MHB Help with Maclaurin series representation

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To find the Maclaurin series representation of the function (1+x^3)/(1+x^2), a useful approach is to rewrite it using the geometric series formula. By expressing 1/(1+x^2) as a geometric series with r = -x^2, the series can be simplified. This allows for easier manipulation without needing to differentiate multiple times. The discussion highlights the effectiveness of recognizing series forms to simplify complex calculus problems. The user successfully resolves their query using this method.
fernlund
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Hello! So, I'm having a bit of a problem with an exercise in my Calculus book. I'm supposed to find the Maclaurin series representation of

$$ \frac{1+x^3}{1+x^2} $$

and then express it as a sum. Am I really supposed to differentiate this expression a bunch of times..? That will be very complicated quickly.

I've tried to solve this using Wolfram Mathematica as a help, to find $$ f'(0) $$, $$ f''(0) $$ etc, but of course I want to do it by myself.

Is there any kind of trick that I'm missing? A substitution or another way of writing this?
 
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fernlund said:
Hello! So, I'm having a bit of a problem with an exercise in my Calculus book. I'm supposed to find the Maclaurin series representation of

$$ \frac{1+x^3}{1+x^2} $$

and then express it as a sum. Am I really supposed to differentiate this expression a bunch of times..? That will be very complicated quickly.

I've tried to solve this using Wolfram Mathematica as a help, to find $$ f'(0) $$, $$ f''(0) $$ etc, but of course I want to do it by myself.

Is there any kind of trick that I'm missing? A substitution or another way of writing this?

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{1 +x^3}{1 + x^2} = \left( 1 + x^3 \right) \, \frac{1}{1 - \left( -x^2 \right) } \end{align*}$

Now notice that $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{1}{1 - \left( -x^2 \right) } \end{align*}$ is the closed form of a geometric series with $\displaystyle \begin{align*} r = -x^2 \end{align*}$.
 
Prove It said:
$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{1 +x^3}{1 + x^2} = \left( 1 + x^3 \right) \, \frac{1}{1 - \left( -x^2 \right) } \end{align*}$

Now notice that $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{1}{1 - \left( -x^2 \right) } \end{align*}$ is the closed form of a geometric series with $\displaystyle \begin{align*} r = -x^2 \end{align*}$.

Ah, thank you very much! I've got it from here :)
 

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