Summing a series- Taylor series/ complex no.s?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the sums of three series related to Taylor series, specifically involving complex numbers and their real and imaginary components. The series presented are S1, S2, and S3, each defined by different powers of x and factorials in the denominators.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the series and the exponential function e^x, with some suggesting that derivatives of the series could lead to further insights. Others propose setting up a differential equation based on the series.

Discussion Status

There is an active exploration of the relationships between the series and their derivatives, with some participants suggesting methods to derive a differential equation. Various interpretations of the series and their properties are being discussed, but no consensus has been reached on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the challenge of the problem as indicated by the teacher, and there are references to boundary conditions and the periodicity of trigonometric functions in the context of solving the differential equation.

Lucy Yeats
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Homework Statement



Find the sums of the following series:
S1=1+(x^3)/(3!)+(x^6)/(6!)+...
S2=x+(x^4)/(4!)+(x^7)/(7!)+...
S3=(x^2)/(2!)+(x^5)/(5!)+(x^8)/(8!)+...

Homework Equations



Perhaps Taylor series?

The Attempt at a Solution



I spotted that adding S1+S2+S3=e^x, but I don't know how to proceed.
Thanks in advance for helping. :-)

(Our teacher did warn us that this is a tough question.)
 
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We're studying complex numbers at the moment, so I'm guessing this is to do with real and imaginary parts, if that helps.
 
Hi Lucy Yeats! :smile:
Lucy Yeats said:
Perhaps Taylor series?

These series are Taylor series! :wink:
Lucy Yeats said:
I spotted that adding S1+S2+S3=e^x, but I don't know how to proceed.
Thanks in advance for helping. :-)

Sharp!

You only need one more observation.
What is the derivative of S2?
 
The derivative of S2 is S1.
The derivative of S3 is S2.
The derivative of S1 is S3.
 
I have a problem solving stellar numbers 1,3,6,10,15 thanks for your help and clarification
for creating the general statement
 
I have another idea:
If S2=S1" and S3=S1', and S1+S2+S3=e^x,
can I write a differential equation in S1?
S1"+S1'+S1=e^x
If you solve for S1, you get (1/3)(e^x)+(e^-0.5)(Acos3x+Bsin3x)
This is a general solution, so how would I get rid of the constants A and B?
Does this method look okay, or am I looking at this the wrong way?
 
Lucy Yeats said:
The derivative of S2 is S1.
The derivative of S3 is S2.
The derivative of S1 is S3.

Yes... so you can set up a differential equation.
The solutions should correspond to S1, S2, and S3.
RaghdGeorgie said:
I have a problem solving stellar numbers 1,3,6,10,15 thanks for your help and clarification
for creating the general statement

Huh? :confused:
 
Lucy Yeats said:
I have another idea:
If S2=S1" and S3=S1', and S1+S2+S3=e^x,
can I write a differential equation in S1?
S1"+S1'+S1=e^x
If you solve for S1, you get (1/3)(e^x)+(e^-0.5)(Acos3x+Bsin3x)
This is a general solution, so how would I get rid of the constants A and B?
Does this method look okay, or am I looking at this the wrong way?

I was just suggesting that! :approve:

Solve for the boundary conditions that S1(0)=1, S1'(0)=0, and S1''(0)=0.

But before you do, you should check the period of your cosine and sine.
(I get a different period. :shy:)
 
(1/3)(e^x)+(e^-0.5)(Acos(3x/2)+Bsin(3x/2))

Is that right for sine and cosine?

Thanks for being so helpful! :-)
 
  • #10
I get B=0 and A=2/3.
Does that sound right?
 
  • #11
Lucy Yeats said:
(1/3)(e^x)+(e^-0.5)(Acos(3x/2)+Bsin(3x/2))

Is that right for sine and cosine?

Actually, I get:
{e^x \over 3}+ e^{-{x \over 2}}(A \cos({\sqrt 3 \over 2} x)+B \sin({\sqrt 3 \over 2} x))
Lucy Yeats said:
Thanks for being so helpful! :-)

:smile:
 
  • #12
I'll check again later- I must have made an error in the algebra.

Thanks! Have a great day!
 

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