Wednesday, 5 August 2015

`sum_(n=0)^oo (x/4)^n` Find the interval of convergence of the power series. (Be sure to include a check for convergence at the endpoints of...

Recall the Root test determines the limit as:


`lim_(n-gtoo) |(a_n)^(1/n)|= L`


 Then, we follow the conditions:


a) `Llt1` then the series is absolutely convergent


b)` Lgt1` then the series is divergent.


c)` L=1` or does not exist  then the test is inconclusive. The series may be divergent, conditionally convergent, or absolutely convergent.


For the given series `sum_(n=0)^oo (x/4)^n` , we have `a_n = (x/4)^n` .


Applying the Root test, we set-up the limit as:


`lim_(n-gtoo)...

Recall the Root test determines the limit as:


`lim_(n-gtoo) |(a_n)^(1/n)|= L`


 Then, we follow the conditions:


a) `Llt1` then the series is absolutely convergent


b)` Lgt1` then the series is divergent.


c)` L=1` or does not exist  then the test is inconclusive. The series may be divergent, conditionally convergent, or absolutely convergent.


For the given series `sum_(n=0)^oo (x/4)^n` , we have `a_n = (x/4)^n` .


Applying the Root test, we set-up the limit as:


`lim_(n-gtoo) |((x/4)^n )^(1/n)| =lim_(n-gtoo) |(x/4)^(n*1/n)|`


                                  `=lim_(n-gtoo) |(x/4)^(n/n)|`


                                 ` =lim_(n-gtoo) |(x/4)^1|`


                                 `=lim_(n-gtoo) |(x/4)|`


                                 `=|x/4|`


Applying `Llt1` as the condition for absolutely convergent series, we plug-in `L = |x/4|` on `Llt1` . The interval of convergence will be:


`|x/4|lt1`


`-1 ltx/4lt1`


Multiply each part by `4` :


`(-1)*4 ltx/4*4lt1*4`


`-4ltxlt4`


The series may converges when `L =1 ` or `|x/4|=1` . To check on this, we test for convergence at the endpoints: `x=-4` and `x=4` by using geometric series test.


The convergence test for the geometric series `sum_(n=0)^oo a*r^n`  follows the conditions:


a) If `|r|lt1`  or `-1 ltrlt 1 ` then the geometric series converges to ` a/(1-r)` .


b) If `|r|gt=1` then the geometric series diverges.


When we let `x=-4` on `sum_(n=0)^oo (x/4)^n ` , we get a series:


`sum_(n=0)^oo 1*(-4/4)^n =sum_(n=0)^oo 1*(-1)^n`


It shows that `r=-1` and `|r|= |-1|=1` which satisfies `|r|gt=1` . Thus, the series diverges at the left endpoint.


When we let `x=4` on `sum_(n=0)^oo (x/4)^n` , we get a series:


`sum_(n=0)^oo 1*(4/4)^n =sum_(n=0)^oo 1*(1)^n`


It shows that `r=1` and `|r|= |-1|=1` which satisfies `|r|gt=1` . Thus, the series diverges at the right endpoint.


Conclusion:


The interval of convergence of `sum_(n=0)^oo (x/4)^n ` is `-4ltxlt4`. 

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