CHAPTER1 MAT455

1.5 POWER SERIES

A power series is a series of the form

∞

∑ c n x n = c 0+ c 1 x + c 2 x 2 + c 3 x3 +……….
n=0

where x is a variable and the c n ' s are constants called the coefficients of the series.

A power series may converge for some values of x and diverge for other values of x.
The convergence interval can be obtained by first using the ratio test for absolute
convergence and supplemented by other tests for the endpoints of the convergence
interval.

Example 1
∞
( x −3)n
a) For what values of x are the series ∑ converge?
n =1 n

∞
(−3)n x n
b) Find the interval of convergence for ∑ .
n =1 √ n+1

∞
c) Find the interval of convergence for ∑ n¿ ¿ ¿.
n =1

∞
n
d) For what values of x is the series ∑ n! x convergent?
n =1

e) Find the domain of the Bessel function of order 0 defined by

∞
(−1)n x 2 n
J 0 ( x ) =∑ 2n 2
n=0 2 (n !)

TRY THIS
∞
(−2 )k +1( x−1)k
Determine the interval of convergence for the series ∑ . (Ans: (-1,3])
k =1 4k (k +1)

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