Unit 1.

Infinite and Power Series

In Unit 1, you must be able to:
ü  find the limit of a sequence
ü  test an infinite series for
convergence
ü  establish sum of convergent
infinite series
ü  obtain a power series expansion
of a function
 Unit 1
Infinite and Power
Series
OBJECTIVES
In Unit 1, you must be able to:
ü  find the limit of a sequence
ü  test an infinite series for
convergence
ü  establish sum of convergent
infinite series
ü  obtain a power series expansion
of a function
What is a sequence?
NOTIONS

What is a sequence?
Ø  a list of “objects” arranged
according to a particular order

3 3 5 4 4 3 5 5 4 3 ?
6
one three five seven nine ELEVEN
two four six eight ten
NOTIONS

What is a sequence?
Ø  a list of “objects” arranged
via a mathematical pattern

1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 4 ?
8 16 32 64 128
NOTIONS

What is a sequence?
Ø  a list of “objects” arranged
via a mathematical pattern

1 1 2 3 5 8 ?
13
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 89 . . .
FIBONACCI SEQUENCE
NOTIONS

What is a sequence?
Ø  representation: as a set where the
nth-term has a closed formula

1 2 3 4 5 . . . n . . .
2 3 4 5 6 n +1
1 2 3 4 5 . . . n ??? . . .
Definition

What is a sequence?
Ø a function whose domain is
the set of natural numbers
1, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , . . .

Ø elements of the range are

called as the terms
Illustration.

function: 𝒇(𝒙)=​𝟏/𝒙  𝒙∈ℝ−{𝟎}

sequence: 𝒇(𝒏)=​𝟏/𝒏  𝒏∈ℕ

{𝟏,​𝟏/𝟐 ,​𝟏/𝟑 ,​𝟏/𝟒 ,​𝟏/𝟓 ,…}
Notations
∞
{ a n }n = 1 { a n } { f (n) }
Example
⎧1⎫
Sequence: ⎨ ⎬
⎩n⎭
1 1
an = or f ( n ) =
n n
Example

⎧⎪ ( −1 )n ⎫⎪
⎨ ⎬
⎪⎩ n ⎪⎭

⎧⎪ 1 1 1 1 ( −1 ) n ⎫⎪
⎨ −1 , , − , , − ,..., ,...⎬
⎪⎩ 2 3 4 5 n ⎪⎭
GOAL

{ }
GIVEN A SEQUENCE a n .

ü  BEHAVIOR OF an AS n → +∞
Graphical representation of a sequence

Graph of a sequence { an } :

the set of isolated points

( n , an ) on the plane
Example

⎧1 ⎫
⎨ ⎬
⎩ n ⎭
1 2 3 4 5 . . . n . . .
(1 ,1 ) 2 , 12 3 , 13 4 , 1 5 , 1
( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( 1
4 5
n,)n
Illustration
⎧1 ⎫
1 ⎨ ⎬
⎩n ⎭

1 2 3 4 5 6
Example

⎧⎪ ( −1 )n ⎫⎪
⎨ ⎬
⎪⎩ n ⎪⎭
1 2 3 4 5 . . . n . . .
n⎞
(1 ,−1 )( 2 , 12 ) ( 3 ,− 13 ) ( 4, 1
4 )(
5 ,− 1 ⎛
)
( −
5 ⎜ n, n ⎟
1 )
⎝ ⎠
Illustration
⎧⎪ ( −1 )n ⎫⎪
⎨ ⎬
1 ⎪⎩ n ⎪⎭

1 2 3 4 5 6

−1
Factorial.
factorial: n! n ∈ ! ∪ {0}
n ! = n ⋅ ( n − 1 ) ⋅ ( n − 2) ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1
0! = 1
1! = 1
2! = 2 ⋅ 1 = 2
3! = 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1 = 6
4 ! = 4 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1 = 24
5 ! = 5 ⋅ 4 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1 = 120
Factorial.
⎧ 1 ⎫
sequence: ⎨ ⎬
⎩ n! ⎭
⎧ 1 1 1 1 1 ⎫
⎨ , , , , ,... ⎬
⎩ 1 ! 2! 3! 4 ! 5! ⎭
⎧ 1 1 1 1 ⎫
⎨ 1, , , , ,... ⎬
⎩ 2 6 24 120 ⎭
 1.1

Limit of a sequence
GOAL

{ }
GIVEN A SEQUENCE a n .

