F(x) of a taylor series that looks a lot like an exponential

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on evaluating the series \(\sum{\frac{x^n}{n!}e^{cn^2}}\) and finding the function \(f(x)\) such that \(\frac{d^{n}f(0)}{dx^{n}} = e^{cn^{2}}\). Participants explore the implications of the constant \(c\) and its effect on the function's behavior, particularly noting that for \(c=0\), \(f(x)\) simplifies to \(e^x\). A key insight is that the proposed function \(f(x) = \exp(e^{c}x)\) fails to reproduce all derivatives, indicating a fundamental issue in the approach. The discussion also highlights concerns about numerical stability when expanding over large ranges of \(x\).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Taylor series and their applications
  • Familiarity with exponential functions and their derivatives
  • Knowledge of series convergence and numerical stability
  • Basic differential equations and their solutions
NEXT STEPS
  • Investigate modified exponential functions and their properties
  • Learn about Poisson expansions and their applications in series
  • Explore numerical methods for evaluating series with large ranges
  • Study the implications of variable substitutions in differential equations
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, physicists, and engineers working with series expansions, differential equations, and numerical analysis, particularly those interested in modified exponential functions and their applications.

donifan
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Hello, I am trying to evaluate the series

\sum{\frac{x^n}{n!}e^{cn^2}}

where c is a constant. I think this problem is equivalent to find f(x) such that


\frac{d^{n}f(0)}{dx^{n}} = \frac{e^{cn^{2}}}{n!}

I believe this must be a modified exponential since for c=0, it reduces to f(x)=e^x (also because I have plotted the solution). I have tried many things, however I still can't find the form of f(x). Any ideas?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I can't answer your question. However, warning! c > 0 may be a problem!
 
No biggie, x<0. To avoid confusion, let's write it better like

<br /> \sum{\frac{(-1)^nt^n}{n!}e^{cn^2}}<br />

I also know from the physical process that:

\displaystyle\lim_{t\to\infty} f(t)=0

Thanks!
 
I'm not sure whether you can express this particular function as some sort of exponential such as e^{g(x)} for some g(x) or not but if you take the derivative it doesn't seem likely that you can. I came up with f&#039;(x) = e^cf(e^{2c}x).
 
By expanding the exponential as a second series, assuming we can swap the order of summations, I get

f(x) = \sum_{m=0}^\infty \frac{c^m}{m!} \left( x\frac{d}{dx}\right)^{2m} e^x

The derivative should work out to a polynomial times an exponential. Not sure if that polynomial can be worked out explicitly.
 
Thanks guys!

First of all, I had a mistake in the first post (nothing about the series). The equivalent problem must be:

<br /> \frac{d^{n}f(0)}{dx^{n}} = e^{cn^{2}}<br />


So far I was able to check that f^{&#039;}(x) = e^cf(e^{2c}x) (Very nice work Wizlem). I even tried making the substitution u=e^{2c}x so that

\frac{df}{du}=e^{c}f

which can be easily solved (with f(0)=1) to f(x)=exp(e^{c}x). This however does not work as it does not reproduce all the derivatives of f(x) (actually only the first one). I am missing something there (probably st quite fundamental).

About the double expansion (which I think is equivalent to a Poisson expansion of f), I am not sure about the numerical stability especially when using many terms. x in my problem expands over 70 orders of magnitude (up to 10^50). That's is the reason why I am trying to come up with a closed form for f.
 
donifan said:
\frac{df}{du}=e^{c}f

which can be easily solved (with f(0)=1) to f(x)=exp(e^{c}x). This however does not work as it does not reproduce all the derivatives of f(x) (actually only the first one). I am missing something there (probably st quite fundamental).

I believe that you should get df/du = e^{-c}f, no? When you changed variables, you didn't seem to account for the du/dx = e^(2c) term that should get produced on the left hand side, which results in an e^(-c) instead of e^(+c) on the RHS.
 
Sorry about the typo, that's what I meant. The solution for f is actually for the right equation (the one with the minus in the RHS).
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
16K