SECTION 11.

8 POWER SERIES |||| 723

11.8 POWER SERIES

A power series is a series of the form

⬁
1 兺cx
n苷0
n
n
苷 c0 ⫹ c1 x ⫹ c2 x 2 ⫹ c3 x 3 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈

where x is a variable and the cn’s are constants called the coefficients of the series. For each
fixed x, the series (1) is a series of constants that we can test for convergence or divergence.
A power series may converge for some values of x and diverge for other values of x. The
sum of the series is a function
f 共x兲 苷 c0 ⫹ c1 x ⫹ c2 x 2 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ ⫹ cn x n ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈
N TRIGONOMETRIC SERIES
A power series is a series in which each term is whose domain is the set of all x for which the series converges. Notice that f resembles a
a power function. A trigonometric series
polynomial. The only difference is that f has infinitely many terms.
⬁
For instance, if we take cn 苷 1 for all n, the power series becomes the geometric series
兺 共a
n苷0
n cos nx ⫹ bn sin nx兲
⬁
is a series whose terms are trigonometric func- 兺x
n苷0
n
苷 1 ⫹ x ⫹ x2 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ ⫹ xn ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈
tions. This type of series is discussed on the
website
www.stewartcalculus.com
which converges when ⫺1 ⬍ x ⬍ 1 and diverges when x 艌 1 (see Equation 11.2.5). ⱍ ⱍ
More generally, a series of the form
Click on Additional Topics and then on Fourier ⬁
Series.
2 兺 c 共x ⫺ a兲
n苷0
n
n
苷 c0 ⫹ c1共x ⫺ a兲 ⫹ c2共x ⫺ a兲2 ⫹ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈

is called a power series in 共x ⫺ a兲 or a power series centered at a or a power series

about a. Notice that in writing out the term corresponding to n 苷 0 in Equations 1 and 2
we have adopted the convention that 共x ⫺ a兲0 苷 1 even when x 苷 a. Notice also that when
x 苷 a, all of the terms are 0 for n 艌 1 and so the power series (2) always converges when
x 苷 a.
⬁
V EXAMPLE 1 For what values of x is the series
n苷0
兺 n!x n
convergent?

SOLUTION We use the Ratio Test. If we let a n , as usual, denote the nth term of the series,
then a n 苷 n!x n. If x 苷 0, we have

冟 冟 冟 冟
N Notice that
an⫹1 共n ⫹ 1兲!x n⫹1
共n ⫹ 1兲! 苷 共n ⫹ 1兲n共n ⫺ 1兲 ⴢ . . . ⴢ 3 ⴢ 2 ⴢ 1 lim
nl⬁ an
苷 lim
nl⬁ n!x n
苷 lim 共n ⫹ 1兲 x 苷 ⬁
nl⬁
ⱍ ⱍ
苷 共n ⫹ 1兲n!

By the Ratio Test, the series diverges when x 苷 0. Thus the given series converges only
when x 苷 0. M
⬁
共x ⫺ 3兲 n
V EXAMPLE 2 For what values of x does the series 兺
n苷1 n
converge?

SOLUTION Let a n 苷 共x ⫺ 3兲 兾n. Then

n

冟 冟 冟
an⫹1
an
苷
共x ⫺ 3兲 n⫹1
n⫹1
ⴢ
n
共x ⫺ 3兲n 冟
1
苷
1 ⱍx ⫺ 3ⱍ ⱍ
l x⫺3 ⱍ as n l ⬁
1⫹
n
724 |||| CHAPTER 11 INFINITE SEQUENCES AND SERIES

By the Ratio Test, the given series is absolutely convergent, and therefore convergent,
ⱍ ⱍ
when x ⫺ 3 ⬍ 1 and divergent when x ⫺ 3 ⬎ 1. Now ⱍ ⱍ
ⱍx ⫺ 3ⱍ ⬍ 1 &? ⫺1 ⬍ x ⫺ 3 ⬍ 1 &? 2⬍x⬍4

so the series converges when 2 ⬍ x ⬍ 4 and diverges when x ⬍ 2 or x ⬎ 4.