ü  BEHAVIOR OF an AS n → +∞

LIMIT OF A SEQUENCE: lim an

n →+∞
Notion

If as n → +∞, an → L ,
then lim an = L .
n →+∞
Illustration
( −1 ) n
⎧⎪ ( −1 )n ⎫⎪
⎨ ⎬ lim =0
1 ⎪⎩ n ⎪⎭ n →+∞ n

1 2 3 4 5 6

−1
(HITCH) Theorem.

If lim f ( x ) = L ,
x →+∞
then lim f ( n ) = L .
n →+∞

The function f should be continuous

going to +∞ .
Illustration
⎧1 ⎫
⎨ ⎬
1
⎩n ⎭
1
lim =0
1
n →+∞ n
2
1 1
13 y=
4
x
1 2 3 4 5 6
Example 1. Determine the limit of
⎧ 2n − 1 ⎫
⎨ ⎬
⎩ 4 − 3n ⎭
Solution: ⎧ 2n − 1 ⎫
2x − 1 ⎨ ⎬
Consider f ( x ) = . ⎩ 4 − 3n ⎭
4 − 3x

2x − 1 ⎛ ∞ ⎞ L 2 2
lim ⎜ ⎟ = lim =−
x →+∞ 4 − 3x ⎝ ∞ ⎠ x →+∞ − 3 3

2n − 1 2
Hence, lim =− .
n →+∞ 4 − 3n 3
Example 2. Determine the limit of

⎧⎪ n2 + 1 ⎫⎪
⎨ ⎬
⎪⎩ n + 2 ⎪⎭
Solution: ⎧⎪ n2 + 1 ⎫⎪
2
x +1 ⎨ ⎬
Consider f ( x ) = . ⎪⎩ n + 2 ⎪⎭
x+2
2
x +1 ⎛ ∞ ⎞ L2x
lim ⎜ ⎟ = lim = +∞
x →+∞ x + 2 ⎝ ∞ ⎠ x →+∞ 1

2
n +1
Hence, lim = +∞ .
n →+∞ n + 2
 ⎧⎪ ⎛ 1 ⎞n ⎫⎪
Example 3. Determine the limit of ⎨ ⎜ ⎟ ⎬.
⎪⎩ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎪⎭
x
y = f (x ) = b

b>1 0<b<1
 ⎧⎪ ⎛ 1 ⎞n ⎫⎪
Example 3. Determine the limit of ⎨ ⎜ ⎟ ⎬.
⎪ ⎝ 2⎠ ⎪⎭
x ⎩
⎛1⎞
y=⎜ ⎟
⎝2⎠ n
⎛1⎞
lim ⎜ ⎟ =
n →+∞ ⎝ 2 ⎠ 0
Example 4. Determine the limit of
n
{ ( −1 ) }
n
( −1 ) CANNOT be immediately
x
converted to a form ( − 1 ) .
 n
{ ( −1 ) }
1

1 2 3 4 5 6

−1
n
lim ( −1 ) DOES NOT EXIST.
n →+∞
Dilemma

lim n ! =
n →+∞
+∞
n ! = n ⋅ ( n − 1 ) ⋅ ( n − 2) ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1

n! CANNOT be converted to a
form x! .
Dilemma

1
lim = ???
n →+∞ n !
AS n → +∞ , n! → + ∞ .
1
Hence, lim
n → +∞ n !
= 0.
Convergence / Divergence

If the limit of { an } exists,

then { an } is convergent.

Else, the sequence is divergent.

 ¼ sheet of paper
Quiz #1 Write your name,
student no. and
recitation section
Give an example of:

1. A sequence that converges to 1

2. A divergent sequence
Example 4. Determine the limit of
⎧⎪ 3
n ⎫⎪
⎨ n ⎬
⎪⎩ e ⎪⎭
 ⎧⎪ 3
n ⎫⎪
Solution:
⎨ n ⎬
3 2 ⎪⎩ e ⎪⎭
x ⎛∞⎞ L
3x ⎛ ∞ ⎞
lim ⎜∞⎟ = lim
x
x →+∞ e ⎝ x
⎠ x →+∞ e ⎝ ⎠
⎜∞⎟

L 6x ⎛ ∞ ⎞
= lim x ⎜∞⎟
x →+∞ e ⎝ ⎠
L 6 ⎛ 6 ⎞
= lim x ⎜ +∞ ⎟
x →+∞ e ⎝ ⎠
=0
END