## Theorem

Let $\xi \in \C$ be a complex number.

Let $\displaystyle S \paren z = \sum_{n \mathop = 0}^\infty a_n \paren {z - \xi}^n$ be a (complex) power series about $\xi$.

Then the radius of convergence $R$ of $S \paren z$ is given by:

$\displaystyle \dfrac 1 R = \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n}^{1/n}$

If:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n}^{1/n} = 0$

then the radius of convergence is infinite, and $S \paren z$ is absolutely convergent for all $z \in \C$.

## Proof

Let $\epsilon \in \R_{>0}$, and let $z \in \C$.

Suppose that $\cmod {z - \xi} = R - \epsilon$.

By definition of radius of convergence, it follows that $S \paren z$ is absolutely convergent.

From the $n$th Root Test:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n \paren {z - \xi}^n}^{1/n} \le 1$

By Multiple Rule for Complex Sequences, this inequality can be rearranged to obtain:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n}^{1/n} \le \dfrac 1 {\cmod {z - \xi} } = \dfrac 1 {R - \epsilon}$

As $\epsilon > 0$ was arbitrary, it follows that:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n}^{1/n} \le \dfrac 1 R$

$\Box$

Now, suppose that $\cmod {z - \xi} = R + \epsilon$.

Then $S \paren z$ is divergent, so the $n$th Root Test shows that:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n \paren {z - \xi}^n}^{1/n} \ge 1$

which we can rearrange to obtain:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n}^{1/n} \ge \dfrac 1 {\cmod {z - \xi} } = \dfrac 1 {R - \epsilon}$

As $\epsilon > 0$ was arbitrary, it follows that:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n}^{1/n} \ge \dfrac 1 R$

$\Box$

Thus:

$\displaystyle \limsup_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {a_n}^{1/n} = \dfrac 1 R$

Hence the result.

$\blacksquare$

## Source of Name

This entry was named for Augustin Louis Cauchy and Jacques Salomon Hadamard.