# Calculate the coefficient of a given term in a power series

• November 26th 2012, 10:48 AM
wilhelm
Calculate the coefficient of a given term in a power series
Hello.

I don't know how to calculate given coefficients in a given series. For example

$(x^{3}+x^4+x^5+...)$
coefficient next to $x^{13}=?$

or a different one:

$(2+3x)^3 \sqrt{2+x}$
coefficient next to $x^5=?$

Could you explain to me how it is done?
• November 26th 2012, 11:12 AM
Plato
Re: Calculate the coefficient of a given term in a power series
Quote:

Originally Posted by wilhelm
I don't know how to calculate given coefficients in a given series. For example
$(x^{3}+x^4+x^5+...)||$ coefficient next to $x^{13}=?$

or a different one:
$(2+3x)^3 \sqrt{2+x}||$ coefficient next to $x^5=?$

You must define the terms and the notation.

I dare say that most of us have never seen $(x^{3}+x^4+x^5+...)||$ before.

What does the $||$ signify?
• November 26th 2012, 11:19 AM
wilhelm
Re: Calculate the coefficient of a given term in a power series
I'm sorry, it doesn't signify anything. I don't know why I put it there. It is simply a series $(x^3+x^4+...)^3$. Is it all right now?
• November 26th 2012, 11:30 AM
Plato
Re: Calculate the coefficient of a given term in a power series
Quote:

Originally Posted by wilhelm
I'm sorry, it doesn't signify anything. I don't know why I put it there. It is simply a series $(x^3+x^4+...)^3$. Is it all right now?

You need to find text material of generating functions.

There is a good free pdf generatingfunctionology on the web.
• November 26th 2012, 11:47 AM
coolge
Re: Calculate the coefficient of a given term in a power series
(x^3 + x^4 + ...) = x^9(1+x+x^2+...) = x^9/(1-x)^3. You can expand the denominator and use a Taylor series expansion and collect the coefficients.
You can try looking up Maclaurin series or Taylor series expansion.