For the exponent , the linear recurrence relation reduces to . The excluded nonpositive integers ensure that no denominator is zero. Normalize and iterate:
The ratio test gives an infinite radius of convergence for the power series factor. Hence a solution is
For nonintegral , choose instead the exponent . Since for every positive integer , its linear recurrence relation gives . Thus
The distinct nonintegral leading exponents establish linear independence. More explicitly, by the Abel identity and the leading coefficient at zero, so the Wronskian is nonzero. The factor uses the real branch on .
For ,
Thus for all sufficiently large the ratio is, for example, at most . Comparison with a decaying geometric sequence, equivalently the ratio test, yields
Assume the usual continuous-coefficient setting for a second-order linear differential equation. The Wronskian has derivative
which proves the Abel identity. If , the two initial-value columns are linearly dependent, so some nonzero gives and . The uniqueness theorem for ordinary differential equations makes that linear combination identically zero. If , the initial-value matrix is an invertible matrix, giving
This establishes the alternative and supplies any prescribed initial data.
For the Airy ordinary differential equation, substitute a power series . Coefficient comparison gives and
Choose and . The Airy power-series fundamental pair is
Empty products mean one. Their first terms are and . The ratio test gives convergence for every finite , so termwise differentiation verifies the equation. Their Wronskian is one at zero, and hence everywhere because . Thus every solution is .
The first series is telescoping, since
Its th partial sum is , so
a rational number.
The second series converges absolutely, for example by the ratio test, and is the odd part of the exponential series:
This value is irrational. Indeed, if were algebraic, then would satisfy
making algebraic over the algebraic numbers and hence algebraic, contrary to the Hermite theorem on the transcendence of e. Thus the second sum is in fact transcendental.
The Taylor series of the complex sine is
Therefore, for ,
and the right side defines a holomorphic function at with value . Thus the apparent singularity is a removable singularity.
The resulting power series is
The ratio test shows convergence for every , so its radius of convergence is
Set
Then
The ratio test therefore proves
The ratio test says that if
then converges absolutely. If the ratio has a limit , the series diverges.
For the first assertion, choose with . For all sufficiently large ,
Iteration bounds the tail by a constant multiple of the convergent geometric series . If , choose with . Eventually , so cannot tend to zero; the series therefore diverges.
Suppose real coefficients satisfy for all sufficiently large , where and . Then the power series has radius of convergence one. For , the comparison test for series and the ratio test dominate it by a polynomial times a geometric sequence. For , the terms have modulus at least eventually and violate the term test for divergence. Finite changes to the coefficients do not affect the conclusion.
Polynomial-coefficient power series Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-07
For a nonzero polynomial , the power series has radius of convergence . If has degree and leading coefficient , then and , so the ratio test applies inside the unit disk. At every point of its boundary, the terms fail to tend to zero. The zero polynomial is the exceptional case with radius of convergence .
Simplex ratio test Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-07
In a feasible simplex basis, increasing a nonbasic variable by changes basic coordinates to . Nonnegativity limits by the smallest ratio with ; a minimizing coordinate leaves the basis. Ties can leave zero-valued basic variables. This pivot test is distinct from the analytic ratio test for series convergence.