Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2015 / Prelims / Mathematics II / 3

For a series of complex numbers, form the partial sums $S_N={\sum }_{n=1}^N{a}_n$. The series converges when these partial sums have a finite limit of a sequence $S\in \mathbb{C}$:The series has absolute convergence when ${\sum }_{n=1}^{\infty }|a_n|$ converges as a series of nonnegative real numbers. A series beginning at $n=0$ uses the same definitions with that starting index.

Let $T_N={\sum }_{n=1}^N|a_n|$ and $S_N={\sum }_{n=1}^N{a}_n$. If $(T_N)$ converges, it is a Cauchy sequence. Thus, for every $\epsilon >0$, some $N$ makeswhere the triangle inequality gives the bound. Therefore $(S_N)$ is a Cauchy sequence in the complex numbers. These form a complete metric space, so $(S_N)$ has a finite limit of a sequence. Equivalently, apply the Cauchy criterion for series. Hence absolute convergence implies convergence.

The finite geometric series identity, obtained by subtracting $t$ times the sum from the sum itself, givesFor $0<t<1$, the geometric sequence $t^{N+1}$ tends to zero by Question 2(a)(iii). Therefore

The radius of convergence of a power series ${\sum }_{n=0}^{\infty }{a}_n{z}^n$ is the number $R\in [0,\infty ]$ such that the series has absolute convergence for $|z|<R$ and diverges for $|z|>R$. Equivalently,Use $r^0=1$, including at $r=0$. The supremum may be $+\infty$. There is no general conclusion at $|z|=R$: boundary convergence depends on the coefficients. If $R=0$, only the centre is guaranteed; if $R=\infty$, every finite $z$ lies inside the disk of convergence.

The comparison test for series states that, for $0\le u_n\le v_n$ eventually, convergence of $\sum v_n$ implies convergence of $\sum u_n$. Equivalently, divergence of $\sum u_n$ implies divergence of $\sum v_n$.

For $|z|<1$, the coefficient bound givesby the geometric series formula and the comparison test for series. The single term $a_0$ does not affect convergence. For $|z|\ge 1$,so the terms do not tend to zero. The fact that terms of a convergent series tend to zero excludes convergence there. Thus

If $z_0=0$, there is no $z$ with $|z|<|z_0|$, so the claim is vacuous. Suppose $z_0\ne 0$. Convergence of $\sum a_n{z}_0^n$ implies $a_n{z}_0^n\to 0$, because terms of a convergent series tend to zero. In particular this is a bounded sequence, so $|a_n{z}_0^n|\le C$ for some finite $C$ and every $n$.

For $|z|<|z_0|$, put $q=|z|/|z_0|<1$. ThenThe geometric series and comparison test for series proveThus convergence at one point gives absolute convergence at every point strictly closer to the centre.

All three examples below have positive integer coefficients, so they work under either convention for whether $0\in \mathbb{N}$.

For $R=1$, take $\boxed{a_n=1}$. This is the geometric series: it converges for $|z|<1$, and its terms fail to tend to zero for $|z|\ge 1$.

For $R=0$, take $\boxed{a_n=n!}$, using the factorial and $0!=1$. For every fixed $z\ne 0$, the absolute values of successive terms have ratio $(n+1)|z|$. This eventually exceeds two, so the terms grow without bound and the series cannot converge. At $z=0$ it is finite, giving radius of convergence zero.

For $R=1/\sqrt{2}$, takeusing the floor function. The coefficients satisfyThe upper bound and the comparison test for series give absolute convergence when $\sqrt{2}|z|<1$. The lower bound prevents the terms tending to zero when $\sqrt{2}|z|\ge 1$. Hence the radius of convergence is exactly $1/\sqrt{2}$.

Use the ceiling function to choose positive integer coefficientsBecause $0<\alpha <1$, we have ${\alpha }^{-n}\ge 1$ andFor $|z|<\alpha$, the comparison test for series with the geometric series givesFor $|z|\ge \alpha$, we instead have $|a_n{z}^n|\ge (|z|/\alpha {)}^n\ge 1$, so the terms do not tend to zero. Thus the power series has radius of convergence exactly $\alpha$.