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
0
votes
1 answer

Having trouble writing an integral as a power series

I was given this integral: $$\int\frac{\ln {(1-t)}}{3t}\,\mathrm dt$$ I am having trouble with writing this as a power series, and I'm not sure where to start. I know I need the Maclaurin expansion of $\ln {(1-t)}$, but I'm not sure how to do this.…
0
votes
3 answers

Writing a function as a power series

I've been having some issues with this function. $$ f(x) =\dfrac{4x^2}{(x-3)^2} $$ I've been able to take $4x^2$ out, and differentiate it to give me $$ 4x^2 \dfrac{d}{dx}(-1)(\dfrac{1}{-3-(-x)}) $$ However, I'm not sure what to do with the $-3$, as…
0
votes
1 answer

How to solve for +C in a power series

From what I've been taught, when you convert a function into a power series using an integral, you have to include +C (C is a constant). Do you solve C by plugging in what the center of the power series is? For example: I have a power series…
Zoey
  • 65
0
votes
2 answers

Represent f(x)=1/(1+x) as a power series around x=1

There is a question similar to this here: Represent $ f(x) = 1/x $ as a power series around $ x = 1 $ I’m hoping to solve this in a similar manner (not using a Taylor series). My main issue is that I am having trouble coming up with a way to…
Zoey
  • 65
0
votes
1 answer

Power series modification - two methods, different results?

First, there was a question that stated: $g(x) = \frac{1}{1+x}$, with the power series representation being $\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^nx^n$. The second question was as follows: find the power series representation for $h(x) = \frac{-1}{(1+x)^2}$. My…
0
votes
1 answer

Finding a power series using differentiation

This question has been asked already on this site, but I found the solution confusing relative to my understanding. Use differentiation to find a power series representation for: $f(x)=\frac{1}{(8+x)^2}$ My process is: I can represent it as…
0
votes
1 answer

Does $S = \sum_{t=1}^{\infty} \lambda^{\frac{t(t-1)}{2}}$ for $0<\lambda<1$ have a simple solution

The difference equations $$S_t = 1 + x_t S_{t+1} $$ where $$x_1 = \lambda x_{t-1},\quad x_0 =1,\quad 0<\lambda <1 $$ occurs naturally in economic models. Iterating the first expression forwards gives the infinite sum $$ S_1 = 1 + \lambda +…
Roger
  • 1
0
votes
2 answers

Expanding a function with a power series

How would I expand the following function as a power series, around $\eta=0$? $$g_0(1,\eta)=\frac{\left(\frac{PV}{NkT}\right)_0-1}{4\eta}$$ Note…
Jackson Hart
  • 1,600
0
votes
2 answers

Maclaurin expansion series at $x=0$

I have the function $$f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cl} \dfrac{e^{x}-1}{x}, & x\neq0 \\ 1, & x=0 \end{array}\right.$$ And I gotta find its Maclaurin expansion series. I know how to find the one from $\dfrac{e^{x}-1}{x}$. But how do get a function that…
mvfs314
  • 2,017
  • 15
  • 19
0
votes
1 answer

Radius of convergence of $\sum_{n\ge 1}\frac{z^n}{n}$

In one exercise it is asked to find the radius of convergence of $$\sum\limits_{n\ge 1}\dfrac{z^n}{n};$$ then it is asked to find two values $z_1,z_2\in U=\bigg\{z\in\mathbb{C},|z|=1\bigg\}$ such that $\sum\limits_{n\ge 1}\dfrac{z_1^n}{n}$ diverges…
Stu
  • 1,690
0
votes
2 answers

Showing the sum of a power series is less than P$x$

Let $\sum_{1}^∞ a_n*x^n$ be a power series with radius of convergence 2 and note that the constant term is 0. Show that there is a constant P so that |$\sum_{1}^∞ a_n*x^n$|< $Px$ for every x satisfying $|x| ≤ 1$. Couldn't find anything in my notes…
0
votes
3 answers

Power series representation of $f(x) = \frac{1}{x+2}$

In attempting to find the power series representation of $f(x)$, using the fact: $$\frac{1}{1 - t} = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{t^n}$$ I simply set $t = -x - 1$, which when substituting into the above formula gives $f(x)$. Therefore, I presumed that the…
0
votes
2 answers

challenging power series expansion

I encountered in a text the unsupported assertion that the series expansion of $$(1-w)^{y_1/y_2+1} + \left(\frac{x}{y_2z_2}\right)(1-w)^{y_1/y_2} = 1$$ is $$w = \left(\frac{1}{y}\right)\left(\frac{1}{z_2}\right)x - \left(\frac{1}{2y^2z}\right)x^2 -…
user001
  • 395
0
votes
2 answers

Sum of infinite power series with factorial

I don't know how to start to solve this, can you give me some hints? I can solve it without the factorial, but with the factorial, it creates problems... Thank you!
0
votes
2 answers

Power Series Equivalence Question

Given: 1. $f(x) = a_0 + a_1(x) + a_2(x^2) + ... \;=\;$ an infinite power series with real coefficients 2. $g(x) = b_0 + b_1(x) + b_2(x^2) + ... \;=\;$ an infinite power series with real coefficients 3. There exist an infinite number of discrete real…
user2661923
  • 35,619
  • 3
  • 17
  • 39