EXERCISES FOR CHAPTER 5: Power Series

Find the interval of convergence of the power series below. For each state the radius of
convergence.


1. (a)  x n (b)  (
1) n +1
xn
n= 0 n=0

Solution
(
1)n + 2 x n +1
(a)  = lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the end points, x = 1 the
n (
1)n +1 x n

series is  (
1) n +1
and diverges by the divergence test and at x =
1 the series is
n=0


 (
1) n
and diverges by the divergence test. Thus R = 1.
n=0

x n +1
(b)  = lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the end points, x = 1 the series is
n xn
 

 (
1)n +1 and diverges by the divergence test and at x =
1 the series is  (
1) n
and
n=0 n=0
diverges by the divergence test. Thus R = 1.


xn (
x) n
2. (a)  (b) 
n= 0 n + 2 n= 0 n + 1

Solution
x n +1
n+2
(a)  = lim n +n 3 = x lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the end points,
n x n n + 3

n+2


1
x = 1 the series is  and diverges by the integral test and at x =
1 the series is
n=0 n + 2

(
1)n
 n + 2 and converges by the alternating series test. Thus R = 1.
n=0

(
x)n +1
n +1
(b)  = lim n + 2n = x lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the end points,
n (
x) n n + 2

n +1

(
1)n
x = 1 the series is  and converges by the alternating series test and at x =
1
n=0 n + 1


1
the series is  and diverges by the integral test. Thus R = 1.
n=0 n + 1
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 60



x 2n x 2n +1
3. (a)  (
1)n (2n)!
(b)  (2n + 1)!
n= 0 n= 0

Solution
(a)
x 2n + 2
n +1
(
1)
(2n + 2)! (2n)! 1
 = lim = x 2 lim = x 2 lim = 0 for all x and so
n
n x
2n
n (2n + 2)! n (2n + 2)(2n + 1)
(
1)
(2n)!
series converges for all x. Thus R =
.

(b)
x 2n + 3
(2n + 3)! (2n + 1)! 1

= lim 2n +1 = x 2 lim = x 2 lim = 0 for all x and so series
n x n (2n + 3)! n (2n + 3)(2n + 2)

(2n + 1)!
converges for all x. Thus R =
.

x x2 x3
4.
+

(b) 1+ 2x + 3x 2 + 4 x 3 +

1 2 2  3 3  4
Solution
n +1 xn
(a) The general term is (
1) . Hence:
n(n + 1)
x n +1
(n + 1)(n + 2) n(n + 1)

= lim = x lim = x . The series thus converges for
n x n
n (n + 1)(n + 2)
n(n + 1)
 
(
1)n 1

1 < x < 1. At x =
1, the series becomes  (
1)n +1 =
 that
n =1 n(n + 1) n =1 n(n + 1)

(
1)n +1
converges (apply for example the direct comparison test) and at x = 1 it is 
n =1 n(n + 1)
that converges absolutely. Hence the series converges for
1  x  1. Thus R = 1.

(n + 1)x n (n + 1)
(b) The general term is nx n
1 . Hence,  = lim n
1
= x lim = x . The series
n nx n n

converges for
1 < x < 1. At x =
1 the series becomes  n(
1) n
that diverges by the
n =1


divergence test and at x = 1 it is  n that diverges by the divergence test. Hence series
n =1
converges for
1 < x < 1. Thus R = 1.
61 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.



