A "spiral" in the Complex plane

  • #1
Hill
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Homework Statement
Starting from the origin, go one unit east, then the same length north, then (1/2) of the previous length west, then (1/3) of the previous length south, then (1/4) of the previous length east, and so on. What point does this “spiral” converge to?
Relevant Equations
series sum
I understand that the "spiral" converges to 1+i-1/2-i/3!+1/4!+i/5!-1/6!-i/7!... .
It splits into two: one for Re, 1-1/2+1/4!-1/6!..., and the other for Im, 1-1/3!+1/5!-1/7!... .
Any hints on how to compute them?
 
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  • #2
What are [itex]
\displaystyle\sum_{n=0}^\infty \dfrac{(-1)^n x^{2n}}{(2n)!}[/itex] and [itex]\displaystyle\sum_{n=0}^\infty \dfrac{(-1)^n x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}[/itex] when [itex]x = 1[/itex]?
 
  • #3
pasmith said:
What are [itex]
\displaystyle\sum_{n=0}^\infty \dfrac{(-1)^n x^{2n}}{(2n)!}[/itex] and [itex]\displaystyle\sum_{n=0}^\infty \dfrac{(-1)^n x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}[/itex] when [itex]x = 1[/itex]?
##\cos## and ##\sin##, of course. Thanks!
 
  • #4
Or, even better:
$$
\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(ix)^n}{n!}
$$
 
  • #5
Orodruin said:
Or, even better:
$$
\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(ix)^n}{n!}
$$
Yes. Straight.
 

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