Problem Set 10
MH1805 - Calculus
August 11, 2021
1 Questions
1. Find a power series in the required form and state its interval of con-
vergence. All the problems can be solved by modifying the geometric
series ∞
1
xn , for x ∈ (−1, 1),
X
=
1 − x n=0
but you may of course also use any of the power series we derived in
the lectures. Hints are given on the next page.
(a) f (x) = 1
2−x
, in powers of x.
(b) f (x) = 1
(2−x)2
, in powers of x.
(c) f (x) = 1
1+2x
, in powers of x.
(d) f (x) = ln(2 − x), in powers of x.
(e) f (x) = x1 , in powers of x − 1.
∞
(−1)n
2. Evaluate .
X
n=0
2n + 1
3. For each of the following power series, find its interval of convergence
and evaluate its sum:
∞ ∞
(a) (b)
X X
n
n(n + 1) + 2n xn−1
nx
n=1 n=1
1
4. For the function f (x) = ex , evaluate f (99) (0) and f (100) (0). Don’t try
2
to do this by repeated differentiation. Instead, write down the Taylor
series for f (x) by substituting into the known Taylor series for ex . Then
use that if
∞
on some interval centred at c,
X
f (x) = an (x − c)n ,
n=0
then
f (n) (c)
an = .
n!
5. Evaluate the limits.
(a)
sin x − x
lim .
x→0 x2
(b)
(ex − 1 − x)2
lim .
x→0 x2 − ln(1 + x2 )
(c)
2 sin 3x − 3 sin 2x
lim .
x→0 5x − arctan 5x
(d)
sin(sin x) − x
lim .
x→0 x(cos(sin x) − 1)
6. The method we have learned for solving homogeneous differential equa-
tions with constant coefficients, (solve the characteristic eqn. etc.) does
not work for other cases. For Linear d.e.’s with non constant coeffi-
cients, it can sometimes be helpful to look for solutions in the form of
power series. This exercise illustrates the idea.
Consider the differential equation
y 00 + xy 0 + y = 0. (1)
Note that this is a second order linear homogeneous equation, but
one of the coefficients is not constant, and the method studied in the
videos/slides does not work.
2
(a) Substitute the power series
∞
X
y= an x n
n=0
into (1) and find a recursive formula for an+2 in terms of an .
(b) Solve the initial value problem formed by (1) together with the
initial values y(0) = 1, y 0 (0) = 0.
3
2 Hints
There is usually more than one way to solve each problem. These hints will
guide you in the direction of one of those ways.
1. (a) Rewrite
1 1 1
= .
2−x 2 1 − x2
Then apply the geometric series
∞
1
for |u| < 1,
X
= un ,
1 − u n=0
with u = x/2.
(b) Note that
1 d 1
2
=
(2 − x) dx 2 − x
and apply the result from part (i).
(c)
1 1
= .
1 + 2x 1 − (−2x)
(d) You can use the result from the lecture, that
∞
xn
for x ∈ (−1, 1].
X
ln(1 + x) = (−1)n−1 ,
n=1
n
Also note that
h x i x
ln(2 − x) = ln 2 1 − = ln 2 + ln 1 + − .
2 2
(e)
1 1
= .
x 1 − (−(x − 1))
2. Use the series derived in the lecture for arctan x.
3. (a)
∞ ∞ ∞
X X X d n
nxn = x nxn−1 = x x .
n=1 n=1 n=1
dx
4
(b) Split this into two separate power series and treat them individ-
ually. You might have to pay some extra attention to figure out
the interval of convergence.
4. Hint: First write down the Maclaurin series for f (x) = ex , substituting
2
u = x2 into the series ∞
u
X un
e = .
n=0
n!
Then note that we also have
∞
X f (k) (0)
f (x) = .
k=0
k!
You now have two representations for f (x). Identify (knowing that the
coefficients are unique) the coefficient in front of x99 in both series, to
deduce what f (99) (0) is. Do the same with the coefficient in front of
x100 .
5. (a)
sin x = x + O(x3 ) as x → 0.
(b)
x2
ex = 1 + x + + O(x3 ), as x → 0,
2
x2
ln(1 + x) = x − + O(x3 ), as x → 0,
2
so
x4
ln(1 + x2 ) = x2 − + O(x6 ), as x → 0.
2
(c)
x3
sin x = x − + O(x5 ), as x → 0,
3!
x3
arctan x = x − + O(x5 ), as x → 0.
3
(d)
sin3 x sin3 x
sin(sin x) = sin x− +O(sin5 x) = sin x− +O(x5 ), as x → 0.
3! 3!
sin2 x sin2 x
cos(sin x) = 1− +O(sin4 x) = 1− +O(x4 ), as x → 0.
2 2
5
6. (a) Differentiate the power series and substitute into the d.e. The
left hand side will become a (complicated) power series where the
coefficients are different expressions in an . For the d.e. to be
satisfied, this power series must represent the zero function (the
rhs of the d.e.). Hence each coefficient must be zero.
(b) The initial conditions give you the values of a0 and a1 and the
recursive formula from Part (a) then gives you the rest of the
an ’s. Once you’ve figured out the explicit formula for an (a bit
tricky) you can identify the solution.
3 Answers
1. (a)
∞
X xn
, (−2 < x < 2).
n=0
2n+1
(b)
∞
X nxn−1
, (−2 < x < 2).
n=1
2n+1
(c)
∞
X
n n 1 1
(−2) x , − <x< .
n=0
2 2
(d)
∞
X xn
ln 2 − , (−2 ≤ x < 2).
n=1
n2n
(e)
∞
X
(−1)n (x − 1)n , (0 < x < 2).
n=0
2. π/4.
3. (a)
x
, (−1 < x < 1).
(1 − x)2
6
(b)
2 2 1 1
3
+ , − <x< .
(1 − x) 1 − 2x 2 2
4.
100!
f (99) (0) = 0, f (100) (0) = .
50!
5. (a) 0.
(b) 1/2.
(c) −3/25.
(d) 2/3.
6. (a) (n + 2)an+2 + an = 0 for n = 0, 1, 2, . . ..
(b) y = e−x .
2 /2