Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2012/ia/paper-1/12f/a/iii/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 ia Paper 1 12F a iii Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-07
Let be the two radii of convergence. First take , with . Absolute convergence at bounds the terms: for all . ThusAt the right-hand series is finite. Otherwise it converges by the ratio test, because its limiting ratio is . So the differentiated power series converges absolutely at every interior point of , proving . This proof also covers by choosing a finite above any given ; if , that inequality is automatic.
Conversely, if , absolute convergence givesThe constant term does not affect convergence, and both series converge at zero. Hence , including the zero and infinite cases. Therefore . This proof uses coefficient estimates, rather than assuming the termwise differentiation of a power series result whose radius assertion is being established.
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