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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How do I write $e^{(-x/2)}$ as a summation?

I am new to power series. I know how to write $e^x$ as a summation, but i do not know how that helps me.
Tad
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Power series $ \sum_{r=1}^{n}x^{r}=\:?$

I want to know a formula for $$\displaystyle \sum_{r=1}^{n}x^{r}=\:?$$ I can't say i can see where to derive it from at all. Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Why is it when I calculate the radius of convergence R, the answer is always $\frac{1}{R}$?

Let me explain. So take the series $\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-2)^nn^4(x-1)^n$ In order to find the radius of convergence for this power series, I used the ratio test $\lim_{n\to \infty} |\frac{2(n+1)^4(x-1)^{n+1}}{2n^4(x-1)^n}|$ and got $|x| < 2$ but…
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Power series of solution of differential equation around an arbitrary point

How do you determine the series solution to $ y'=y $ or $ y''=-y$ around an arbitrary point, but I would love to see an example around the point 1. I know the solution is $ c_{1}e^{x} $ and $c_{1} \sin(x)+c_{2} \cos(x)$ but when I try to do it with…
BinaryBurst
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Calculate the powers of the sets.

Find the powers of the sets: (a) = {$ : ⊆ \mathbb R$ and $$ has a smallest and largest element}; (b) = {$ : ⊆ \mathbb Z$ and $$ has a smallest and largest element}; (c) = {$ : ⊆ \mathbb Q$ and $$ has a smallest and largest element}. I…
user1238511
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Find the convergence interval of the power series and investigate the convergence at the ends of the convergence interval

I need to find the convergence interval of the power series and investigate the convergence at the ends of the convergence interval for $$\sum_{1}^{\infty}{\frac{(x^n)^n}{n^n}}$$ I tried to apply the Cauchy convergence…
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Vanishing first term of power series

I got stuck with the following equation $ze^{zx} = \sum_{j=1}^{\infty} x^{j-1} \frac{z^j}{(j-1)!}$ Have got to this $z e^{zx} = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z(zx)^n}{n!}$ How can I show that the $n=0$ term is zero in the last equation ?
Veak
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$\lim_{n \to \infty} a_n z^n \neq 0$ for $\lvert z \rvert > R$

In Schaum's complex variables book, I cannot think of an explanation of one step made in the solutions for problem 6.19, although I feel that it should be basic. Let $f(z) = \sum _{n=1}^\infty a_n z^n$ be a power series with radius of convergence…
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Radius of convergence of series with $a_n = \frac{\sin(n!)}{n!}$

What is the radius of convergence of the series $\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{\sin(n!)}{n!} x^n$ ? Since in $\{a_n\}$ we have $a_n=\frac{\sin (n!)}{n!}$. So $\{a_n\}$ is a bounded sequence. Hence radius of convergence $R>1$. But how to proceed further ?
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Radius of convergence and domain of convergence for $\sum^\infty_{n=1} (\sqrt{n+1}-\sqrt{n})2^nx^{2n}$

The original series is $$\sum^\infty_{n=1} (\sqrt{n+1}-\sqrt{n})2^nx^{2n}.$$ I used The absolute value of the ratio of the latter item to the former item to do this…
Dianqing
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Trying to solve 2y"+y'=0 through power series and running into some issues.

2y"+y'=0 has a solution in the form c1+c2(e^-x/2) Through power series, I got The official solution does not include my factored x for the Maclaurin of (e^-x/2). How did I go wrong? Or do I incorporate the extra x differently?
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Asymptotic behaviour of series from QHO

In the context of the simple quantum harmonic oscillator, the asymptotic behaviour of the power series expansion of $x^ke^{x^2}$ for some natural number $k$ comes up. From my own work I find that the asymptotic behaviour of the ratio of the…
EE18
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Power series representation

Im trying to find the function whose power series is given by $ \sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n x (x-1)^n$ So according to me $f(x) = \frac{x}{1+(x-1)} $ Which is nothing but $ f(x) = 1 $ Is it right? I'm using standard representation of $f(x) =…
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How to get the power series expansion of this

How to get the power series expansion of 1/(1-z^2-z) at z=0? I have tried many ways but failed to find the law of the coefficients.
May
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How to transform the function $\frac{\cos x+x\sin x-1}{x^2}$ to the given power series?

Function $$\frac{\cos(x)+x\sin(x)-1}{x^2}$$ to power series $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^nx^{2n}}{2n!(2n+2)}$$ I tried to expand $\cos x$ and $\sin x$ in their power series but I can't figure out how to deal with the $\frac{-1}{x^2}$ expression.