ⱍ ⱍ
The Ratio Test gives no information when x ⫺ 3 苷 1 so we must consider x 苷 2
and x 苷 4 separately. If we put x 苷 4 in the series, it becomes 冘 1兾n, the harmonic
series, which is divergent. If x 苷 2, the series is 冘 共⫺1兲n兾n, which converges by the
Alternating Series Test. Thus the given power series converges for 2 艋 x ⬍ 4. M

We will see that the main use of a power series is that it provides a way to represent
some of the most important functions that arise in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. In
National Film Board of Canada

particular, the sum of the power series in the next example is called a Bessel function, after
the German astronomer Friedrich Bessel (1784–1846), and the function given in Exer-
cise 35 is another example of a Bessel function. In fact, these functions first arose when
Bessel solved Kepler’s equation for describing planetary motion. Since that time, these
functions have been applied in many different physical situations, including the tempera-
ture distribution in a circular plate and the shape of a vibrating drumhead.

EXAMPLE 3 Find the domain of the Bessel function of order 0 defined by

⬁
共⫺1兲n x 2n
J0共x兲 苷 兺
n苷0 2 2n共n!兲2

SOLUTION Let a n 苷 共⫺1兲n x 2n兾关2 2n共n!兲2兴. Then

N Notice how closely the computer-generated

model (which involves Bessel functions and
冟 冟 冟
an⫹1
an 2
共⫺1兲n⫹1x 2共n⫹1兲
苷 2共n⫹1兲
关共n ⫹ 1兲!兴 2 ⴢ
2 2n共n!兲2
共⫺1兲nx 2n 冟
cosine functions) matches the photograph of a
x 2n⫹2 2 2n共n!兲2
vibrating rubber membrane. 苷 2 ⴢ
2 2n⫹2
共n ⫹ 1兲 共n!兲
2
x 2n
x2
苷 l 0⬍1 for all x
4共n ⫹ 1兲2

Thus, by the Ratio Test, the given series converges for all values of x. In other words, the
domain of the Bessel function J0 is 共⫺⬁, ⬁兲 苷 ⺢. M

Recall that the sum of a series is equal to the limit of the sequence of partial sums. So
when we define the Bessel function in Example 3 as the sum of a series we mean that, for
every real number x,
n
共⫺1兲i x 2i
J0共x兲 苷 lim sn共x兲
nl⬁
where sn共x兲 苷 兺
i苷0 2 2i 共i!兲2

The first few partial sums are

x2 x2 x4
s0共x兲 苷 1 s1共x兲 苷 1 ⫺ s2共x兲 苷 1 ⫺ ⫹
4 4 64
x2 x4 x6 x2 x4 x6 x8
s3共x兲 苷 1 ⫺ ⫹ ⫺ s4共x兲 苷 1 ⫺ ⫹ ⫺ ⫹
4 64 2304 4 64 2304 147,456
 SECTION 11.8 POWER SERIES |||| 725

y Figure 1 shows the graphs of these partial sums, which are polynomials. They are all
s™ approximations to the function J0 , but notice that the approximations become better when
1 s¸
more terms are included. Figure 2 shows a more complete graph of the Bessel function.
For the power series that we have looked at so far, the set of values of x for which the
series is convergent has always turned out to be an interval [a finite interval for the
s¢ geometric series and the series in Example 2, the infinite interval 共⫺⬁, ⬁兲 in Example 3,
0 x and a collapsed interval 关0, 0兴 苷 兵0其 in Example 1]. The following theorem, proved in
1 Appendix F, says that this is true in general.
J¸
s¡ s£
⬁

FIGURE 1 3 THEOREM For a given power series

n苷0
兺 c 共x ⫺ a兲 , there are only three
n
n

Partial sums of the Bessel function J¸ possibilities:

(i) The series converges only when x 苷 a.
y (ii) The series converges for all x.
1 (iii) There is a positive number R such that the series converges if x ⫺ a ⬍ R ⱍ ⱍ
y=J¸(x) ⱍ
and diverges if x ⫺ a ⬎ R. ⱍ
_10 10 The number R in case (iii) is called the radius of convergence of the power series. By
0 x convention, the radius of convergence is R 苷 0 in case (i) and R 苷 ⬁ in case (ii). The
interval of convergence of a power series is the interval that consists of all values of x for
which the series converges. In case (i) the interval consists of just a single point a. In case
FIGURE 2 ⱍ ⱍ
(ii) the interval is 共⫺⬁, ⬁兲. In case (iii) note that the inequality x ⫺ a ⬍ R can be rewrit-
ten as a ⫺ R ⬍ x ⬍ a ⫹ R. When x is an endpoint of the interval, that is, x 苷 a ⫾ R,
anything can happen—the series might converge at one or both endpoints or it might
diverge at both endpoints. Thus in case (iii) there are four possibilities for the interval of
convergence:
共a ⫺ R, a ⫹ R兲 共a ⫺ R, a ⫹ R兴 关a ⫺ R, a ⫹ R兲 关a ⫺ R, a ⫹ R兴
The situation is illustrated in Figure 3.

convergence for |x-a|<R

a-R a a+R

FIGURE 3 divergence for |x-a|>R

We summarize here the radius and interval of convergence for each of the examples
already considered in this section.

