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 to prove that the exponential function is the inverse of the natural logarithm by power series definition alone

The exponential function has the well-known power series representation/definition: $e^x = \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}$ And the natural logarithm has the less well-known power series representation/definition: $\ln(x) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty…
brothir
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Sum of a power series $n x^n$

I would like to know: How come that $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty n x^n=\frac{x}{(x-1)^2}$$ Why isn't it infinity?
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Summing the power series $\sum\limits_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n \frac{x^{2n+1}}{2n+1}\prod\limits_{k=1}^n\frac{2k-1}{2k} $

I'd like to determine the function corresponding to the following power series: $$x + \sum_{n=1}^\infty (-1)^n\frac{1\cdot3\cdot5\cdots(2n-1)}{2\cdot4\cdot6\cdots2n} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{2n+1}, $$ where $|x|<1$.
bimol
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Generalised Binomial Theorem Intuition

It was not until recently (why don't they teach it in secondary school?) that I've come across the Generalised Binomial Theorem, which from what I can tell is basically the same as the regular Binomial Theorem, except that the finite sum is replace…
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Closed form of $\sum \frac{x^n}{n^n}$

Is there a closed form of this series? $$ f(x) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n^n} $$ I tried few standard tricks how to sum a power series but none of them helped.
tom
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Multiplying two summations together exactly.

Consider the integral: $$\int_0^1 \frac{\sin(\pi x)}{1-x} dx$$ I want to do this via power series and obtain an exact solution. In power series, I have $$\int_0^1 \left( \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^n \frac{(\pi x)^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!} \cdot…
CAF
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Invert a power series?

If one is given a power series of the form: $$\sum^\infty_{m=1} a_m x^m = a_0 + a_1x + a_2 x^2 + \dots$$ for known $a_m$'s i.e $a_m = f(m)$ and as $m\rightarrow\infty$, $a_m\rightarrow0$ is there anyway to find out what the function is given by?…
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Identifying a power series

I'm no analyst, so when a student in the class to whom I was teaching some elementary theory of (power) series, asked about…
Alasdair
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Sum of power series $\sum_{n\geq0}\frac{n^2}{7^n}$

I'm having trouble with this power series : $$ \sum_{n\geq0}\frac{n^2}{7^n}$$ I have to solve it using differentiation/integration. I guess I have to approach it as $\sum_{n\geq0}n^2x^n$, where $x = \frac{1}{7}$ but I'm kinda lost as to what to do…
darenn
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Power Series Representation of $(1+x)/(1-x)$

For the power series representation of, $f(x) = \frac{1+x}{1-x}$ which is $1 + 2 \sum_{n=1}^\infty x^n$, Where does the added $1$ in front come from? How do I get to this answer from $\sum_{n=0}^\infty x^n + \sum_{n=0}^\infty x^{n+1}$
David Desharnais
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Can you express $\ln(x)$ as a series with negative or fractional powers of $x$?

I read in my book that $\ln(x)$ cannot be written as a power series. That is a series whose terms contain only non-negative integer powers of $x$. But can $\ln(x)$ be written as an infinite series whose terms contain negative or fractional powers…
Kenny
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Proof that the radius of convergence exists

If the radius of convergence is defined as $R$ such that the power series in $x$ (centered at $0$) converges for $|x|R$, I would like a proof that this $R$ exists. As far as I can tell, it boils down to the following…
Jack M
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The series of $\frac{1}{\cosh(z)}$

How to show that $$\frac{1}{\cosh(z)} =\sum _{n=0}^{\infty }{\frac {\left( -1 \right)^{n}\left(\psi \left( 2\,n,\frac{3}{4}\right)-\psi \left( 2\,n,\frac{1}{4} \right) \right) {z}^{2\,n}}{ {4}^{n}{\pi }^{2\,n+1}\left( 2\,n \right) !}},$$ where…
mnsh
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Understanding Power Series Multiplication Step

Working on Spivak's Calculus problems, I searched online, trying to understand the solution provided for Problem 4a of Chapter 2. I found the question I needed: Spivak's Calculus - Exercise 4.a of 2nd chapter. However, the answer provided there…
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expand $ \arctan\left(\frac{3x+2}{3x-2}\right)$ into pwer series, find radius of convergence (check solution)

I would be grateful if someone could check what I've worked out: $$ f(x)=\arctan\left(\frac{3x+2}{3x-2}\right)\implies f'(x)=\frac{1}{1+(\frac{3x+2}{3x-2})^2}\cdot \frac{3(3x-2)-3(3x+2)}{(3x-2)^2}$$ $$=\frac{(3x-2)^2}{(3x-2)^2+3x+2)^2}\cdot…
fdhd
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