Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 ia Paper 2 7A a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
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 isFor nonintegral , choose instead the exponent . Since for every positive integer , its linear recurrence relation gives . ThusThe 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 .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ia Paper 1 11F c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
For ,Thus for all sufficiently large the ratio is, for example, at most . Comparison with a decaying geometric sequence, equivalently the ratio test, yields
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ia Paper 2 7C Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
Assume the usual continuous-coefficient setting for a second-order linear differential equation. The Wronskian has derivativewhich 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, givingThis establishes the alternative and supplies any prescribed initial data.
For the Airy ordinary differential equation, substitute a power series . Coefficient comparison gives andChoose and . The Airy power-series fundamental pair isEmpty 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 .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ia Paper 4 2E Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
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 satisfymaking 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.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ib Paper 1 3G Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
The Taylor series of the complex sine isTherefore, for ,and the right side defines a holomorphic function at with value . Thus the apparent singularity is a removable singularity.
The resulting power series isThe ratio test shows convergence for every , so its radius of convergence is
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 1 9F iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 1 9F i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The ratio test says that ifthen converges absolutely. If the ratio has a limit , the series 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.