Series Representation for Function

KDawgAtsu
Messages
12
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Fin the Taylor series about x = 0 for:
f(x) = 1 / (1-x2)2


Homework Equations


g(x) = 1 / (1-x2)

The Attempt at a Solution


Differentiating g(x), the series representation of g'(x) is Ʃn(x2)n-1
Since f(x) = g'(x)/2x
f(x) = Ʃ(n/2)x2n-1
I'm pretty sure that's right, but what I don't get is that the solution for this problem is also written as Ʃn(x2)n-1, which is just g'(x).

What am I misunderstanding here?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
KDawgAtsu said:

Homework Statement


Fin the Taylor series about x = 0 for:
f(x) = 1 / (1-x2)2


Homework Equations


g(x) = 1 / (1-x2)

The Attempt at a Solution


Differentiating g(x), the series representation of g'(x) is Ʃn(x2)n-1
Since f(x) = g'(x)/2x
f(x) = Ʃ(n/2)x2n-1
I'm pretty sure that's right, but what I don't get is that the solution for this problem is also written as Ʃn(x2)n-1, which is just g'(x).

What am I misunderstanding here?
The Taylor series about x = 0 for g(x) = 1 / (1-x2) is: \displaystyle g(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(x^2)^n=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(x^{2n})\,, where x0=1 .

Differentiating term by term gives: \displaystyle g'(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}2n(x^{2n-1})=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}2(n+1)x(x^{2n})\,,\text{ or equivalently }\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{2n}{x}(x^2)^n

Dividing by 2x gives: \displaystyle f(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}n(x^2)^{n-1}=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(n+1)(x^{2})^n\,.

They're all somewhat different.
 
\displaystyle g'(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}2n(x^{2n-1})=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}2(n+1)x(x^{2n})\,,\text{ or equivalently }\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{2n}{x}(x^2)^n



Where did the x in front of the x^2n come from? I know you just shifted n=1 to n = 0, but I can't see where the x comes from?
 
KDawgAtsu said:
\displaystyle g'(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}2n(x^{2n-1})=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}2(n+1)x(x^{2n})\,,\text{ or equivalently }\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{2n}{x}(x^2)^n

Where did the x in front of the x^2n come from? I know you just shifted n=1 to n = 0, but I can't see where the x comes from?

\displaystyle g'(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}2n(x^{2n-1}) =\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}2(n+1)(x^{2n+1})=\sum_{n=0}^{ \infty}2(n+1)(x\cdot x^{2n})

Change n to n+1 so 2n - 1 becomes 2(n+1)-1 = 2n + 2 - 1 = 2n+1 .
 
KDawgAtsu said:
Differentiating g(x), the series representation of g'(x) is Ʃn(x2)n-1
If you were wondering why your attempt didn't work out, it's because you forgot to use the chain rule when you differentiated (x2)n. That's where the factor of 2x went missing in your calculation.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top