Taylor Series Multiplication: Why is the Exponent Not Doubled?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the multiplication of Taylor series and the confusion regarding the exponent in the resulting series. The original poster questions why the exponent is not doubled when multiplying two Taylor series, referencing a specific textbook for clarification.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the definition of termwise multiplication of Taylor series and question the assumptions behind the exponent in the resulting series. There is a discussion about whether the exponent should be doubled or if the textbook's definition is correct.

Discussion Status

Some participants suggest that the original poster may be misunderstanding the definition of termwise multiplication. There is acknowledgment of differing interpretations of how multiplication should be applied to the series, and some guidance is offered regarding the nature of Taylor series as sequences.

Contextual Notes

The discussion references a specific textbook and its definition of termwise multiplication, indicating that there may be variations in definitions across different sources. The original poster's confusion seems to stem from this potential discrepancy.

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for a termwise mulitiplication of two taylor series,
1.sigma a m(x-x0)^m
2.sigma b m (x-x0)^m
then if you mutilpy 1 and 2, shouldn't you get
sigma a mbm(x-x0)^2m?
but my textbook says that it's only
sigma a mbm(x-x0)^m

from advanced engineering mathematics by erwin kreyszig 9E pg202
 
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For termwise multiplication [itex]a_m b_m (x - x_0)^{2m}[/itex] is right.

If you were adding the two together then [itex](a_m + b_m)(x - x_0)^{m}[/itex] would have been right.

On the other hand, it just may be possible that your textbook defines termwise Taylor series multiplication as [itex]a_m b_m (x - x_0)^{m}[/itex]. In which case it would be right on its own accord.
 
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It would certainly appear to be the definition that you're having trouble with. Ie, that is the definition of termwise mult. I can see why it is morally wrong to think it a_mb_m(x-x_0)^2m

since you should be thinking of the x-x_0 part merely as a place holder.

Thus a taylor series is really a sequence (a_m) m in N, and addition and multiplication of the series is done as for the sequences.
 
thank you very much! :)
 

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