Find a power series whose sum is:

(a) 5 / (1-3x)

(b) 9 / (1-4x)

(c) 6 / (2-4x)

suppose I have

1 + x + x^2 + x^3 + ...

this is a geometric series with
a = 1 and r = x
S = a/(1-r)
= 1/(1 - x)

so in a) you have
5/(1-3x)
this would match the terms
5 + 5(3x) + 5(3x)^2 + 5(3x)^3 + ...

You did not state whether you have to give the answer in Sigma notation, but I am pretty sure you could change it into that notation, if you study series at this level.

for c), simplify
6/(2-4x) to 3/(1 - 2x) and proceed as above.

MY ANSWERS:

(a) ax = 5(3x)^(x-1)

(b) ax = 4(4x)^(x-1)

(c) ax = 3(2x)^(x-1)

I'm confused because all of those series have a divergent sum, and it looks like they're each supposed to be convergent.

To find a power series whose sum is given by a given rational function, we can make use of the geometric series formula.

The geometric series formula states that for any real number r, the following series is equal to 1 / (1 - r):

1 + r + r^2 + r^3 + ...

Now, let's use this formula to find the power series for each given rational function:

(a) For the given function 5 / (1 - 3x):

Step 1: Rewrite the function in terms of a geometric series. We know that 1 / (1 - r) = 1 + r + r^2 + r^3 + ...

Therefore, we can rewrite 5 / (1 - 3x) as:
5 * (1 / (1 - (-3x)))

Step 2: Recognize the form of the geometric series. In this case, r = -3x.

Step 3: Apply the geometric series formula. The power series for 5 / (1 - 3x) is:

5 * (1 + (-3x) + (-3x)^2 + (-3x)^3 + ...)

Simplifying further, we have:

5 * (1 - 3x + 9x^2 - 27x^3 + ...)

So the power series for 5 / (1 - 3x) is 5 * (1 - 3x + 9x^2 - 27x^3 + ...).

(b) For the given function 9 / (1 - 4x):

Step 1: Rewrite the function in terms of a geometric series. We know that 1 / (1 - r) = 1 + r + r^2 + r^3 + ...

Therefore, we can rewrite 9 / (1 - 4x) as:
9 * (1 / (1 - (-4x)))

Step 2: Recognize the form of the geometric series. In this case, r = -4x.

Step 3: Apply the geometric series formula. The power series for 9 / (1 - 4x) is:

9 * (1 + (-4x) + (-4x)^2 + (-4x)^3 + ...)

Simplifying further, we have:

9 * (1 - 4x + 16x^2 - 64x^3 + ...)

So the power series for 9 / (1 - 4x) is 9 * (1 - 4x + 16x^2 - 64x^3 + ...).

(c) For the given function 6 / (2 - 4x):

Step 1: Rewrite the function in terms of a geometric series. We know that 1 / (1 - r) = 1 + r + r^2 + r^3 + ...

Therefore, we can rewrite 6 / (2 - 4x) as:
6 * (1 / (1 - (-2x)))

Step 2: Recognize the form of the geometric series. In this case, r = -2x.

Step 3: Apply the geometric series formula. The power series for 6 / (2 - 4x) is:

6 * (1 + (-2x) + (-2x)^2 + (-2x)^3 + ...)

Simplifying further, we have:

6 * (1 - 2x + 4x^2 - 8x^3 + ...)

So the power series for 6 / (2 - 4x) is 6 * (1 - 2x + 4x^2 - 8x^3 + ...).

Note: The power series representation of a rational function may only be valid within the interval of convergence, where the series converges.