Is the radius of convergence 1 or 1/2?

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SUMMARY

The radius of convergence for the power series $$\sum_{K=0}^{+\infty}(k+1)z^{k+1}$$ is definitively 1, as established through the ratio test. The calculation involves evaluating the limit $$\lim_{k\rightarrow +\infty}\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_{n}}$$, which simplifies to $$\lim_{k\rightarrow +\infty}\left(1 + \frac{1}{k + 1}\right)\left| z \right| < 1$$. This leads to the conclusion that $$\left| z \right| < 1$$, confirming the radius of convergence is indeed 1, not 1/2 as initially calculated.

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Hello! I have a problem with the following exercise, in which i must calculate the ray of a power serie. This is the power serie: $$\sum_{K=0}^{+\infty}(k+1)z^{k+1}$$. I decide to use the ratio test, and so i calculate $$\lim_{k\rightarrow +\infty}\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_{n}}$$ for n going to infinity and i get $$\lim_{k\rightarrow +\infty}\frac{k+2}{k+1}=2\Rightarrow R=\frac{1}{2}$$ but the real result should be 1. Am i doing something wrong? Thankyou
 
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lucad93 said:
Hello! I have a problem with the following exercise, in which i must calculate the ray of a power serie. This is the power serie: $$\sum_{K=0}^{+\infty}(k+1)z^{k+1}$$. I decide to use the ratio test, and so i calculate $$\lim_{k\rightarrow +\infty}\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_{n}}$$ for n going to infinity and i get $$\lim_{k\rightarrow +\infty}\frac{k+2}{k+1}=2\Rightarrow R=\frac{1}{2}$$ but the real result should be 1. Am i doing something wrong? Thankyou

What is a "ray" of convergence? If you mean a "radius" or "circle" of convergence, then you are correct, you should use the ratio test...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \lim_{k \to \infty} \left| \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_k} \right| &< 1 \\ \lim_{k \to \infty} \left| \frac{ \left( k + 2 \right) \, z ^{k + 2} }{ \left( k + 1 \right) \, z^{k + 1} } \right| &< 1 \\ \lim_{k \to \infty} \left( \frac{ k + 2 }{ k + 1 } \right) \,\left| z \right| &< 1 \\ \lim_{ k \to \infty } \left( 1 + \frac{1}{k + 1} \right) \, \left| z \right| &< 1 \\ \left( 1 + 0 \right) \, \left| z \right| &< 1 \\ \left| z \right| &< 1 \end{align*}$

The radius of convergence is 1.
 

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