Nanyang Technological University

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Division of Mathematical Sciences

MH1811 Mathematics 2 Tutorial 9

Topics: Power Series: Radius of Convergence & Interval of Convergence. Differentiation & Integra-
tion of Power series. Applications.

∞
(3x + 5)n .
P
1. Consider the power series
n=0

(a) What is its center a of the power series?

(b) Determine its radius of convergence and the interval of convergence.
(c) Within this interval, express the sum of the series as a function of x.

2. Find the radius of convergence of the following power series.

∞
 n2
n
xn
P
(a)
n=1 n + 1
∞ √ √

n + 1 − n xn
P
(b)
n=1

3. For each of the following power series, determine the radius of convergence and the interval of
convergence.

P∞ (x − 1)n
(a) √
n=1 n
∞
P x n
(b) n
n=1 n3
P∞ (−1)n x2n
(c)
n=1 (2n)!
∞
(−n)n (x − 2)n
P
(d)
n=1
∞ n!
xn
P
(e)
n=1 3 · 6 · 9 · · · 3n

4. Use the power series of

∞
X (−1)n x2n+1 x3 x5 x2n+1
sin x = =x− + − · · · + (−1)n + · · · for every x
(2n + 1)! 3! 5! (2n + 1)!
n=0

to show that
∞
X (−1)n x2n x2 x4 x2n
cos x = =1− + − · · · + (−1)n + · · · for every x.
(2n)! 2! 4! (2n)!
n=0

1
 1
5. Use the power series representation of ,
1−x
∞
1 X
= xn = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + · · · , for − 1 < x < 1,
1−x
n=0

for each of the following parts:

2x
(a) Obtain the power series representation of and the corresponding valid values of x.
4 − 3x
x ∞
nxn for −1 < x < 1.
P
(b) Show that =
(1 − x)2 n=1
∞ xn
 
1 P
(c) Show that ln = for −1 < x < 1.
1−x n=1 n
3
(d) Find the power series of f (x) = 2 , and the corresponding valid values of x.
x +x−2
6. Consider the power series representation of ex for every real number x, i.e.,

x2 xn
ex = 1 + x + + ··· + + ··· .
2! n!
(a) Use the series to find the sum of the series
1 1 1
i. 1 + 1 + + + + · · ·.
2! 3! 4!
22 x4 23 x5 24 x6
ii. x2 − 2x3 + − + − · · ·.
2! 3! 4!
(b) Use the series to find the Maclaurin series of the hyperbolic sine function, sinh(x) =
ex − e−x
.
2
ex − (1 + x)
(c) Use the series to evaluate the limit lim .
x→0 x2
Z x
e −1
(d) Evaluate the indefinite integral dx as a power series.
x
2
(e) Use the first three terms of the Maclaurin series of e−x to approximate the definite integral
Z 0.1
2
e−x dx.
0
Remark This problem illustrates the applications of power series and Taylor series.