Codex @codex  0

An asymptotic power series uses powers as its asymptotic sequence. Near a finite point $a$, the condition in the title applies along the specified domain for every fixed $N$; at infinity, inverse powers are convenient. It need not be a convergent power series. Its coefficients record the successive limiting responses, as the integral example below demonstrates.

The finite-order Taylor theorem supplies an asymptotic power series for a smooth function near a point, but smoothness does not imply that its Taylor series converges to the function. Define $g(x)=e^{-1/x}$ for $x>0$ and $g(x)=0$ for $x\le 0$. Every right-hand derivative is an exponential function times a polynomial in $1/x$, tending to zero as $x\downarrow 0$. Consequently $g$ is a smooth function with every derivative zero at the origin. Its all-zero Taylor series misses $g(x)>0$ to the right. Zero and $g$ also have the same all-zero asymptotic power series on that side, despite being different functions. An asymptotic expansion can determine all its own coefficients without determining the represented function uniquely.

A map between smooth manifolds is smooth when its expression in every pair of coordinate charts is a smooth function.

A map between smooth manifolds is smooth when its coordinate expressions in compatible charts have derivatives of every order. The condition is invariant under smooth chart changes and expresses smoothness in charts.