Scribd
Upload
193 views6 pages

Power Series Convergence Guide

The document discusses power series and methods for determining the radius and interval of convergence of power series using the ratio test. It provides examples of applying the ratio test to determine the radius of convergence and interval of convergence for several power series. For power series of the form Σcnxn/n!, it finds the radius of convergence is infinite and the interval of convergence is (-∞,∞). For other examples, it determines the radius of convergence and interval of convergence by taking the limit of the ratio test and investigating convergence at the endpoints.

Uploaded by

Atikah J
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
193 views6 pages

Power Series Convergence Guide

The document discusses power series and methods for determining the radius and interval of convergence of power series using the ratio test. It provides examples of applying the ratio test to determine the radius of convergence and interval of convergence for several power series. For power series of the form Σcnxn/n!, it finds the radius of convergence is infinite and the interval of convergence is (-∞,∞). For other examples, it determines the radius of convergence and interval of convergence by taking the limit of the ratio test and investigating convergence at the endpoints.

Uploaded by

Atikah J
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Power Series In x If c0, c1, c2 ...

are constants and x is a variable, then a series of the form


n 2 n c x = c + c x + c x + ... + c x + ... 0 1 2 n n n 0

is called a power series in x. Eg


n x = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + ... n 0

xn x2 x3 =1+x+ + + ... 2! 3! n 0 n! 2n 2 4 6 x x x x n ( 1 ) =1+ - +... (2n)! 2! 4! 6! n 0

Radius and Interval of Convergence Tested by ratio test for absolute convergence Let
n C x n a power series in x and n

Cn 1 x n 1 = L. If lim n n C x n
1

1. L = , power series converges only for x=0 2. L = 0, the power series converges for all real values of x 3. L = |f(x)|, the power series a. Converges if |f(x)| < 1 b. Diverges if |f(x) > 1 c. Inconclusive (may converges or diverges) if |f(x)| = 1. Let the end point obtained by set |f(x)| = 1 are x = R and x = R. Convergence at the points x = R and x = -R must be tested separately as the series may converge absolutely, converge conditionally or diverge.
Diverges

Diverges

L= Radius of convergence R=0

converge s 0

L=0 Radius of convergence R = +

Diverges -R 0 R

Diverges

L =|f(x)| Radius of 2 convergence R

Eg1 Find the interval of convergence and radius of convergence of the following power series. xn n (a) x (b) n 0 n! n 0 n n ( 1 ) x (c) n! x n (d) n n 0 3 ( n 1) n 0 Sol (a)

n x n 0

x n 1 L = lim n n x = lim | x |

= |x| so the ratio test for absolute convergence implies that the power series converges absolutely if |x| < 1 and diverges if |x| > 1. The test is inconclusive (may converges or diverges) if |x| = 1. (x = -1 or x = 1).
3

Convergence at these points must be investigated separately. When x = 1,


n 1 = 1 + 1 + 1 + ... diverges n 0
n ( 1 ) = 1 - 1 + 1 - ... n 0

When x = -1,

diverges Thus , the interval of convergence for the power series is (-1, 1) and radius of convergence is R = 1.

xn (b) n 0 n!
x n 1 n! L = lim n ( n 1)! x n x = lim n n 1 = 0 since L < 1 for all x, the series converges absolutely for all x. Thus the interval of convergence is (-, ) and radius of convergence is +.

(c)

n n ! x n 0

(n 1)! x n 1 L = lim n n! x n = lim | (n 1) x |

= +

The series diverges for all nonzero values of x. Consequently, the interval of convergence is the single point x = 0 and the radius of convergence is R = 0.

(1) n x n (d) n n 0 3 ( n 1) since |(-1)n+1| = |(-1)n| x n 1 3n (n 1) L = lim n 1 n 3 (n 2) xn x n 1 = lim n 3 n 2 x = 3

so the ratio test for absolute convergence implies that the power series x converges absolutely if < 1 or |x| < 3 3 and diverges if |x| > 3. The test is inconclusive (may converges or diverges) if |x| = 3. (x = -3 or x = 3). Convergence at these points must be investigated separately. 1 (1) n (3) n When x = -3, n = is the n 0 3 ( n 1) n 0 ( n 1) divergent harmonic series. (1) n (3) n (1) n When x = 3, n = is the n 0 3 ( n 1) n 0 ( n 1) Conditionally convergent alternating harmonic series. Thus , the interval of convergence for the power series is (-3, 3] and radius of convergence is R = 3.

You might also like