1. Nov 28, 2007

### jacobrhcp

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Prove that the radius of convergence $$\rho$$ of the power series $$\sum$$ck (z-a)^k over all k, equals 1/R when ck is not 0 and you know that:

|$$\frac{ck+1}{ck}$$|=R>0

2. Relevant equations

I was planning on using that the radius of convergence is in this case:
$$\rho$$= 1/limsup(|ck|^1/k) ( and k->infinity)

3. The attempt at a solution

I tried to make it sensible that

limsup(|ck|^1/k)=|$$\frac{ck+1}{ck}$$|=R

I've been staring at it for quite some hours now (it's 3 in the morning and it's gotta be done by 9 o'clock this morning... so any help would be greatly appreciated, though I understand if you think it's my own fault)

Last edited: Nov 28, 2007
2. Nov 28, 2007

### Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
I'm pretty sure a quick ratio test does the trick

3. Nov 28, 2007

### jacobrhcp

I'm not so sure what a ratio test is (I'm reading about on wikipedia right now) but we haven't handeled it yet, and so I can't use it.

edit: unless I prove it, ofcourse.

edit2: taking another look at it, it looks like I'm trying to prove this ratio test for general power series here, but they didn't tell me it's name <_<

edit3: and thanks for your help, ofcourse =)

Last edited: Nov 28, 2007
4. Nov 28, 2007

### jacobrhcp

it's 3:30 and it's looking hopeless; I'm gonna go to bed now. Thanks all.

5. Nov 29, 2007

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
I find it hard to imagine any one working with power series if they have not already learned how to handle numerical series. And I find it hard to believe that you could have already learned numerical series without learning the ratio test!

I am a bit concerned about your $$\frac{ck+1}{ck}$$
I would think it ought to be $$\frac{c(k+1)}{ck}$$.

6. Nov 29, 2007

### jacobrhcp

well, I did the assignment now, without the ratio test. I used the epsilon-definition of the limsup, and it followed quite easily.

The ratio test they did in an other course (on fourier analysis), but we skipped the use of it, but proved the theorem by ourselves.

if you'd like to know: here are the course specifics (translated to english by me)

course: analysis 2

foreknowledge: analysis 1, linear algebra, calc1, foundations of higher mathematics

description:

After a short repeat of definitions and basics about functions in more variables, we handle theorems about exchanging. These are about exchanging limits, order of integration, differential operators, limits under the integral. After that we introduce line integrals and gradient vector fields. Complex line integrals are used to research complex differentiable functions of complex variables.

In the second part we study power series and Fourier series. We show that a function is complex differentiable if and only if it's equal to the sum of convergent power series.

and you're right about what it ought to be.