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Ch. 11 - Power Series
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 11, Problem 11.2.21

Radius and interval of convergence Determine the radius and interval of convergence of the following power series.


−x²/1 + x⁴/2! −x⁶/3! + x⁸/4! − ⋯

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First, rewrite the given power series in a general term form. Notice the pattern of powers and factorials: the nth term looks like \((-1)^n \frac{x^{2(n+1)}}{(n+1)!}\), starting from \(n=0\).
Identify the general term \(a_n = (-1)^n \frac{x^{2(n+1)}}{(n+1)!}\). To analyze convergence, it is often easier to express the series as \(\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n \frac{x^{2(n+1)}}{(n+1)!}\).
Apply the Ratio Test to find the radius of convergence. Compute the limit \(L = \lim_{n \to \infty} \left| \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right|\) where \(a_n = (-1)^n \frac{x^{2(n+1)}}{(n+1)!}\).
Simplify the ratio inside the limit: \(\left| \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right| = \left| \frac{x^{2(n+2)}}{(n+2)!} \cdot \frac{(n+1)!}{x^{2(n+1)}} \right| = \left| \frac{x^2}{n+2} \right|\).
Evaluate the limit as \(n \to \infty\): \(L = \lim_{n \to \infty} \left| \frac{x^2}{n+2} \right| = 0\) for all real \(x\). Since \(L=0 < 1\) for all \(x\), the radius of convergence is infinite, meaning the series converges for all real \(x\). Thus, the interval of convergence is \((-\infty, \infty)\).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Power Series

A power series is an infinite sum of terms in the form a_n(x - c)^n, where a_n are coefficients and c is the center. Understanding the structure of power series helps analyze their convergence behavior depending on the value of x.
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Radius of Convergence

The radius of convergence is the distance from the center within which a power series converges absolutely. It can be found using tests like the Ratio Test or Root Test, indicating the interval where the series represents a valid function.
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Interval of Convergence

The interval of convergence is the set of all x-values for which the power series converges. It includes the radius of convergence and requires checking endpoints separately to determine if the series converges or diverges there.
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