Chapter 11: Problem 79
Find the sum of the series. $$ 3+\frac{9}{2 !}+\frac{27}{3 !}+\frac{81}{4 !}+\cdots $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The sum of the series is approximately 19.0855.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the pattern
Recognize the pattern in the series: each term is given by \( \frac{3^n}{n!} \) where \( n \) starts from 1 and increases by 1 in each subsequent term. Therefore, the series can be written as \( \sum_{n=1}^{ ext{infinity}} \frac{3^n}{n!} \).
02
Recognize the series as exponential
Notice that the series \( \sum_{n=0}^{ ext{infinity}} \frac{a^n}{n!} \) is the Taylor series expansion for the exponential function \( e^a \). In this problem, \( a = 3 \), and the sum starts from \( n=1 \) instead of \( n=0 \).
03
Modify the exponential series
Since the series starts from \( n=1 \), we adjust the exponential series by subtracting the term for \( n=0 \). This gives us \( e^3 - 1 \).
04
Write the final expression for the sum
Combine the findings: the sum of the series is \( S = e^3 - 1 \).
05
Calculate the numerical value
Compute the numerical value of the sum by finding \( e^3 \) approximately using a calculator, which is about 20.0855. So, \( S \approx 20.0855 - 1 = 19.0855 \).
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Taylor series expansion
The Taylor series expansion is a handy tool in mathematics. It allows us to represent complex functions in simpler forms using polynomials. When we expand a function into a Taylor series, we're essentially expressing it as an infinite sum of terms. Each term is calculated using the derivatives of the function at a specific point.
- The general form of a Taylor series for a function \( f(x) \) about a point \( a \) is: \[ f(x) = f(a) + f'(a)(x - a) + \frac{f''(a)}{2!}(x - a)^2 + \frac{f'''(a)}{3!}(x - a)^3 + \cdots \]
- This series can continue indefinitely, hence the name 'infinite series'.
- Each term in the series becomes smaller and smaller as the powers of \((x-a)\) increase.
- Taylor series are beneficial because they let us approximate functions that are often too complicated to compute directly.
Exponential function
The exponential function is a crucial concept in mathematics. It is defined as \( e^x \), where \( e \) is a constant approximately equal to 2.71828. The exponential function appears frequently in calculus due to its unique property: its derivative is the same at any point \( x \), meaning it grows at the same rate it is expressed.
- The exponential function is significant in many fields like population growth, compound interest, and probability theory.
- In terms of series, it can be represented by the infinite sum: \[ e^x = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{x^n}{n!} \]
- This infinite summation is what we call a Taylor series when centered at zero for the exponential function.
Infinite series
An infinite series is a sum of an infinite sequence of terms. Convergence, or the idea that the series approaches a specific number as more terms are added, is key to understanding infinite series.
- An infinite series can be both geometric and arithmetic depending on the terms involved.
- The terms in an infinite series are part of an arithmetic or geometric sequence, but the series itself goes on indefinitely.
- The series \( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3^n}{n!} \) converges because its terms get smaller, approaching zero as \( n \) increases.
- In contrast, a divergent series is one where the sum does not approach a finite limit.