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Binomial Series Convergence Analysis

(i) The document introduces the binomial series expansion and defines the binomial coefficients. (ii) It states that the binomial series has a radius of convergence of 1 and converges absolutely for |z| < 1 and diverges for |z| > 1. On the circle of convergence |z| = 1, the series converges or diverges depending on the values of α and z. (iii) The document proves that the binomial series converges to (1 + z)α for |z| < 1 by applying the ratio test and showing the derivative of the sum is equal to α times the sum.

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201 views2 pages

Binomial Series Convergence Analysis

(i) The document introduces the binomial series expansion and defines the binomial coefficients. (ii) It states that the binomial series has a radius of convergence of 1 and converges absolutely for |z| < 1 and diverges for |z| > 1. On the circle of convergence |z| = 1, the series converges or diverges depending on the values of α and z. (iii) The document proves that the binomial series converges to (1 + z)α for |z| < 1 by applying the ratio test and showing the derivative of the sum is equal to α times the sum.

Uploaded by

peter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Math 311 Spring 2014

Theory of Functions of a Complex Variable

The Binomial Series

Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences


University of Alberta

The following expansion is known as the binomial series :

Theorem. Let α be any complex number that is not a nonnegative integer. Define the binomial coefficients

   α(α − 1) · · · (α − n + 1)

α , for n ≥ 1,
= n!
n
1, for n = 0.

The binomial series


∞  
X α
zn (∗)
n=0
n

has radius of convergence R = 1, it converges absolutely if |z| < 1, and it diverges if |z| > 1.

On the circle of convergence |z| = 1, we have

(i) If Re(α) > 0 and |z| = 1, then (∗) converges absolutely.


(ii) If −1 < Re(α) ≤ 0 and z = −1, then (∗) diverges.
(iii) If −1 < Re(α) ≤ 0 and 0 < δ < 2, then (∗) converges uniformly on

{z ∈ C : |z| ≤ 1, |1 + z| ≥ δ}.

The convergence is not absolute if |z| = 1.


(iv) If Re(α) ≤ −1 and |z| = 1, then (∗) diverges.

Finally, in all cases for which (∗) converges, we have


∞  
X α
(1 + z) =
α
z n, (∗∗)
n=0
n

where
(1 + z)α = eαLog(1+z)
is the principal value of (1 + z)α if z 6= −1 and 0α = 0 (recall α 6= 0).
Proof. We show only that the series converges to (1 + z)α for all z in the open disk |z| < 1, the remainder
of the proof can be found in the text An Introduction to Classical Real Analysis, by Karl R. Stromberg.

For n ≥ 0, let  
α n
an = z ,
n
then 
α
an+1
n+1 n−α
lim = lim z = lim |z| = |z|,

n→∞ an n→∞ α
n
n→∞ n + 1
and by the ratio test, the series converges absolutely for |z| < 1.

Now define the function g on the disk |z| < 1 as follows,


∞  
X α n
g(z) = z , |z| < 1,
n=0
n
differentiating, we have
∞   ∞  
X α n−1 X α − 1 n−1
g 0 (z) = n z =α z ,
n=1
n n=1
n−1
so that
∞   ∞  
X α−1 X α−1
(1 + z)g 0 (z) = α z n−1 + α zn
n=1
n−1 n=1
n−1
∞  ∞  
X α−1 n X α−1 n
=α z +α z
n=0
n n=1
n−1
" ∞     #
X α−1 α−1
=α 1+ + z n

n=1
n n−1
" ∞  
#
X α
=α 1+ z n

n=1
n

= αg(z),
that is,
αg(z)
g 0 (z) =
1+z
for |z| < 1.

Now define
g(z)
h(z) =
(1 + z)α
for |z| < 1, where we use the principal value of the logarithmic function for the power, then
g 0 (z) αg(z) αg(z) αg(z)
h0 (z) = − = − =0
(1 + z)α (1 + z)α+1 (1 + z)α+1 (1 + z)α+1
for all |z| < 1, so that h(z) is constant on the disk |z| < 1.

Since h(0) = 1, then h(z) = 1 for all |z| < 1, that is,
∞  
X α
(1 + z)α = g(z) = zn
n=0
n

for |z| < 1.

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