Series Radius of convergence Interval of convergence

⬁
Geometric series 兺x
n苷0
n
R苷1 共⫺1, 1兲
⬁
Example 1 兺 n! x
n苷0
n
R苷0 兵0其
⬁
共x ⫺ 3兲n
Example 2 兺
n苷1 n
R苷1 关2, 4兲
⬁
共⫺1兲n x 2n
Example 3 兺
n苷0 2 2n共n!兲2
R苷⬁ 共⫺⬁, ⬁兲
726 |||| CHAPTER 11 INFINITE SEQUENCES AND SERIES

In general, the Ratio Test (or sometimes the Root Test) should be used to determine the
radius of convergence R. The Ratio and Root Tests always fail when x is an endpoint of
the interval of convergence, so the endpoints must be checked with some other test.

EXAMPLE 4 Find the radius of convergence and interval of convergence of the series

⬁
共⫺3兲n x n
兺
n苷0 sn ⫹ 1

SOLUTION Let a n 苷 共⫺3兲n x n兾sn ⫹ 1 . Then

冟 冟 冟
an⫹1
an
苷
共⫺3兲n⫹1x n⫹1 sn ⫹ 1
sn ⫹ 2
ⴢ
共⫺3兲nx n 冟 冟 冑
苷 ⫺3x
n⫹1
n⫹2 冟
苷3 冑 1 ⫹ 共1兾n兲
1 ⫹ 共2兾n兲
x l 3 x ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ as n l ⬁

ⱍ ⱍ
By the Ratio Test, the given series converges if 3 x ⬍ 1 and diverges if 3 x ⬎ 1. ⱍ ⱍ
ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ ⱍ
Thus it converges if x ⬍ 13 and diverges if x ⬎ 13 . This means that the radius of con-
vergence is R 苷 13 .
We know the series converges in the interval (⫺ 13 , 13 ), but we must now test for con-
vergence at the endpoints of this interval. If x 苷 ⫺13 , the series becomes
n
⬁
共⫺3兲 n (⫺13 ) ⬁
1 1 1 1 1
兺
n苷0 sn ⫹ 1
苷 兺
n苷0 sn ⫹ 1
苷
s1
⫹
s2
⫹
s3
⫹
s4
⫹ ⭈⭈⭈

which diverges. (Use the Integral Test or simply observe that it is a p-series with
p 苷 12 ⬍ 1.) If x 苷 13 , the series is
n
⬁
共⫺3兲 n ( 13 ) ⬁
共⫺1兲 n
兺
n苷0 sn ⫹ 1
苷 兺
n苷0 sn ⫹ 1

which converges by the Alternating Series Test. Therefore the given power series con-
verges when ⫺13 ⬍ x 艋 13 , so the interval of convergence is (⫺13 , 13 ]. M

V EXAMPLE 5 Find the radius of convergence and interval of convergence of the series
⬁
n共x ⫹ 2兲n
兺
n苷0 3 n⫹1

SOLUTION If a n 苷 n共x ⫹ 2兲n兾3 n⫹1, then

冟 冟 冟
an⫹1
an
苷
共n ⫹ 1兲共x ⫹ 2兲n⫹1
3 n⫹2
ⴢ
3 n⫹1
n共x ⫹ 2兲n 冟
冉 冊ⱍ
苷 1⫹
1
n
x⫹2
3
ⱍ l ⱍx ⫹ 2ⱍ
3
as n l ⬁

Using the Ratio Test, we see that the series converges if ⱍ x ⫹ 2 ⱍ 兾3 ⬍ 1 and it diverges if
ⱍ x ⫹ 2 ⱍ 兾3 ⬎ 1. So it converges if ⱍ x ⫹ 2 ⱍ ⬍ 3 and diverges if ⱍ x ⫹ 2 ⱍ ⬎ 3. Thus the
radius of convergence is R 苷 3.
 SECTION 11.8 POWER SERIES |||| 727

