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Research draft

power series

vr.tr.power-series · XCT.REL

Let an agent handle power series by coefficients, centre, radius of convergence and the function represented.

Thing Registry Cross-cutting context

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent handle power series by coefficients, centre, radius of convergence and the function represented.

An infinite series of the form sum of a_n (x - c)^n, representing a function near a centre c within a radius of convergence; Taylor series and hypergeometric series are examples.

What it is for: Representing and approximating functions in analysis, physics and computation.

It can be compute coefficients; find the radius of convergence; differentiate and integrate term by term within it; truncate for approximation, with error bounds.

Distinguishing features

Powers of (x - c) with coefficients

Converges inside a disc of radius R

Term-by-term operations valid inside

Formal and analytic uses differ

What it looks like

Sigma notation with powers of (x - c).

How it is recognised

Terms with increasing powers

Named series such as hypergeometric or Lidstone series

Formal power series need not converge

Related models

is a kind of - function series

series

represents - use

analytic function

is studied by - analysis

mathematics

is confused with - finite

polynomial

In practice

Families and kinds

Taylor and Maclaurin series

hypergeometric series

Lidstone series

formal power series

Standards and regulation

ISO 80000-2

Failure modes and hazards

Using the series outside its radius

Slow convergence near the boundary

Round-off in numerical summation

Also called

Lidstone serieshypergeometric seriesHorn functionClausen's formula

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Definition Coefficients and centre.

Coefficients and centre define the series.

Coefficients

Rule for a_n.

Coefficients

Coefficient rule.

  1. What is the rule for the coefficients? definition
  2. What is the centre? definition

Kind

Taylor, hypergeometric.

Kind

Kind of series.

  1. Which named series is this? definition
  2. Is it formal or analytic? boundary
Convergence Where it works.

Radius of convergence is essential.

Radius

R.

Radius

Radius of convergence.

  1. What is the radius of convergence? measurement
  2. What happens on the boundary? boundary

Behaviour

Speed of convergence.

Behaviour

Convergence speed.

  1. How fast does it converge at a given point? measurement
  2. How many terms are needed? measurement
Function What it represents.

Series represent functions.

Represented function

Sum.

Function

The function.

  1. Which function does the series sum to? definition
  2. Is it analytic there? boundary

Operations

Term-by-term.

Operations

Valid operations.

  1. Can it be differentiated or integrated term by term here? boundary
  2. What results? definition
Computation Numerical use.

Numerics need care.

Truncation

Error.

Error bound

Truncation error.

  1. What is the truncation error? measurement
  2. Which bound applies? definition

Stability

Round-off.

Stability

Numerical stability.

  1. Is summation numerically stable? boundary
  2. Should another method be used? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should named power series be separate entries?
  • How should convergence data be recorded?
  • How should formal series be marked?