Evening Help Session 10——Math 119

Aamer Akhand

March 24th 2020

1 Radius of Convergence
Consider the following series. Find the Radius of Convergence and the Interval of
Convergence.
P∞ (−1)n n
n=1 4n
(x + 3)n

Solution: Firstly, when solving for Radius of convergence, we must do the Ra-
tio Test.
4n (n + 1)(x + 3)n+1
L = lim
n→∞ 4n+1 n(x + 3)n
(n + 1)(x + 3)
L = lim
n→∞ 4n
(n + 1)
L = (x + 3) lim
n→∞ 4n
1
L = |x + 3|
4
We know that the Ratio Test only confirms convergence when L < 1.
1
|x + 3| < 1
4
|x + 3| < 4
Therefore, our Radius of Convergence is 4, and the bounds are -7 and 1. However,
we still need to check if x = −7 or x = 1 belong to our Interval of Convergence.
We will do this by plugging these values into our original summation to see if they
converge.
For x = −7:
∞
X (−1)n n
(−4)n
n=1
4n
∞
X (−1)n (−1)n n n
(4)
n=1
4n
∞
X
n
n=1

This series diverges therefore, x = −7 does not belong in our interval.

For x = 1:
∞
X (−1)n n n
(4)
n=1
4n

1
 ∞
X
(−1)n n
n=1

This also diverges by the N-th Term Test. Therefore our Interval of Convergence
is: −7 < x < 1

2n
P∞
n=1 n (4x − 8)n

Solution: Firstly, when solving for Radius of convergence, we must do the Ra-
tio Test. I will skip most of the cancellation steps

L = 2|4x − 8|
We know that the Ratio Test only confirms convergence when L < 1. However, I
want to point out, the coeffcient on our x must be 1! So we will factor the 4 out.

8|x − 2| < 1
1
|x − 2| <
8
Therefore, our Radius of Convergence is 18 , and the bounds are 15
8
and 17
8
. However,
we still need to check if our endpoints belong in the Interval of Convergence.
For x = 158
:
∞
X 2n 15
( − 8)n
n=1
n 2
∞
X 2n −1 n
( )
n=1
n 2
∞
X (−1)n
n=1
n
15
This is the alternating harmonic series and we know it converges therefore, x = 8
does belong in our interval.
For x = 178
:
∞
X 2n 17
( − 8)n
n=1
n 2
∞
X 2n 1 n
( )
n=1
n 2
∞
X 1
n=1
n
This is the harmonic series and we know it diverges. Therefore our Interval of
Convergence is: 15
8
≤ x < 17
8

2
2 Power Series
2.1
Find a Power Series representation of the following functions.

1
f (x) = 5−x

Solution: Before we begin, lets note that we can represent Geometric Sums as
1
1−r
. And wow, our function kinda looks like that! The only issue is that we have
a 5 in our denominator. Let’s try factoring it out.
1 1
f (x) = x
51− 5
x
Now, if we let r = 5
we can make that portion into a summation.
∞
1X x n
f (x) = ( )
5 n=0 5
∞
X xn
f (x) =
n=0
5n+1

g(x) = ln(5 − x)

Solution: Well we have no known Power Series for logarithms, but we can still
do some neat tricks. I noticed if I differentiate g(x), I just get -f(x)! So if I just
integrate -f(x), I should get g(x) back! Note: We are integrating with respect to x.
∞
xn
Z Z X
f (x) dx = − ( ) dx
n=0
5n+1
∞ Z
X xn
g(x) = − dx
n=0
5n+1
This is just a polynomial with respect to x, which makes this easy peasy.
∞
X xn+1
g(x) = − +C
n=0
5n+1 (n+ 1)

Well what the frick is C? an easy way to find out is if we just let x = 0 and solve
for it.
ln(5 − 0) = −0 + C
C = ln(5)
∞
X xn+1
ln(5 − x) = ln(5) −
n=0
5n+1 (n + 1)

1
h(x) = x ∗ 1−2x

3
Solution: This is a bit of an easier one, I just wanted to showcase that you can
leave some x’s out to make your Power Series a bit easier. We can recognize the
right portion just being a geometric series with r = 2x.
∞
X
h(x) = x (2x)n
n=0

∞
X
h(x) = 2n xn+1
n=0

I want to talk for a bit on why we are allowed to just leave out and put in the x into
our summation like we did. The summation is in terms of n, not x. Our x inside
of the summation can technically be treated like a constant, and we know we can
take out constants from a summation. It is similar to multivariable integration in
the regard that we could take out our x’s and y’s from an integral with respect to
z. That’s it for this one. Remember to group your x terms into a singular term.

2.2
Given a Summation, find a function that represents it.
P∞
n=0 3( x2 )n

Solution: So this is like the reverse of what the previous question was asking.
Well this is a geometric series with x2 = r, so lets just write out the sum of that.
3
x
1− 2

And thats it.

P∞ (xn n!+xn )
n=0 n!

Solution: This one needs a bit more algebraic manipulation and requires you to
xn
recognize a few more common Power Series. Specifically that ex = ∞
P
n=0 n! .

∞
X (xn n! + xn )
n=0
n!
∞ ∞
X xn n! X xn
+
n=0
n! n=0
n!
∞
X
xn + ex
n=0

1
+ ex
1−x
You can find the Power Series for Sin(x) and Cos(x) in your Course Notes and
that is a very common one you might be expected to recognize. The Binomial Series
is another series you might encounter however less common than the previous 4.
You can find it as well in the Course Notes.