Expanding to power series, and finding the Laurent Series

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around expanding logarithmic functions into power series and finding the Laurent series. Participants express confusion regarding the methods for these expansions, particularly in the absence of available lecture materials and the complexity of their textbook.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the process of expanding logarithmic functions into power series, questioning if there are specific tricks or manipulations involved, such as converting logs to exponential forms.
  • One participant presents a series expansion for $\ln(1 + s)$ and $\ln(1 - s)$, suggesting that setting $s = i z$ leads to a relationship involving $\tan^{-1} z$.
  • Another participant proposes a different approach by setting $s = z - 1$ and manipulating the function to derive a series expansion, although the details of this manipulation are not fully agreed upon.
  • There is a request for clarification on whether the series expansion for $\ln(1 + s)$ is a standard definition or if it involves additional manipulation.
  • Participants discuss the derivation of the series expansion of $\ln(1 + x)$ from the known expansion of $\frac{1}{1+x}$, emphasizing the integration of the series term by term.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the methods for expanding logarithmic functions, with multiple approaches and interpretations presented. Some participants express understanding of the concepts while others seek further clarification.

Contextual Notes

Participants note ambiguities in their lecture notes and the difficulty of their textbook, which may limit their understanding of the discussed concepts.

nacho-man
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Please refer to attached image.

Hi,
I'm a bit lost here with the first question. Unfortunately the online lecture covering this material isn't available due to their having been made some technical difficulties, and I find our textbook difficult to comprehend!
My lecture notes are pretty ambiguous in relation to these two questions.

Firstly, how exactly does one expand a log to a power series? Is there some trick required here, like converting the given logs to it's equivalent exponential, and then using the polar form?
 

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nacho said:
Please refer to attached image.

Hi,
I'm a bit lost here with the first question. Unfortunately the online lecture covering this material isn't available due to their having been made some technical difficulties, and I find our textbook difficult to comprehend!
My lecture notes are pretty ambiguous in relation to these two questions.

Firstly, how exactly does one expand a log to a power series? Is there some trick required here, like converting the given logs to it's equivalent exponential, and then using the polar form?

(i) Is...

$\displaystyle \ln (1 + s) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n} \frac{s^{n}}{n}\ (1)$

$\displaystyle \ln (1 - s) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{s^{n}}{n}\ (2)$

... and setting $\displaystyle s = i\ z$ You obtain... $\displaystyle \ln (1 + i\ z) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n} \frac{(i\ z)^{n}}{n}\ (3)$

$\displaystyle \ln (1 - i\ z) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{(i\ z)^{n}}{n}\ (4)$

From (3) and (4)... $\displaystyle \ln (1 + i\ z) - \ln (1-i\ z) = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \{1- (-1)^{n}\}\ \frac{(i\ z)^{n}}{n} = 2\ i\ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n-1}\ \frac{z^{2n-1}}{2n-1} = 2\ i\ \tan^{-1} z\ (5)$

Kind regards$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
nacho said:
Please refer to attached image.

Hi,
I'm a bit lost here with the first question. Unfortunately the online lecture covering this material isn't available due to their having been made some technical difficulties, and I find our textbook difficult to comprehend!
My lecture notes are pretty ambiguous in relation to these two questions.

Firstly, how exactly does one expand a log to a power series? Is there some trick required here, like converting the given logs to it's equivalent exponential, and then using the polar form?

(ii) For semplicity we set $\displaystyle s = z - 1$ so that the function becomes... $\displaystyle f(s) = \frac{1}{s}\ \frac{1 + s}{2 + s} = \frac{1}{2}\ \frac{1}{s}\ \frac{1 + s}{1 + \frac{s}{2}} = \frac{1}{2}\ \frac{1}{s}\ (1 + s)\ (1 - \frac{s}{2} + \frac{s^{2}}{4} - \frac{s^{3}}{8} + ...)= \frac{1}{2}\ (\frac{1}{s} + \frac{1}{2} - \frac{s}{4} + \frac{s^{2}}{8} - ...)\ (1)$

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
thanks for the response both of you.

curiously, for

i) when you said

$\displaystyle \ln (1 + s) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n} \frac{s^{n}}{n}\ (1)$

Is that simply the definition for a power series of natural logs, or did you do some quick manipulation otherwise?

Thank you very much, the rest of it makes perfect sense, I was just getting stuck on how to start it.

I'm having a look at ii) now again
 
nacho said:
thanks for the response both of you.

curiously, for

i) when you said

$\displaystyle \ln (1 + s) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n} \frac{s^{n}}{n}\ (1)$

Is that simply the definition for a power series of natural logs, or did you do some quick manipulation otherwise?

Thank you very much, the rest of it makes perfect sense, I was just getting stuck on how to start it.

I'm having a look at ii) now again

The series expansion of $\ln (1 + x)$ derives from the well know expansion...

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{1+x} = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^{n}\ x^{n}\ (1)$

... and integrating (1) 'term by term' ...

$\displaystyle \int \frac{d x}{1+x} = \ln (1+x) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n} \frac{x^{n}}{n}\ (2)$

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
chisigma said:
The series expansion of $\ln (1 + x)$ derives from the well know expansion...

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{1+x} = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^{n}\ x^{n}\ (1)$

... and integrating (1) 'term by term' ...

$\displaystyle \int \frac{d x}{1+x} = \ln (1+x) = - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n} \frac{x^{n}}{n}\ (2)$

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

oh wow, this has changed my perspective of series completely!

thanks for that, i'll keep it in mind
 

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