Algebraic Substitution: Solving F(r) Using r=r_+(1+\rho^2)

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Homework Statement



I have this function F(r)=\frac{(r-r_+)(r-r_-)}{r^2} and I want to make the subsitution r=r_+(1+\rho^2).

Homework Equations



None.

The Attempt at a Solution



So, I sub in, to obtain F=\frac{[r_+(1+\rho^2)-r_-][r_+(1+\rho^2)-r_-]}{r_+^2(1+\rho^2)^2}=\frac{\rho^2[r_+(1+\rho^2)-r_-]}{r_+^2(1+\rho^2)^2}.

Now, the solutions say that this is equal to \frac{r_+\rho^2(r_+-r_-)}{r_+^2}\cdot [1+O(\rho^2)], however I cannot, for the life of me, see how to get this from my line above! Can anyone help?
 
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Looks like a Taylor expansion to me, but I could be wrong...
 
Hootenanny said:
Looks like a Taylor expansion to me, but I could be wrong...

Yup, you're correct. I never spot things like that. Thanks! :smile:
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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