How do you find the derivatives of a power series?

In summary, the user is trying to find the first and second derivative of a given power series (J(x)) and is having trouble understanding how to get the given solution (J''(x)). They are also discussing how to change the index of a series and how to use LaTeX symbols.
  • #1
stupidmonkey
4
0

Homework Statement


http://imgur.com/FJhgN
Give this power series J(x) (leftmost in the picture), find the first and second derivative.

Homework Equations


You take the derivative of a power series term by term.


The Attempt at a Solution


I don't understand how to get the J''(x) in the image, which is the solution that was given. I thought that when you take the derivative of J'(x) you start from n=1 in J'(x), but then start from n=2 in J''(x). I can get the term inside the summation though.
This question is part of a problem that asks you to prove (x^2)J(x)+xJ(x)+(x^2)J(x)=0 and the proof will only work if J''(x) starts from n=1 so I don't think the answer is a typo.
 
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  • #2
It looks like it's just re-indexing the series. Consider the following:
[tex] \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} x^n[/tex]
and
[tex] \sum_{n=2}^{\infty} x^{n-1}[/tex]

These are exactly the same, we just changed where the dummy variable starts, and the terms in the series had to shift to compensate
 
  • #3
Hmmm but I thought when you took the derivative of
Ʃ(n=1 to infinity) ((-1)^n)(x^(2n-1))(2n)/((2^(2n))(((m+1)!)^2) you get

Ʃ(n=2 to infinity) ((-1)^n)(x^(2n-2))(2n)(2n-1)/((2^(2n))((n!)^2))

Then if you change the index to n=1 you get:

Ʃ(n=1 to infinity) (((-1)^(n+1)))(2(n+1)(2n+1)(x^(2n))/((2^(2m+2)((m+1)!)^2)
which is different...
Sorry for the ugly complicated symbols, I don't know how to make it look more clean...
Btw how do you make such a large sigma symbol?
 
  • #4
stupidmonkey said:
Sorry for the ugly complicated symbols, I don't know how to make it look more clean...
Btw how do you make such a large sigma symbol?

Sorry for not addressing the problem, but I'm a bit rusty with power series.

In the "Reply to Thread" window (the "advanced" one with formatting toolbar), on the far right of the toolbar is the sigma symbol. Clicking that will open a sort of index of symbols/formatting/etc. in LaTeX.

You can search for LaTeX commands through Google as well. I'm sure there's also a thread about this somewhere. . .
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=8997
 

FAQ: How do you find the derivatives of a power series?

What is a power series?

A power series is a mathematical expression that represents a function as an infinite sum of powers of a variable, typically x. It is written in the form ∑n=0∞ cn(x-a)n, where cn are the coefficients, a is the center of the series, and n is the exponent.

What is the derivative of a power series?

The derivative of a power series is the sum of the derivatives of each term in the series. This means that the derivative of a power series is simply a new power series with coefficients that are the derivatives of the original coefficients. For example, if the power series is f(x) = ∑n=0∞ cnxn, then its derivative is f'(x) = ∑n=1∞ n*cnxn-1.

How do you find the derivative of a power series?

To find the derivative of a power series, you can use the power rule for derivatives, which states that the derivative of xn is nxn-1. You can apply this rule to each term in the power series to get the derivative of the entire series. Alternatively, you can use the properties of power series and their derivatives to find the derivative of a power series.

Why is the derivative of a power series useful?

The derivative of a power series is useful in many areas of mathematics, particularly in calculus and differential equations. It allows us to find the rate of change of a function represented by a power series at any point, which can help us analyze and understand the behavior of the function. It also enables us to approximate the values of the function with greater accuracy.

Can you differentiate a power series term by term?

Yes, you can differentiate a power series term by term, as long as the series converges absolutely. This means that the series of the absolute values of the coefficients must also converge. If this condition is satisfied, then the derivative of the power series is the power series formed by differentiating each term in the original series. However, if the series does not converge absolutely, then term by term differentiation may not be valid.

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