(x
2) n (x + 3) n
5. (a)  5n n
(b)  2n n +1
n=1 n=1
Solution
5 n +1 (x
2)n +1
n +1 n
(a)  = lim = 5 x
2 lim = 5 x
2 . The series converges for
n 5 (x
2)
n n
n n + 1

n
1 1 9 11 9

1 < 5(x
2) < 1,
< x
2 < , < x < . At the endpoints we have: at x =
5 5 5 5 5
 n
(
1) 11
the series becomes  that converges by the alternating series test. At x = the
n =1 n 5


1
series is  that diverges being the harmonic series.
n =1 n
9 11 1
The series thus converges for
x < and R = .
5 5 5

2 n +1 (x + 3)n +1
n+2 n +1
(b)
= lim = 2 x + 3 lim = 2 x + 3 . The series thus converges for
n 2 (x + 3)
n n
n n+2
n +1
1 1 7 5

1 < 2(x + 3) < 1,
< x + 3 < ,
< x <
. At the endpoints we have: at
2 2 2 2
 n
7 (
1)
x =
the series becomes  that converges by the alternating series test. At
2 n =1 n + 1


5 1
x =
the series is  that diverges by the integral test.
2 n =1 n + 1
7 5 1
The series thus converges for
 x <
and R = .
2 2 2
 
(x
1) n (x
2) n
6. (a)  n (b)  n2
n=1 n=1

Solution

(a)
(x
1)n +1
n
 = lim n + 1 n = x
1 lim = x
1 ,
1 < x
1 < 1,
n (x
1) n n + 1

n
0 < x < 2  converges
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 62


(
1) n
For x = 0 series becomes  n  converges by the alternating series test.
1


1
For x = 2 series becomes   diverges being a p=1 series.
1
n

Series converges for 0
x < 2 . Thus R = 1.

(b)
(x
2)n +1
2
(n + 1)2  n
 = lim = x
2 lim 
= x
2 ,
1 < x
2 < 1,
n (x
2) n  n + 1 
n

n2
1 < x < 3  converges


(
1)n
For x = 1 series becomes  n 2 that converges absolutely.
1


1
For x = 3 series becomes  2 that converges being a p =2 series.
1 n

Series converges for 1
x
3. Thus R = 1.

xn xn
7. (a)  (b) 
1 n n=1 n + 3
Solution
(a)
x n +1
n
 = lim n +n 1 = x lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the endpoints the series
n x n n +1
n


(
1)n 1
becomes  that converges by the alternating series test and  that is the
1 n 1 n
harmonic series and diverges. Hence the series converges for
1  x < 1. Thus R = 1.

(b)
x n +1
n+3
 = lim n +n 4 = x lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the endpoints the
n x n n + 4

n+3


(
1)n 1
series becomes  that converges by the alternating series test and  that
1 n+ 3 1 n+ 3
diverges by the integral test. Hence the series converges for
1  x < 1. Thus R = 1.



ln n n ln n
8. (a)  x (b) n 2
xn
n= 2
n n= 2
63 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

Solution
(a)
ln(n + 1) x n +1
n +1 n ln(n + 1)
 = lim = x lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the
n n + 1
n
n ln n x ln n
n

ln n
endpoints, x =
1 the series is  (
1)n and converges by the alternating series test
n=2 n



ln n 1
and at x = 1 the series is  and diverges by the direct comparison test with  .
n=2 n n=2 n
Hence series converges for
1  x < 1. Thus R = 1.
(b)
ln(n + 1) x n +1
(n + 1)2 n 2 ln(n + 1)
 = lim = x lim = x ,
1 < x < 1  converges . At the
n ln n x n n (n + 1)2 ln n
n2

ln n
endpoints, x =
1 the series is n 2
(
1)n and converges by the alternating series test
n=2


ln n
and at x = 1 the series is n 2
and converges by the integral test. Hence series
n=2
converges for
1  x  1. Thus R = 1.

 x n


n! n
9. (a)  
4
(b)  (
1) n +1

n2
x
1 1
Solution
(a)
n +1
 x

 x
4
 = lim n = ,
4 < x < 4  converges . At the endpoints the series is
n
 x 4


4


 (
1) 1 , both diverge. Hence series converges for
4 < x < 4 . Thus R = 4 .
n
and
1 1

(b)
(n + 1)!x n +1
n+2
(
1)
(n + 1)2 n 2 (n + 1)!
 = lim = x lim = x lim (n + 1) =  unless x = 0 .
n (n + 1)2
n
n +1 n!x n!
n n
(
1)
n2
Thus R = 0 .
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 64


