- #1
Quadratic
- 20
- 0
I was wondering if a converging infinite series which includes "x" to ascending whole number powers would fit under the definition of a polynomial function. As an example:
f(x) = [n = 1 -> infinity] Sum(x^(2n-1)(-1)^(n+1)/(2n-1)!)
Also written as:
f(x) = x - x^3/3! + x^5/5! - x^7/7! + x^9/9! ...
Since x stays out of the denominator, and since it will always be to a power of a whole number, I was wondering if it could technically be defined as a polynomial function. It sounds like it can be described as polynomial, but my only concern is that it goes on to infinity, which isn't really a number. Also, I'm not sure if it's proper for polynomials to converge to a number, or to be expressed in sigma notation. (That series converges at Sin(x), where x is an angular measure in radians, btw)
edit: I meant to put this in general math, but I seem to have pressed the wrong button, and I'm not sure how to delete/move it. :/
edit: testing out that LaTeX code thingy...
[tex]\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} x^{2n-1}(-1)^{n+1}/(2n-1)![/tex]
f(x) = [n = 1 -> infinity] Sum(x^(2n-1)(-1)^(n+1)/(2n-1)!)
Also written as:
f(x) = x - x^3/3! + x^5/5! - x^7/7! + x^9/9! ...
Since x stays out of the denominator, and since it will always be to a power of a whole number, I was wondering if it could technically be defined as a polynomial function. It sounds like it can be described as polynomial, but my only concern is that it goes on to infinity, which isn't really a number. Also, I'm not sure if it's proper for polynomials to converge to a number, or to be expressed in sigma notation. (That series converges at Sin(x), where x is an angular measure in radians, btw)
edit: I meant to put this in general math, but I seem to have pressed the wrong button, and I'm not sure how to delete/move it. :/
edit: testing out that LaTeX code thingy...
[tex]\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} x^{2n-1}(-1)^{n+1}/(2n-1)![/tex]
Last edited: