Radius of Convergence from Limit of Sequence
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Theorem
Real Case
Let $\xi \in \R$ be a real number.
Let $\ds S \paren x = \sum_{n \mathop = 0}^\infty a_n \paren {x - \xi}^n$ be a power series about $\xi$.
Then the radius of convergence $R$ of $S \paren x$ is given by:
- $\ds \frac 1 R = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \size {\frac {a_{n + 1} } {a_n} }$
if this limit exists and is nonzero.
If
- $\ds \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \size {\frac {a_{n + 1} } {a_n} } = 0$
then the radius of convergence is infinite and therefore the interval of convergence is $\R$.
Complex Case
Let $\xi \in \C$ be a complex number.
Let $\ds \map S z = \sum_{n \mathop = 0}^\infty a_n \paren {z - \xi}^n$ be a (complex) power series about $\xi$.
Let the sequence $\sequence {\cmod {\dfrac {a_{n + 1} } {a_n} } }_{n \mathop \in \N}$ converge.
Then $R$ is given by:
- $\ds \dfrac 1 R = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {\dfrac {a_{n + 1} } {a_n} }$
If:
- $\ds \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \cmod {\dfrac {a_{n + 1} } {a_n} } = 0$
then the radius of convergence is infinite, and $\map S z$ is absolutely convergent for all $z \in \C$.