(
1) n n 
(2x
1)n
10. (a)  22n (x
2) n
(b)  n
n=1 1
Solution
(a)
(x
2)n +1
(n + 1) x
2 x
2
 = lim 2 2n + 2 = lim
n
= ,
4 < x
2 < 4,
n (x
2) n
4 n n +1 4
n
2 2n

2 < x < 6  converges



n4 n
For x =
2 series becomes  2n =  n  diverges by the divergence test.
1 2 1
 n n 
(
1) n4
For x = 6 series becomes  2n
=  (
1) n n  diverges by the alternating series
1
2 1
test.

Series converges for
2 < x < 6 . Thus R = 4 .

(b)
(2x
1)n +1
n +1 n
 = lim = 2x
1 lim = 2x
1 ,
1 < 2x
1 < 1,
n (2x
1) n n + 1
n

n
0 < x < 1  converges

(
1) n
For x = 0 series becomes   converges by the alternating series test.
1 n


1
For x = 1 series becomes   diverges being a p series with p=1.
1
n

1
Series converges for 0
x < 1. Thus R = .
2



xn
11. (a)  2 n x n (b)  n
1 1 2
Solution
2 n +1 x n +1 1 1
(a)  = lim n n
= 2 x ,
1 < 2x < 1,
< x <  converges .
n 2 x 2 2

1  diverges by divergence test and

1
For x = ± series becomes
2 1


 (
1) n
 diverges by divergence test.
1

1 1 1
Series converges for
< x < . Thus R = .
2 2 2
65 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

x n +1
n +1 x x
(b)  = lim 2 n = ,
1 < < 1,
2 < x < 2  converges .
n x 2 2
n
2


For x = ±2 series becomes 1  diverges by divergence test and  (
1) n
 diverges
1 1
by divergence test.

Series converges for
2 < x < 2 . Thus R = 2 .



12. (a)  n 2 (x
2)n (b) n n
xn
1 1
Solution
(a)
(n + 1)2 (x
2)n + 2 (n + 1)2
 = lim = x
2 lim = x
2 ,
1< x
2 <1
n n 2 (x
2)n n n2
1 < x < 3  converges


At the endpoints we have: x = 1 and the series becomes  n (
1)
2 n
that diverges by the
1


divergence test. At x = 3 and the series becomes n 2
that diverges by the divergence
1
test. Hence the series converges for 1 < x < 3. Thus R = 1.

(b)
n +1 n +1
(n + 1)n +1 x n +1  n + 1  1

= lim = x lim   n = x lim  1 +  n = x e lim n =  unless
n n
n x n n  n n  n n

x = 0 . Thus R = 0 .



n!x n n4 x n
13. (a)1 (2n)! (b) 1 n!
Solution
(a)
(n + 1)!x n +1
(2n + 2)! n +1

= lim = x lim = 0 for all values of x. Thus R =
.
n (2n + 2)(2n + 1)
n
n n!x
(2n)!

(b)
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 66

(n + 1)4 x n +1
1  n + 1
4
(n + 1)!

= lim = x lim   = 0 for all values of x. Thus R =
.
n n4 xn n (n + 1)  n
n!



(2x
1) n
14. (a)  (
1)n +1 n +1
(b)  (2 n
+ 3n )x n
1 1

Solution
(a)
(2x
1)n +1
 = lim n +1 = 2x
1 ,
1 < 2x
1 < 1, 0 < x < 1  converges
n (2x
1)
n

n

1
For x = 0 series becomes
  diverges by the integral test.
1
n + 1

(
1) n +1
For x = 1 series becomes   converges by the alternating series test.
1 n +1

1
Series converges for 0 < x
1. Thus R = .
2

(b)
n +1
 2
(
+ 1)
(2 n +1 + 3n +1 )x n +1  3
 = lim = x lim =3x
n (2 n + 3n )x n n 1 2

n
1  3
n

( 
+ 
)
3  3 3  3
1 1

1 < 3x < 1,
< x <  converges
3 3


 2 n 
 2 n
For x = ± series becomes  (  + 1) and  ( 3 + 1)(
1)n and both diverge by
1
3 1
 3 1
divergence test and alternating series test.

