The Radius of Convergence Formulas

∞
∑
Theorem: Consider the power series cn (x − a)n .
n=0

|cn+1 |
a. Suppose that the limit lim exists or is ∞ . Then the radius of convergence R of the
n→∞ |cn |
power series is given by
1 |cn+1 |
= lim .
R n→∞ |cn |

Suppose that the limit lim |cn |1/n exists or is ∞ . Then the radius of convergence R of the
b.
n→∞
power series is given by
1
= lim |cn |1/n .
R n→∞

|cn+1 |
Proof: We will prove part (a). The proof of part (b) is similar. Suppose that lim =ℓ
n→∞ |cn |
∞
∑
where 0 ≤ ℓ ≤ ∞ . We apply the Ratio Test to the series cn (x − a)n . Since an = cn (x − a)n ,
n=0
we obtain
|an+1 | |cn+1 (x − a)n+1 | |cn+1 |
L = lim = lim = lim · |x − a| = ℓ|x − a| .
n→∞ |an | n→∞ |cn (x − a) |
n n→∞ |cn |

By the Ratio Test, the series converges absolutely if ℓ|x − a| < 1 , that is if |x − a| < 1/ℓ ; and
diverges if ℓ|x − a| > 1 , that is if |x − a| > 1/ℓ . It follows that R = 1/ℓ by the denition of the
radius of convergence. 

∞
∑
Remark: Note that the series has the form cn (x − a)n and cn is the coecient of (x − a)n .
n=0
This formulas cannot be applied to series that does not come in this form.

Examples: Find the radius of convergence of each of the following power series.

∞
∑ xn
1. (−1)n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0

From
(−1)n
cn =
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
we obtain
( )
1 |cn+1 | 1/((2n+1 + 1)((n + 1)2 + 1)) 1 + 2−n n2 + 1 1
= lim = lim = lim · = ,
R n→∞ |cn | n→∞ 1/((2n + 1)(n2 + 1)) n→∞ 2 + 2−n (n + 1)2 + 1 2

and therefore R = 2. Or we can use the other formula:

( )1/n
1 1 1 1
= lim |cn |1/n = lim = lim = ,
R n→∞ n→∞ (2 + 1)(n2 + 1)
n n→∞ 2 · (1 + 2−n )1/n · (n1/n )2 · (1 + n−2 )1/n 2

and again R = 2.
 ∞
∑ x2n+1
2. (−1)n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0

Note that we cannot apply the formulas in the Theorem in this case. Instead we will use the nth
Root Test directly.
x2n+1
an = (−1)n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
gives
( )1/n
|x|2n+1 |x|2 · |x|1/n |x| 2
L = lim |an | 1/n
= lim = lim = .
n→∞ n→∞ n→∞ 2 · (1 + 2−n )1/n · (n1/n )2 · (1 + n−2 )1/n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1) 2
√
By the nth Root Test, the series converges
√ absolutely if |x|2 /2 < 1 , that is if |x| < 2 ; and
diverges if√|x|2 > 2 , that is if |x| > 2 . Therefore, by the denition of radius of convergence, we
have R = 2 .

Another way of solving this problem is to observe that

∞
∑ x2n+1
(−1)n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0

has the same radius of convergence as

∞
∑ x2n
(−1)n ,
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0

and then use the change of variable u = x2 to write the latter series as
∞
∑ un
(−1)n .
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0

Now this is the series in Example 1 whose radius we found as Ru = 2. This means that
∞
∑ un
(−1)n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0

converges absolutely for |u| < 2 , and diverges for |u| > 2 . Therefore
∞
∑ x2n
(−1)n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0

converges
√ absolutely for |x | < 2 , and diverges for |x | > 2 . In other words, its radius of convergence
2 2

is R = 2 . This implies that the radius of convergence of the original series

∞
∑ x2n+1
(−1)n
(2n + 1)(n2 + 1)
n=0
√
is also R = 2.

Last revision: January 25, 2016