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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Identification of the limit of an exponential-like power series

I have come across the series: $$\sum_{j=1}^\infty \frac{x^j (j-1)}{j! \sqrt{2j - 1}}$$ which is easily seen to be absolutely convergent everywhere (e.g. ratio test). It seems that it should be very close to $\exp(x)$ and I would like to…
Jon
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Radius of convergence of power series $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty}n!x^{n!}$ (different methods yield different results)

I have to find the radius of convergence of $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty}n!x^{n!}$. It is a power series, therefore: One of the ways to find the radius of convergence is to find $\lim \dfrac{|n!|}{|(n+1)!|} = \lim \dfrac{n!}{(n+1)!} = \lim…
aribaldi
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Use differentiation to find a power series

Use differentiation to find a power series of $f(x) = \frac{1}{(8+x)^2}$ $ f'(x) = \frac{-2}{(8+x)^3} $ how do I find the power series of this? I can not go next step.
devDNA
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Proof of rule of exponents

I'm trying to prove that $e^{-x}=1/(e^{x})$ using power series. Here's what I have thus far. I want to show that $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(-x)^n}{n!} = (\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(x)^n}{n!})^{-1}$ The left hand side is clearly: $1 - x + x^2/2!…
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Calculating a power series of a function

I need to calculate the expression: $$ \int_0 ^1 \frac{1-\cos t}{t^2} \, dt $$ and given a hint: use the power series of $f(x)=\int_0 ^x \frac{\sin t}{t} \, dt $ and substitute $x=1$. Now, I understand that: $2 \left( \frac{\sin t}{t }\right) ^2…
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Represent $ f(x) = 1/x $ as a power series around $ x = 1 $

As stated on the title, my question is: (a) represent the function $ f(x) = 1/x $ as a power series around $ x = 1 $. (b) represent the function $ f(x) = \ln (x) $ as a power series around $ x = 1 $. Here's what I tried: (a) We can rewrite $ 1/x $…
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power series of a sum of functions

I would like to show that $S(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} (-1)^n ln (1+ \frac{1}{n(1+x^2)})$ has a power series representation in the neighborhood of zero, but I'm a bit stuck, as : 1) I can't figure a closed form of S(x) (and I reckon there isn't…
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How to compute the sum of a series

How to compute the sum of the following series. I have no idea... The series is $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty(1+1/2+\cdots+1/n)x^n.$$
xldd
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Expression by Power Series Expansion and Binomial Expansion

Let $ f_t(x) := \begin{cases} \frac{xe^{tx}}{e^x-1} & \quad x\neq0\\ 1 & \quad x=0\\ \end{cases} $ where $t\in \mathbb{R}$. (a) Prove that there is a $\delta$ which doesn't depend on $t$ such that $f_t(x)$ has a power series…
user245273
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Fractional Euler sums?

As we know, the classical linear double Euler sums is defined by $${S_{p,q}} = \sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{{{\zeta _n}\left( p \right)}}{{{n^q}}}} \;$$ where $p, q\ (q \ge 2)$ are positive integer, $${\zeta _n}\left( p \right) =…
xuce1234
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Power serie of $f'/f$

It seems that I'm [censored] blind in searching the power series expansion of $$f(x):=\frac{2x-2}{x^2-2x+4}$$ in $x=0$. I've tried a lot, e.g., partiell fraction decomposition, or regarding $f(x)=\left(\log((x+1)^2+3)\right)'$ -- without success. …
Michael Hoppe
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Is there a power series expansion of the Signum function?

I would like to define a linear operator as the sign of a another operator. But to use it I would need to expand it out as a power series. Roughly, I'm wondering if something like this…
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How to do power series expansion

What is the coefficient of $x^{11}$ in the power series expansion of $\frac 1{1-x-x^4}$? How do I do power series expansions?
user228320
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Showing that $\sin'(x)=\cos(x)$

I want to show the "simple" relation: $$\sin' x=\cos x$$ by using power series. I know that: $$\sin x=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(-1)^n \frac{x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}$$ $$\cos x=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(-1)^n \frac{x^{2n}}{(2n)!}$$ Differentiating $\sin…
qmd
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find interval of convergence for series

Is it right that the range of convergence is here $1 < x < 3$: $$\sum_{n= 1}^\infty \frac{e^n + e^{-n}}{n^2} (x-2)^n$$ Just like you do with the geometric series? Or what is this radius of convergence? Thanks! update: i got until…
user3435407
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