1 1 1
Series converges for
< x < . Thus R = .
3 3 3

x2k
15. The Bessel function J 0 (x) may be defined by the power series  (
1)k
2 2 k (k!)2
. (a)
k=0
Find the radius of convergence of this series. (b) The Bessel function J1 (x) may be
d
defined through J1 (x) =
J 0 (x) . Find the power series for J1 (x) .
dx
67 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

Solution
(a)
n +1 x 2n + 2
(
1)
2 2n + 2 ((n + 1)!)2 x2 (n!)2 x2 1
 = lim = lim = lim = 0 for all x. Hence
n
n x 2n
4 n ((n + 1)!) 2
4 n (n + 1)2
(
1) 2n
2 (n!)2
R =
.
(b)
d  x2k
J1 (x) =
 (
1) 2 k k

dx k = 0 2 (k!)2
d  x2k
=
 22 k (k!)2
dx k =1
(
1) k


(2k)x 2 k
1
=
 (
1)k
k=0 2 2 k (k!)2

x 2 k
1
=  (
1) k +1

k =1 2 2 k
1 (k
1)!k!

x 2 k +1
=  (
1) 2 k +1k

k=0 2 (k + 1)!k!


16. Find the sum of the power series  nx 2n
1
by using another power series of known
n =1
sum.

Solution

1
Since, x 2n
= 1 + x2 + x4 + … =
1
x2
(for
1 < x < 1) we have by differentiation that
n=0

d  2n  
d 1 2x

dx n = 0
x =  2nx 2n
1
=  2nx 2n
1 =
dx 1
x 2
=
(1
x 2 )2
n=0 n =1

x
  nx 2n
1 =
n =1 (1
x 2 )2

dy
17. Consider the differential equation = xy with initial condition y = 1 when x = 0 .
dx
(a) This is a separable differential equation. Solve this equation. (b) Now try to
solve the equation again by assuming that the solution can be written as a power


dy
series, y = a0 + a1 x + a2 x 2 +
=  an x n . Calculate and then xy and equate the
n=0 dx
coefficients of x n on both sides to find the value of an . Hence find the solution of
the differential equation as a power series. (c) Find the interval of convergence of
the power series you got in (b).
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 68

Solution
2
x
dy dy x2
(a) = xy
= xdx
ln y = + ln C
y = Ce 2 . The initial condition means that
dx y 2
x2
C = 1 and so y = e . 2

(b)
y = a0 + a1 x + a2 x 2 +


yx = a0 x + a1 x 2 + a2 x 3 +

dy
= a1 + 2a2 x + 3a3 x 2 +

dx

and so
a1 + 2a2 x + 3a3 x 2 +
= a0 x + a1 x 2 + a2 x 3 +

Now, the initial condition dictates that a0 = 1 . Since there is no constant term on the
right side we must have a1 = 0 . Matching coefficients of equal powers of x we have that

1
2a2 = a0 = 1  a2 =
2
3a3 = a1 = 0  a3 = 0
1 1 1
4a4 = a2 =  a4 =

2 2 4
and in general
a2n +1 = 0
1 1 1 1 1
a2n =   
 = n
2n 2n
2 2n
4 2 2 n!
2

x

x 2n x 2n
so that the solution is y =  2 n n! . We may then deduce that e =  2 n n! .
2

n=0 n=0
(c) Applying the power series ratio test gives
x 2n + 2
2 n +1 (n + 1)! 1 2 n! 1 1

= lim = x lim = x 2 lim = 0 , for all values of x.
n (n + 1)! n n + 1
2n
n x 2 2
2 n n!