ⱍ ⱍ
The inequality x ⫹ 2 ⬍ 3 can be written as ⫺5 ⬍ x ⬍ 1, so we test the series at
the endpoints ⫺5 and 1. When x 苷 ⫺5, the series is
⬁ ⬁
n共⫺3兲n
兺
n苷0 3 n⫹1
苷 1
3 兺
n苷0
共⫺1兲nn

which diverges by the Test for Divergence [共⫺1兲nn doesn’t converge to 0]. When x 苷 1,
the series is
⬁ ⬁
n共3兲n
兺 n⫹1 3 n苷0
n苷0 3
苷 1
兺n
which also diverges by the Test for Divergence. Thus the series converges only when
⫺5 ⬍ x ⬍ 1, so the interval of convergence is 共⫺5, 1兲. M

11.8 EXERCISES
⬁ ⬁
1. What is a power series? n2xn
23. 兺 n!共2x ⫺ 1兲 n
24. 兺 2 ⴢ 4 ⴢ 6 ⴢ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ ⴢ 共2n兲
2. (a) What is the radius of convergence of a power series? n苷1 n苷1

How do you find it? ⬁ ⬁

共4x ⫹ 1兲n x 2n
(b) What is the interval of convergence of a power series?
How do you find it?
25. 兺
n苷1 n2
26. 兺
n苷2 n共ln n兲 2
⬁
3–28 Find the radius of convergence and interval of convergence xn
of the series. 27. 兺
n苷1 1 ⴢ 3 ⴢ 5 ⴢ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ ⴢ 共2n ⫺ 1兲
⬁ ⬁
x n
共⫺1兲 x n n
3. 兺
n苷1 sn
4. 兺
n苷0 n⫹1 28. 兺
⬁
n! x n
n苷1 1 ⴢ 3 ⴢ 5 ⴢ ⭈ ⭈ ⭈ ⴢ 共2n ⫺ 1兲
⬁ ⬁
共⫺1兲 n⫺1 x n
5. 兺
n苷1 n3
6. 兺 sn x
n苷1
n
29. If 冘⬁n苷0 cn 4 is convergent, does it follow that the following
n

⬁ ⬁ series are convergent?

xn
7. 兺 8. 兺n n
xn ⬁ ⬁
n苷0 n! n苷1 (a) 兺 c 共⫺2兲
n苷0
n
n
(b) 兺 c 共⫺4兲
n苷0
n
n

⬁ ⬁
30. Suppose that 冘⬁n苷0 cn x n converges when x 苷 ⫺4 and diverges
n2 xn 10 n x n
9. 兺 共⫺1兲 n
2n
10. 兺 n3
n苷1 n苷1 when x 苷 6. What can be said about the convergence or diver-
gence of the following series?
⬁ ⬁
共⫺2兲 n x n xn
11. 兺
n苷1
4
s n
12. 兺
n苷1 5nn5 (a)
⬁

兺c n (b)
⬁

兺c8 n
n

n苷0 n苷0
⬁ ⬁
xn x 2n
兺 共⫺1兲 兺 共⫺1兲
n n ⬁ ⬁
13.
n苷2
n
4 ln n
14.
n苷0 共2n兲! (c) 兺 c 共⫺3兲
n苷0
n
n
(d) 兺 共⫺1兲 c
n苷0
n
n 9n

⬁ ⬁
共x ⫺ 2兲 n 共x ⫺ 3兲 n 31. If k is a positive integer, find the radius of convergence of
15. 兺
n苷0 n2 ⫹ 1
16. 兺 共⫺1兲
n苷0
n
2n ⫹ 1 the series
⬁
共n!兲 k n
⬁
3 共x ⫹ 4兲
n n ⬁
n 兺 共kn兲!
x
17. 兺
n苷1 sn
18. 兺
n苷1 4n
共x ⫹ 1兲 n n苷0

32. Let p and q be real numbers with p ⬍ q. Find a power series

⬁ ⬁
共x ⫺ 2兲n 共3x ⫺ 2兲n whose interval of convergence is
19. 兺
n苷1 nn
20. 兺
n苷1 n 3n (a) 共 p, q兲 (b) 共 p, q兴
(c) 关 p, q兲 (d) 关 p, q兴
⬁ ⬁
n n共x ⫺ 4兲 n
21. 兺
n苷1 bn
共x ⫺ a兲 n , b ⬎ 0 22. 兺
n苷1 n3 ⫹ 1
33. Is it possible to find a power series whose interval of
convergence is 关0, ⬁兲? Explain.