Power series Definition and 643 Threads

In mathematics, a power series (in one variable) is an infinite series of the form

where an represents the coefficient of the nth term and c is a constant. Power series are useful in mathematical analysis, where they arise as Taylor series of infinitely differentiable functions. In fact, Borel's theorem implies that every power series is the Taylor series of some smooth function.
In many situations c (the center of the series) is equal to zero, for instance when considering a Maclaurin series. In such cases, the power series takes the simpler form

Beyond their role in mathematical analysis, power series also occur in combinatorics as generating functions (a kind of formal power series) and in electronic engineering (under the name of the Z-transform). The familiar decimal notation for real numbers can also be viewed as an example of a power series, with integer coefficients, but with the argument x fixed at 1⁄10. In number theory, the concept of p-adic numbers is also closely related to that of a power series.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. K

    How Do You Solve the Differential Equation tx'' + sint x = 0 Using Power Series?

    Homework Statement using the fact that \frac{sint}{t} = \sum^{}_{n=0}\frac{ (-1)^{n} t^{2n}}{(2n+1)!} i wanted to write: using that sint/t = ∑ (-1)ⁿ·t²ⁿ/(2n+1)! find a power series solution of the equation tx'' +sint x = 0 Homework Equations sorry i pushed the wrong button,The Attempt at a...
  2. N

    Using an expanded power series to estimate

    Homework Statement (a) Expand f(x) as a power series f(x)=\frac{7}_{\sqrt[4]{1+\frac{x}_{14}}} Which I converted to... 7 - \frac{1}{8}*x + \sum^{\infty}_{n=2}7*(-1)^{n}*\frac{1*5*9*...*(4n-3)}{4^{n}*n!}*(\frac{x}{14})^{n} (b) Use part (a) to estimate 7 / (1.1)^(1/4) correct to...
  3. K

    Does every continuous function has a power series expansion on a closed interval

    By Weierstrass approximation theorem, it seems to be obvious that every continuous function has a power expansion on a closed interval, but I'm not 100% sure about this. Is this genuinely true or there're some counterexamples?
  4. B

    Material Needed for Power Series

    I'm in a "series and sequences" class. Up until power series, if I studied the material a decent amount and did a lot of practice problems, things made sense. We got to power series today and I simply am not getting anything. I read the chapter in the book just now and it totally lost me...
  5. N

    Power Series with a funky denominator

    Homework Statement Find the radius of convergence and interval of convergence of the following series. \sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\frac{n!*x^{n}}_{5*11*17*\cdots*(6n-1)} Homework Equations Knowledge of Power Series. Factorials? The Attempt at a Solution I'm really unsure where to start...
  6. E

    Power Series of Integral xarctan(3x)

    Homework Statement Evaluate the integral of xarctan(3x) from 0 to 0.1 by expressing the integral in terms of a power series. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I differentiated xarctan(3x) until I got two functions that I could turn into power series (arctan(3x) and...
  7. F

    Solving DE using power series (w/initial conditions)

    Homework Statement Solve the initial value problem y'' = y' + y where y(0) = 0 and y(1) = 1 derive the power series solution y(x) = \ \ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}{(F_{n}x^n)/n!} \ \ where {Fn} is the sequence 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13... of Fibonacci numbers defined by F0 = 0 and F1 = 1 Homework...
  8. F

    Understanding Power Series Solutions for Differential Equations

    Homework Statement Solve this equation using power series: y'' + y = x Homework Equations none The Attempt at a Solution I am confused about the x on the RHS of the equation. If the equation was y'' + y = 0, I would have no problem solving it. I am just a little confused...
  9. P

    Finding b_k in a Complex Power Series

    Homework Statement There is a power series \infty \sumb_k.z^k n=0 such that \infty (exp(z) - 1)\sumb_k.z^k = z n=0 the infinity and n=0 are meant to be over the sigma, sorry Find b_k for k...
  10. Q

    Power series expansion and largest disc of validity

    Homework Statement Find the power-series expansion about the given point for the function; find the largest disc in which the series is valid. f(z) = z^3 + 6z^2-4z-3 about z0=1. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution The series is fine. Since it's a polynomial, there are only three...
  11. Q

    Integrating Power Series for a Function

    Homework Statement Find a power series representation for the given function using termwise integration. f(x) = \int_{0}^{x} \frac{1-e^{-t^2}}{t^2} dt Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Well, I figured I could rewrite it like this using the Maclaurin series for...
  12. Q

