wildberger's A Socratic look at the logical weaknesses of modern pure mathematics (which just made available on youtube), he mentioned a discovery by Euler (30:55) that: $$...x^{-3}+x^{-2}+x^{-1}+1+x^1+x^2+x^3.. = 0$$ I'd like to…
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Transfering to function when power of the x in power series is odd

Just a little question. When i have even power, it is obvious, for example: $$\sum _{n=0}^{\infty }\:x^{2n}\:=\:\frac{1}{1-x^2}$$ Is it correct to say that (when the power is odd): $$\sum _{n=0}^{\infty }\:x^{2n+1}\:=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty…
Ilya.K.
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Prove inverse $n$-th powers $< 1/a$ where $a=365$. Find $n$ for the series.

Find $N$ so that for all $n\geq N$ holds that : $$ 2^{-n} + 3^{-n} + 4^{-n} < \frac{1}{365} $$
Ignace
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series look up site

Is there a site for looking up a series to see some of the associated functions. (In the spirit of Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences OEIS.) In particular I am looking for functions related to $ \sum (x/n)^n$.
Maesumi
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Evaulate/approximate a series formula $\sum_{i=1}^{n}\left ( \frac{1}{n}\right)^i \left(\frac{n-1}{n}\right)^{n-i}$

Given a fixed $n$, we define two probabilities $p_1=\displaystyle \frac{1}{n}$ and $p_2=1-p_1 = \displaystyle \frac{n-1}{n}$. The goal is to evaluate/approximate $\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^{n} p_1^i p_2^{n-i} $: $$ \displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^{n}…
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The range of validity for the sums of power series

If I have a power series:($z$ is complex here) $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}z^n$ valid for |$z|<1$ and another $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}({\frac{z}{2}})^n$ valid for |$z|<2$ I understand they are both valid for |$z|<1$ but why is…
Snickett
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Convergence of integrated power series.

If I integrated a series that included the endpoints in the interval of convergence, will the new series also have those endpoints in its own interval of convergence?
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What are the properties of functions that cannot be expressed in closed form?

Do they necessarily have asymptotes? Can they be finite over the first interval ($0$ to $x$), infinite over the second ($x$ to $y$), and return to be finite over a third ($y$ to $z$)? When expressed as an infinite series, do the endpoints of their…
Kenny
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approximate $\int_{0}^{0.5}{\frac{\sin(x)}{x}}dx$

By using Maclaurin series, approximate the value of $$\int_{0}^{0.5}{\frac{\sin(x)}{x}}dx$$ to within an error $0.0001$, where $x$ is in radians. My attempt: Since we know the Maclaurin series of $\sin(x)$, by substituting it into the integral,…
Idonknow
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How to solve power series expansions.

The function is $f(x)=1/(1-x)$ and it asks to find a power series expansion expanded around $x=a$, which would be the general expansion as well as around $x=0$ and $x=2$.
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Finding the co-efficients of this power series

I am required to find the co-efficients of this power series: $2x\ln(1+2x)$ I approached the problem by considering the $\ln(1+2x)$ part as the integral of $2/(1+2x)$ and applied the geometric series to this. Factoring the $2$ on the numerator…