Power Series of Logs: Solving f(x)=x2ln(1-x)

In summary, The conversation discusses the difficulty of working with power series, particularly when there are multiple variables involved. One person mentions using a Taylor series expansion of a function and finding it to be time-consuming. They suggest using the series for ln(1-x) and multiplying it by x^2 as a potentially quicker approach.
  • #1
jkim91@vt.edu
1
0
First post! I'm having a lot of trouble with power series, especially when there's more than one of the same variable in a function.

Find the first few terms of the power series for the function
f(x)=x2ln(1-x)



I did a taylor series expansion of it, which gave me the right answer, but the work took forever. I figure power series would be a lot easier.
 
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  • #2
I'm not too sure what you're asking? a taylor series is a power series around x=0

one way that could be quicker here though, is to find the series for ln(1-x) then multiply it by x^2
 

1. What is a power series of logs?

A power series of logs is a mathematical expansion of a logarithmic function into an infinite sum of terms, where each term contains a logarithm of the variable raised to a different power.

2. How is a power series of logs used to solve equations?

A power series of logs can be used to approximate the solution to an equation, by substituting the series into the equation and solving for the variable. The more terms included in the series, the more accurate the approximation will be.

3. Why is the function f(x)=x2ln(1-x) important?

The function f(x)=x2ln(1-x) has applications in physics and engineering, particularly in the study of thermodynamics and heat transfer. It is also commonly used in mathematical modeling and optimization problems.

4. How do you determine the convergence of a power series of logs?

The convergence of a power series of logs can be determined by using the ratio test. If the limit of the absolute value of the ratio of consecutive terms is less than 1, then the series will converge. If the limit is greater than 1, the series will diverge.

5. Can a power series of logs be used to solve all equations?

No, a power series of logs is only applicable to certain types of equations, particularly those involving logarithmic functions. It is important to check for convergence and accuracy when using a power series to solve an equation.

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