    Computing a Geometric Power Series with Cosine Terms

    Homework Statement Compute \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} p^n cos(3nx) for \abs{p} \textless 1 , where p \in \mathbb{R} . Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I was thinking that maybe this could be approached as a telescoping series, but I'm not really sure if it is. Would that...
  13. V

    Power Series Solutions of Laguerre Differential Equation

    I was going through http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LaguerreDifferentialEquation.html" in Wolfram which gives brief details about finding a power series solution of the Laguerre Differential Equation. I was reading the special case when v = 0. I read earlier from Differential Equations by Lomen...
  14. Q

    Power series representation of a function

    Homework Statement Find a power series representation for f(x) using termwise integration, where f(x) = \int_{0}^{x} sin(t^3) dt . Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I've never done this before, but apparently, if I have a power series representation for sin(t^3), I...
  15. P

    Radius of convergence of complex power series

    Homework Statement Find the radius of convergence of the series: ∞ ∑ n^-1.z^n n=1 Use the following lemma: ∞ ∞ If |z_1 - w| < |z_2 - w| and if ∑a_n.(z_2 - w)^n converges, then ∑a_n.(z_1 - w)^n also...
  16. G

    What is the coefficient for x^27 in the power series expansion of 1/(1+x^9)?

    Homework Statement The function f(x)=\frac{1}{1+x^{9}} can be expanded in a power series \sum^{\infty}_{0} a_{n}x^{n} with center c = 0. Find the coefficient a_{27} of x^{27} in this power series. 2. The attempt at a solution I can get to: \sum^{\infty}_{0} (-1)^{n}(-x^{9})^{n} which I...
  17. O

    Inverse laplace and power series

    Homework Statement I am trying to figure out how to represent an inverse laplace transform by a power series. There is an example in my book but it is not very well explained. f(s)=1/s+1 which i know is the transform of y=e^-t. In the book they use the fact that L(t^n)= n!/s^n+1. and...
  18. S

    What is a power series that converges on (3,6) but not on any larger interval?

    Homework Statement Give an example of a power series tha converges on the interval (3,6), but on no larger interval. Give some justification. Homework Equations The equation needed is probably that for a power series: \Sigma cn(x-a)n The Attempt at a Solution I'm not sure at all. The...
  19. F

    Power series, radius of convergence and Abel's Theorem

    Homework Statement Suppose the series \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n x^n has radius of convergence R and converges at x = R. Prove that \lim_{x \to R^{-}}\large( \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} a_n x^n \large) = \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \large( \lim_{x \to R^{-}} a_n x^n \large) 2. Question For the case R...
  20. J

    Limit of Power Series at x=1 Proof

    Homework Statement If a_v > 0 and \sum_{v=0}^{\infty} a_v converges, then prove that \lim_{x \rightarrow 1^-} \sum_{v=0}^{\infty} a_v x^v = \sum_{v=0}^{\infty} a_v . Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Since \sum a_v converges, then we can say that \sum a_v x^v converges for x...
  21. S

    Differential Eq- Power Series Solution

    Find a power series sol'n: (x2-1)y'' + 3xy' + xy = 0 Homework Equations let y = \Sigma (from \infty to n=0) Cnxn let y' = \Sigma (from \infty to n=1) nCnxn-1 let y'' = \Sigma (from \infty to n=2) n(n-1)Cnxn-2 The Attempt at a Solution I wrote the differential eq as...
  22. C

    How Do You Expand Power Series for Complex Functions?

    Hi, I have 2 questions regarding how to expand power series. 1). Find the power series expansion of Log z about the point z= i - 2 2). Expand the function 1/(z^2 + 1) in power series about infinity Any help will be greatly appreciated. This is because I am totally unsure about what...
  23. F

    Power series method of solving ODE

    Please can somebody help me with this problem y" + y' + sin^2(x)y - 2sinx = 0 I used power series method and i used the macclurin expresion for sinx but i was not able to get a recurrence formula.
  24. A

    Find \frac{1}{i+z} as a Power Series in z | Learn to Use Taylor Series

    I need to find \frac{1}{i+z} as a power series in z. I want to know if am doing this right. If i use the taylor series here by doing f(z) = z^i f'(z) = i z^{-1} z^i f''(z) = i (i-1) z^{-2} z^i This taylor series is just for z= i...
  25. L

    Convergence of Power Series: Calculating Endpoints and Using Tests

    Homework Statement I'm having a little trouble concerning the part where we have to calculate the endpoints of a known interval of convergence in order to see whether they are convergent or divergent. In this case, is the summation of n=0 to infinity of (-1)^n/10 diverging or converging. Are...
  26. P

    Finding sum of Power Series with Factorials

    Homework Statement I am confused about how to find a sum of a power series, especially when it contains factorials and I can't quite get it to look like a geometric series. Is it the same thing as finding a limit (and then I would follow the various tests for convergence of the different...
  27. O

    Sum of a power series in terms of x

    Hello, I need to find the sum(as a function of x) of the power series \Sigma^{\infty}_{n=0}\frac{(x+1)^n}{(n+2)!} The hint i was given was compare it to the Taylor series expansion of ex. Im not sure even how to start this problem and any help is much appreciated.
  28. D

    How to do expansion as power series of any random function?

    How to do expansion as power series of any random function?? The template doesn't really apply because this is a general question rather than a specific problem. If I am given some function, how do I expand it as a power series? For the past two semesters of my physics degree, I have been...
  29. N

    Complex Power Series: Does Absolute Convergence Imply Convergence?

    Homework Statement Hi all. In my book on complex analysis, they discuss complex power series. They use a variety of "tests" to determine absolute convergence, but they never say if this also implies convergence. Does it? Niles.
  30. R

    Power series expansions - which is imossible

    Which of the following expansions is impossible? a \sqrt{x-1} in powers of x b \sqrt{x+1} in powers of x c ln(x) in powers of (x-1) d tanx in powers of (x-\pi / 4 ) e ln(1-x) in powers of x What are htey asking and how do i do this? the answer is A by the way
  31. I

    Differential Equations - power series method

    Homework Statement Solve: y'' + y' - 2y = 0 y(0) = 1 y'(0) = -2 Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I found: http://image.cramster.com/answer-board/image/cramster-equation-200942414569633761817696516250247.gif So the recurrence relation is...
  32. H

    How to prove a power series of matrix is onto

    Homework Statement How do I prove a power series is onto? Since I cannot calculate directly, especially I haven't learned Jodarn Normal form. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution By showing 1-1, I tried ∑(1/n!)[(M)^n-(N)^n]=0, what can I conclude from this step?
  33. I

    Power series recurrence relations

    Homework Statement In the following series': http://image.cramster.com/answer-board/image/cramster-equation-2009410014306337491927047975008434.gif According to my book, we only have a common range of summation here for n >= 2. Therefore we need to treat n = 0 and n = 1 separately...
  34. L

    Finding Radius and Convergence of Power Series | Simple Problem | Ratio Test

    Homework Statement Find the radius and interval of convergence of the given power series. \sum^{\infty}_{n=0}\stackrel{100^{n}(x+7)^{n}}{n!} Homework Equations Ratio Test The Attempt at a Solution My real question is: Can the radius be 0? Cuz that's what I get. Would the...
  35. E

    Laplace Transform of cos(kt) using Power Series expansion

    Homework Statement The problem just states to find the Laplace Transform of cos(kt) from its power series expansion, instead of using the formula for the transform of a periodic function.Homework Equations Equation for Laplace transform of a function f(t) ->\int(e^{-st}f(t))dt Power Series...
  36. E

    Analytic on an interval/expressing with a different power series

    Homework Statement Suppose the real power series \sum ^{\infty}_{n=0}c_{n}x^{n} has radius of convergence R > 0. Define f:= \sum ^{\infty}_{n=0}c_{n}x^{n} on I:= (-R, R) and let b \in I. Show that there exists a power series \sum d_{n}(x-b)^{n} that converges to f(x) for |x-b| < r - |b|...
  37. I

    Differential Equations through Power Series Expansion

    When solving diff-eq's given initial values, e.g. y'' - 2y ' + y = 0 y (0) = 0 y ' (0) = 1 Can one assume immediately that y(0) = c0 and y ' (0) = c1 ? Since these are the first 2 terms in the series? Thanks!
  38. C

    Finding a power series for arcsin(x)

    Homework Statement 1. Find a power series for (1-x)^(-1/2) 2. Find a power series for (1-x^2)^(-1/2) 3. Find a power series for arcsin(x) Homework Equations Binomial series, (1+x)^k= 1 + kx + k(k-1)x^2/2!+ k(k-1)(k-2)x^3/3!+... The Attempt at a Solution for 1., I have 1+ (-1/2)(-x) +...
  39. G

