11.

8 Power Series
 Power Series
We now consider infinite series of the form:


 c ( x  a)
n 0
n
n

a is a constant

x is a variable
c’s are coefficients
that depend on n
 Example


x
n 0
n
Note here that a = 0 and cn = 1 (for each n)

Need |x|<1

For what values of x does

the series converge?
 Example


x
n 0
n
Note here that a = 0 and cn = 1 (for each n)

Sum = 1/(1-x)

If the series converges,

what is the sum?
 Example
We just showed that


1

n 0
n 2
x  1  x  x  x  ..... 3

1 x

WOW!
This function can be represented as an infinite series
If |x|<1
 Example
For what values of x do the following series
converge?
n n

(1) x
a.)
n 1 n 1

b.) n x n n

n 1
 General case


 c ( x  a)
n 0
n
n

For a given power series there are three possibilities:

1.) The series converges for all values of x (R=infinity)

2.) The series only converges for x=a (R=0)

3.) There is a positive number R, called the radius

of convergence, such that the series
converges if |x-a|<R and
diverges if |x-a|>R
 Radius of Convergence

• Use ratio or root test to find R

• At the endpoints x=a+R and x=a-R,
anything can happen! The series may
converge or diverge…further testing must
be done!
 Why do we care???
• We can represent functions as infinite
power series (11.9 functions as power
series)
• Note that a power series is an infinite
polynomial defined by the coefficients cn
• We like polynomials 
– Easy to integrate and differentiate
 Closer look at

1
f ( x)   x  1  x  x  x  ..... 
n 2 3

n 0 1 x
x 1

Can we use this to

express other
functions as
power series?
 Example
Express 3
f ( x)  4
1 x

as a power series.
 Coming Soon!
x
• What about other f ( x)  e ?
functions such as f ( x)  sin( x) ?
f ( x)  cos( x) ?

Can we express these

as power series???