The Radius and Interval of Convergence

The most general form of power series is

∞
X
an (x − b)n (1)
n=1

Substituting in any number for x, the power series becomes a numerical series
and so we can ask if that numerical series converges or diverges. The set of all
x for which the power series (1) converges is called the interval of convergence
of the power series. The possibile forms of this interval are limited; our study
of the convergence of geometric series illustrates the main idea.
Radius of Convergence Theorem Convergence of the power series (1) occurs
in one of three ways:
1. the series converges for all x,
2. there is a number R > 0 for which the series converges absolutely if |x−b| <
R and diverges if |x − b| > R, and
3. the series converges only for x = b.
The number R of possibility 2. is called the radius of convergence of the
power series. Unspecified by the Theorem, the interval of convergence in 2.
must take one of four forms

(b − R, b + R), [b − R, b + R), (b − R, b + R], and [b − R, b + R]

Usually the radius of convergence can be determined by the Root Test or the
Ratio Test. To find if the endpoints b − R and b + R belong to the interval of
convergence, substitute x = b − R and x = b + R into the series (1) and apply
the tests for convergence of numerical series. For any number x with |x−b| < R,
the series (1) converges absolutely and so the Rearrangement Theorem from the
Alternating Series Test module can be applied.
Example 1 Find the radius and interval of convergence of

x2 x3 x4
ex = 1 + x + + + + ···
2! 3! 4!
Here an = 1/n! and b = 0. Because of the factorial in an , let’s apply the Ratio
Test, noting that the terms of the power series are an xn . Because the terms can

1
be negative for some x, we use absolute values in the Ratio Test.
 an+1 xn+1 
   n+1 
 = lim  x /(n + 1)! 

lim 
n→∞ an xn  n→∞ xn /n! 
 
 n! 
= lim x
n→∞ (n + 1)! 
 
 x 
= lim  
n→∞ n + 1 

For every x, this limit is 0 and so the series converges by the Ratio Test. In this
case, we say the radius of convergence is ∞ and the interval of convergence is
(−∞, ∞).
Example 2 Find the radius and interval of convergence of
∞
X n
n
(x − 3)n
n=1
2

Apply the Ratio Test.

 an+1 xn+1   (n + 1)(x − 3)n+1 /2n+1 
   
lim   = lim  
n→∞ an xn  n→∞ n(x − 3)n /2n 
2n 
 
n + 1
= lim  (x − 3) n+1 
n→∞ n 2
 
x − 3
=  
2 

By the Ratio Test, the series converges for

 
x − 3
 2 <1
 

That is, for

|x − 3| < 2
so the radius of convergence is 2. Rewrite the last inequality as

−2 < x − 3 < 2

That is,
1<x<5
To find the interval of convergence, we must test the convergence of the series
evaluated at the endpoints of this interval.
For x = 1 the series becomes

n(−2)n
X∞ X∞

n
= n(−1)n
n=1
2 n=1

2
The series diverges by the nth term test.
For x = 5 the series becomes
∞
n2n
X X∞
= n
n=1
2n n=1

The series diverges by the nth term test.

The interval of convergence for this series is (1, 5).
Example 3 Find the radius and interval of convergence of

(x + 1)n
X∞

n=1
n

The simple form of this fraction in this series suggests using the Ratio Test.
 an+1 xn+1   (x + 1)n+1 /n + 1 
   
lim   = lim  
n→∞ an xn  n→∞ (x + 1)n /n 
 (x + 1)n+1
 
n 
= lim  ·
n→∞ (x + 1)n n + 1
= |x + 1|

(Obtain this result using the Root Test. For this, the limit limn→∞ (1/n)1/n
can be found by applying l’Hôpital’s rule to limx→∞ ln(y) where y = (1/x)1/x .)
The series converges for
|x + 1| < 1
So the radius of convergence is 1. Rewrite the inequality as

−1 < x + 1 < 1

or
−2 < x < 0
At x = −2 the series becomes
∞
X (−1)n
n=1
n

convergent by the Alternating Series Test.

At x = 0 the series becomes ∞
X 1n
n=1
n
the harmonic series, known to diverge. The interval of convergence is [−2, 0).
Example 4 Find the radius and interval of convergence of
∞
X
n!(x − 2)n
n=1

3
The factorial suggests applying the Ratio Test.
 an+1 (x − 2)n+1  n+1 
   
 = lim  (n + 1)!(x − 2)

lim  
n→∞ an (x − 2)n  n→∞ n!(x − 2)n 
 
 (n + 1)! 
= lim  (x − 2)
n→∞ n!
= lim |(n + 1)(x − 2)|
n→∞

For all x 6= 2, this limit is ∞. The radius of convergence is 0 and the interval
of convergence is [2].