Taylor expansion at infinity of x/1+e^(1/x)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the Taylor expansion at infinity of the function f(x) = x/(1 + e^(1/x)). Participants explore different approaches to derive the expansion, including transformations and approximations related to the function's behavior as x approaches infinity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss transforming the original function into a different variable (u = 1/x) to facilitate finding the expansion. There are attempts to use known series expansions and generating functions, as well as considerations of the limits involved. Some participants express confusion about the implications of certain approximations and the nature of the expansion at infinity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with various participants contributing different methods and insights. Some have provided partial expansions and suggestions for rewriting the function, while others have raised questions about the validity of certain approaches. There is no explicit consensus yet, but several productive lines of inquiry are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the function may not have a Taylor expansion at infinity due to divergence, suggesting the possibility of a Laurent expansion instead. There are also mentions of Bernoulli numbers and generating functions, indicating a range of mathematical concepts being considered in the discussion.

Alv95
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I have some problems finding Taylor's expansion at infinity of

<br /> f(x) = \frac{x}{1+e^{\frac{1}{x}}} <br />

I tried to find Taylor's expansion at 0 of :

<br /> g(u) = \frac{1}{u} \cdot \frac{1}{1+e^u} \hspace{10 mm} \mbox{ where } \hspace{10 mm} u = 1/x <br />

in order to then use the known expansion of \frac{1}{1+t} but the problem is that I can not do it because :
\lim_{ u \to 0 } e^{u} = 1 \hspace{10 mm} \mbox{ and not } 0Any ideas on how to do it? :smile: Thanks :smile:
 
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You should express that denominator uas
\frac{1}{2+(e^{u}-1)}
\frac{1}{2} \frac{1}{1+ (e^{u}-1)/2}
Now if u is close to 0 (eu-1)/2 is close to zero and we can expand inthis
\frac{1}{2} \left(1-\frac{e^u-1}{2} +\left(\frac{e^u-1}{2} \right)^2+... \right)
 
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Thank you very much Office_Shredder :smile:

I had thought of adding/subtracting 1 but not of factorising the 2 :redface:

Thank you again :wink:
 
... The problem is now that I get a different expansion depending on how far I go in the approximation ... those

\left( \frac{\cdots \, \, - 1}{2}\right)^n

change the first term of the expansion ...

EDIT: Sorry :smile: I should replace \left( \frac{e^u - 1}{2}\right) with his expansion, right? :smile:

EDIT: Done! Thanks :smile:
 
Last edited:
Alv95 said:
I have some problems finding Taylor's expansion at infinity of

<br /> f(x) = \frac{x}{1+e^{\frac{1}{x}}} <br />

I tried to find Taylor's expansion at 0 of :

<br /> g(u) = \frac{1}{u} \cdot \frac{1}{1+e^u} \hspace{10 mm} \mbox{ where } \hspace{10 mm} u = 1/x <br />

in order to then use the known expansion of \frac{1}{1+t} but the problem is that I can not do it because :
\lim_{ u \to 0 } e^{u} = 1 \hspace{10 mm} \mbox{ and not } 0


Any ideas on how to do it? :smile: Thanks :smile:

Do it in terms of Bernoulli numbers. Bernoulli numbers appear in the series for ##1/(e^x - 1)##. You need to get the series for ##1/(e^x+1)##, which you can do by expressing ##1/(e^x+1)## in terms of ##1/(e^x - 1)## and ##1/(e^{2x}-1)##; in other words, you need to express ##1/(y+1)## in terms of ##1/(y-1)## and ##1/(y^2 - 1)##.

For more on Bernoulli numbers, see, eg., http://mathworld.wolfram.com/BernoulliNumber.html
 
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I don't know yet what Bernoulli numbers are (we don't do them in my school) :smile: Thanks anyways for your help :smile:
...
From what I have understood from Wikipedia (:rolleyes:) I should rewrite my function: \frac{1}{1+e^u} as a "generating function" so that it will then generate the required expansion ?
...
I get \frac{1}{1+e^u} = \frac{e^u - 1}{e^{2u}-1} but it is a little bit different from the standard forms of the generating functions ...

Any insight on Bernoulli numbers is welcome! :biggrin:
 
Alv95 said:
I don't know yet what Bernoulli numbers are (we don't do them in my school) :smile: Thanks anyways for your help :smile:
...
From what I have understood from Wikipedia (:rolleyes:) I should rewrite my function: \frac{1}{1+e^u} as a "generating function" so that it will then generate the required expansion ?
...
I get \frac{1}{1+e^u} = \frac{e^u - 1}{e^{2u}-1} but it is a little bit different from the standard forms of the generating functions ...

Any insight on Bernoulli numbers is welcome! :biggrin:

Google is your friend---look them up!

I would not write ##1/(y+1) = (y-1)/(y^2-1)##; that just makes the problem much worse!

Suppose I asked you to do the reverse, which would be to write ##1/(y^2-1)## in as simple a way as possible in terms of ##1/(y-1)## and ##1/(y+1)##. What would you do? Have you ever encountered partial fractions?

I don't think it matters whether or not you have seen Bernoulli numbers in your school; all that matters is that you are allowed (I suppose) to go to the library and look things up in a book, or (nowadays) go on-line to find information. Just *cite* your sources, whether they are books or web pages.
 
Alv95 said:
I have some problems finding Taylor's expansion at infinity of

<br /> f(x) = \frac{x}{1+e^{\frac{1}{x}}} <br />
This function doesn't have a Taylor expansion at infinity because it diverges in that limit. Did you perhaps mean a Laurent expansion instead?
 
ok :wink:

I have got:

\frac{1}{y^2-1} = \frac{1}{2(y-1)}-\frac{1}{2(y+1)}

therefore:

\frac{1}{y+1} = \frac{1}{y-1}-\frac{2}{y^2-1}

My function is then:

\frac{1}{e^u+1} = \frac{1}{e^u-1}-\frac{2}{e^{2u}-1}
 
  • #10
Alv95 said:
ok :wink:

I have got:

\frac{1}{y^2-1} = \frac{1}{2(y-1)}-\frac{1}{2(y+1)}

therefore:

\frac{1}{y+1} = \frac{1}{y-1}-\frac{2}{y^2-1}

My function is then:

\frac{1}{e^u+1} = \frac{1}{e^u-1}-\frac{2}{e^{2u}-1}

OK, so take it from there!
 
  • #11
@ Vela

I have found an oblique asymptote:

y = \frac{x}{2} - \frac{1}{4}
 

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