    Finding the Power Series of f(x) = 10/(1-5x)

    Homework Statement Determine the series of the given function: f(x) = 10 / (1-5*x) Homework Equations Power series of 1/(1-x) = Σ from n=0 to n=infinity of (x^n) The Attempt at a Solution f(x) = 10/(1-5x) = 10*(1/1-5x) = 10 * Σ(5x)^n = 10 * Σ(5^n)*(x^n) = Σ (50^n)*(x^n) <--- Not sure if...
  40. C

    What power series represents 1/(1+x^2) on (-1,1)

    Homework Statement Word for word, the book says "Find a power series that represents 1/(1+x^2) on (-1, 1) Homework Equations It's in the chapter that talks about power series, so I think they want me to use the fact that 1/(1-x) is a power series with a=1 and r=x, but if I just...
  41. B

    Root vs. ratio in determining radius of convergence of a power series

    Hi everyone :smile: When determining the radius of convergence of a power series, when should I use the ratio (a[sub n+1] / a[sub n]) test versus the root (|a[sub n]|^(1/n)) test? I know that I'm supposed to use the ratio only when there are factorials, but other than that, are these tests...
  42. T

    ODE - Power Series Convergence

    Homework Statement Solve (1-4x^2)y''+34x\cdot y'-70y=0 Homework Equations Basically, I found the recurrence relationship to be: a_{n+2}=\frac{2 (-7 + n) (-5 + 2 n)}{(n+1)(n+2)}a_n} Now, I solve for y1 where y1 had a_0=0 and a_1 = 1. It is a simple polynomial of degree 7...
  43. W

    Using a power series to approximate a definite integral

    How do I go about finishing/calculating this? Homework Statement Use a power series to approximate \int\cos 4x\log x dx to six decimal places. (bounds are from pi to 2pi) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution So I broke down the equation first: \int\cos 4x\log x dx =...
  44. T

    Solving Non-homogeneous ODEs using Power Series

    Homework Statement y"+3y'+2y= sin x y(0)=0 y'(0)=1 Evaluate y(0.1) Homework Equations Power Series Equation The Attempt at a Solution
  45. T

    Non-homogeneous ODE via Power Series

    Hey there! I'm new here and I just want to ask anyone willing how to solve this problem using power series: y"+3y'+2y= sin x y(0)=0 y'(0)=1 Evaluate y(0.1) Thanks! :smile:
  46. U

    Power series expansion of a function of x

    Homework Statement [Directions to problem] Show that the function of x gives a power series expansion on some interval centered at the origin. Find the expansion and give its interval of validity. \int_0^x e^{-t^2} dt Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I have...
  47. T

    Power Series expansion of hyperbolic functions

    Homework Statement power series expansion of: ((cosh x)/(sinh x)) - (1/x) Homework Equations cosh x = (1/2)(ex + e-x) sinh x = (1/2)(ex - e-x) The Attempt at a Solution what i have so far: I simplified the first part of the eq to read : e2x-1 e2x-1 now I am stuck...
  48. T

    What is the Closed Form of the Power Series 1+3x+6x^2+10x^3+15x^4+21x^5+...?

    Homework Statement Find the closed form of the following power series 1+3x+6x^2+10x^3+15x^4+21x^5+... Homework Equations 1+x+x^2+.. = 1/(1-x) The Attempt at a Solution I tried differentiating but couldn't get it to any expression that I know the sum for.. I was playing around...
  49. S

    Can Anyone Help Identify This Series and Explain MATLAB's Incorrect Answer?

    I have to find the "second smallest root" of the following equation : 1-x+(x^2)/(2!)^2-(x^3)/(3!)^2+(x^4)/(4!)^2+...=0 Matlab returns quite a satisfactory answer. >> p=[1/518400 -1/14400 1/1576 -1/36 1/4 -1 1] p = 0.0000 -0.0001 0.0006 -0.0278 0.2500 -1.0000 1.0000...
  50. K

    Power Series Problem: Bessel Function Solution

    Homework Statement \begin{equation} 1 - x + \frac{x^2}{(2!)^2} - \frac{x^3}{(3!)^2} + \frac{x^4}{(4!)^2} +... = 0 \nonumber \end{equation} Homework Equations To find out the power series in the LHS of the given equation. The Attempt at a Solution I have tried to solve it by...
Back
Top