Skip to main content
Ch. 10 - Infinite Sequences and Series
Hass - Thomas' Calculus 15th Edition
Hass15th EditionThomas' CalculusISBN: 9780137616077Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 10, Problem 10.7.60a

The series
sec x = 1 + x²/2 + 5x⁴/24 + 61x⁶/720 + 277x⁸/8064 + ⋯
converges to sec x for −π/2 < x < π/2.
a. Find the first five terms of a power series for the function ln|sec x + tan x|. For what values of x should the series converge?

Verified step by step guidance
1
Recall the given power series for \( \sec x \): \[ \sec x = 1 + \frac{x^{2}}{2} + \frac{5x^{4}}{24} + \frac{61x^{6}}{720} + \frac{277x^{8}}{8064} + \cdots \] and note that it converges for \( -\frac{\pi}{2} < x < \frac{\pi}{2} \).
Use the identity: \[ \ln|\sec x + \tan x| = \int \sec x \, dx \] This means the power series for \( \ln|\sec x + \tan x| \) can be found by integrating the power series for \( \sec x \) term-by-term.
Integrate each term of the \( \sec x \) series separately: - Integrate \( 1 \) to get \( x \) - Integrate \( \frac{x^{2}}{2} \) to get \( \frac{x^{3}}{6} \) - Integrate \( \frac{5x^{4}}{24} \) to get \( \frac{5x^{5}}{120} \) - Integrate \( \frac{61x^{6}}{720} \) to get \( \frac{61x^{7}}{5040} \) - Integrate \( \frac{277x^{8}}{8064} \) to get \( \frac{277x^{9}}{72576} \)
Write the resulting power series for \( \ln|\sec x + \tan x| \) as: \[ \ln|\sec x + \tan x| = C + x + \frac{x^{3}}{6} + \frac{5x^{5}}{120} + \frac{61x^{7}}{5040} + \frac{277x^{9}}{72576} + \cdots \] where \( C \) is the constant of integration.
Determine the interval of convergence: since the original \( \sec x \) series converges for \( -\frac{\pi}{2} < x < \frac{\pi}{2} \), the integrated series for \( \ln|\sec x + \tan x| \) will converge on the same interval \( -\frac{\pi}{2} < x < \frac{\pi}{2} \).

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
4m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

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

Power Series Expansion

A power series represents a function as an infinite sum of terms involving powers of a variable, typically centered at zero. It allows complex functions to be expressed as polynomials with infinitely many terms, facilitating approximation and analysis. Understanding how to find and manipulate power series is essential for deriving series expansions of functions like ln|sec x + tan x|.
Recommended video:
05:58
Intro to Power Series

Relationship Between Functions and Their Derivatives

Many functions can be expressed in terms of derivatives or integrals of other functions. For example, the derivative of ln|sec x + tan x| is sec x, which connects the given series for sec x to the function ln|sec x + tan x|. Recognizing these relationships helps in integrating or differentiating power series to find new series expansions.
Recommended video:
06:30
Derivatives of Other Trig Functions

Interval of Convergence

The interval of convergence defines the range of x-values for which a power series converges to the function it represents. It is crucial to determine this interval to ensure the validity of the series expansion. For functions involving sec x and tan x, convergence typically depends on avoiding points where these functions are undefined, such as ±π/2.
Recommended video:
08:44
Interval of Convergence