Taylor series with using geometric series

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the Taylor series of the function f(x) = A/(x-B)^4 at x=c using geometric series. The initial approach involved manipulating the function using the fourth root, but it was deemed incorrect. The correct method involves starting with the geometric series for g(x) = A/(x-B) and then applying calculus manipulations, specifically taking the third derivative, to obtain the desired Taylor series expansion. The conclusion emphasizes that the original manipulations were flawed and that a proper understanding of series expansions is crucial.

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Pietervv
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The question is:

Determine the Taylor series of f(x) at x=c(≠B) using geometric series

f(x)=A/(x-B)4

My attempt to the solution is:

4√f(x) = 4√A/((x-c)-B = (4√A/B) * 1/(((x-c)/B)-1) = (4√A/-B) * 1/(1-((x-c)/B))

using geometric series : 4√f(x) = (4√A/-B) Σ((x-c)/B)n

f(x)= A/B4 * Σ((x-c)/B)4n with abs((x-c)/B)<1

But i am not very sure if this is true.
 
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f(x)= A/(x- B)4 is NOT the same as A/(x- c- B)^4 so \sqrt[4]{f(x)} is NOT equal to \sqrt[4]{A/((x- c)- B)^4}. To put the "c" in you need
f(x)= A/((x- c)- (B- c))^4.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Pietervv said:
The question is:

Determine the Taylor series of f(x) at x=c(≠B) using geometric series

f(x)=A/(x-B)4

My attempt to the solution is:

4√f(x) = 4√A/((x-c)-B = (4√A/B) * 1/(((x-c)/B)-1) = (4√A/-B) * 1/(1-((x-c)/B))

using geometric series : 4√f(x) = (4√A/-B) Σ((x-c)/B)n

f(x)= A/B4 * Σ((x-c)/B)4n with abs((x-c)/B)<1

But i am not very sure if this is true.

As HallofIvy has pointed out, the manipulations you have done above are incorrect. After correcting them, you will be left with an an expression that involves, in part, an expansion of the form
\frac{1}{(1-u)^4} = c_0 + c_1 u + c_2 u^2 + \cdots .
That is a not a "geometric" series, because you have the 4th power in the denominator. I think the title of the problem is incorrect---you cannot do it using a geometric series (at least, not directly). However, you can start with a geometric series and do some calculus manipulations on it to obtain the series above.
 
Last edited:
HallsofIvy said:
f(x)= A/(x- B)4 is NOT the same as A/(x- c- B)^4 so \sqrt[4]{f(x)} is NOT equal to \sqrt[4]{A/((x- c)- B)^4}. To put the "c" in you need
f(x)= A/((x- c)- (B- c))^4.

Then the c disappears in the nominator and my f(x) is again f(x)= A/(x- B)4 after put the c in??

And is my tactic for solving this problem, with taking the 4√ the good tactic, or is it totally the wrong way to solve it?
 
Pietervv said:
Then the c disappears in the nominator and my f(x) is again f(x)= A/(x- B)4 after put the c in??

And is my tactic for solving this problem, with taking the 4√ the good tactic, or is it totally the wrong way to solve it?

No, it is totally wrong. In simplified notation, here is what you said:
\left(\sum_n a_n y^n\right)^4 = \sum_n a_n^4 \, y^{4n} \; \Longleftarrow \; \text{False!}
 
For the people who are still interested, after watched the solution, the key was to first determine the series of g(x)=A/(x-B) using the geometric series (1) and then take the third derivative of both sides of the equation obtained by step 1
 
Pietervv said:
For the people who are still interested, after watched the solution, the key was to first determine the series of g(x)=A/(x-B) using the geometric series (1) and then take the third derivative of both sides of the equation obtained by step 1

Yes, that is exactly what I meant in Post #3 when I said to start with a geometric series and perform calculus manipulations on it.
 

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