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1988 Paper 2 Q1
D: 1600.0 B: 1485.1

The function \(\mathrm{f}\) is defined, for \(x\neq1\) and \(x\neq2\) by \[ \mathrm{f}(x)=\frac{1}{\left(x-1\right)\left(x-2\right)} \] Show that for \(\left|x\right|<1\) \[ \mathrm{f}(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}x^{n}-\frac{1}{2}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{n} \] and that for \(1<\left|x\right|<2\) \[ \mathrm{f}(x)=-\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}x^{-n}-\frac{1}{2}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{n} \] Find an expression for \(\mbox{f}(x)\) which is valid for \(\left|x\right|>2\).


Solution: \begin{align*} && \f(x) &= \frac1{(x-1)(x-2)} \\ &&&=\frac{1}{x-2} -\frac{1}{x-1} \\ \end{align*} Therefore, for \(|x| < 1\) \begin{align*} && \f(x) &=\frac{1}{x-2} -\frac{1}{x-1} \\ &&&= -\frac12 \frac{1}{1-\frac{x}{2}} + \frac{1}{1-x} \\ &&&= \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} x^n - \frac12 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \l \frac{x}2 \r^2 \end{align*} where both geometric series converge since \(|x| < 1\) and \(|\frac{x}{2}| < 1\) When \(1 < |x|< 2 \Rightarrow |\frac{1}{x}| < 1\), we must have: \begin{align*} && \f(x) &=\frac{1}{x-2} -\frac{1}{x-1} \\ &&&= -\frac12 \frac{1}{1-\frac{x}{2}} + \frac1{x}\frac{1}{1-\frac{1}{x}} \\ &&&= - \frac12 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \l \frac{x}2 \r^2 - \frac{1}{x} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} x^{-n} \\ &&&= - \frac12 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \l \frac{x}2 \r^2 - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} x^{-n} \\ \end{align*} Finally, when \(|x| > 2\), ie \(|\frac{2}{x}| < 1\) we have \begin{align*} && \f(x) &=\frac{1}{x-2} -\frac{1}{x-1} \\ &&& =\frac1{x} \frac{1}{1-\frac{2}{x}} - \frac{1}{x}\frac{1}{1-\frac{1}{x}} \\ &&&= \frac1{x} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \l \frac{2}{x} \r^n - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}x^{-n} \\ &&&= \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} 2^{n-1} x^{-n} - \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}x^{-n} \\ \end{align*}

1987 Paper 2 Q5
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

If \(y=\mathrm{f}(x)\), then the inverse of \(\mathrm{f}\) (when it exists) can be obtained from Lagrange's identity. This identity, which you may use without proof, is \[ \mathrm{f}^{-1}(y)=y+\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n!}\frac{\mathrm{d}^{n-1}}{\mathrm{d}y^{n-1}}\left[y-\mathrm{f}\left(y\right)\right]^{n}, \] provided the series converges.

  1. Verify Lagrange's identity when \(\mathrm{f}(x)=\alpha x\), \((0<\alpha<2)\).
  2. Show that one root of the equation \[ \tfrac{1}{2}=x-\tfrac{1}{4}x^{3} \] is \[ x=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{\left(3n\right)!}{n!\left(2n+1\right)!2^{4n+1}} \]
  3. Find a solution for \(x\), as a series in \(\lambda,\) of the equation \[ x=\mathrm{e}^{\lambda x}. \]
[You may assume that the series in part \((ii) \)converges, and that the series in part \((iii) \)converges for suitable \(\lambda\).]


Solution:

  1. If \(f(x) = \alpha x\) then \(f^{-1}(x) = \frac{1}{\alpha}x\). \begin{align*} && \frac{\d^{n-1}}{\d y^{n-1}} [y - \alpha y]^n &= \frac{\d^{n-1}}{\d y^{n-1}} [(1 - \alpha)^n y^n] \\ && &= (1-\alpha)^n n! y \\ \Rightarrow && y + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n!}\frac{\d^{n-1}}{\d y^{n-1}} [y - \alpha y]^n &= y +\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (1-\alpha)^ny \\ &&&= y + y\l \frac{1}{1-(1-\alpha)}-1 \r \\ &&&= \frac{1}{\alpha}y \end{align*} Where we can sum the geometric progression if \(|1-\alpha| < 1 \Leftrightarrow 0 < \alpha < 2\)
  2. Suppose that \(f(x) = x-\frac14x^3\). We would like to find \(f^{-1}(\frac12)\). \begin{align*} && \frac{\d^{n-1}}{\d y^{n-1}} [y - (y+\frac14 y^3)]^n &= \frac{\d^{n-1}}{\d y^{n-1}} [\frac1{4^n} y^{3n}] \\ && &= \frac{1}{4^n} \frac{(3n)!}{(2n+1)!} y^{2n+1} \\ \Rightarrow && f^{-1}(\frac12) &= \frac12 + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{4^n} \frac{(3n)!}{n!(2n+1)!} \frac{1}{2^{2n+1}} \\ &&&= \frac12 + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{(3n)!}{n!(2n+1)!} \frac{1}{2^{4n+1}} \\ \end{align*} Since when \(n = 0\) \(\frac{0!}{0!1!} \frac{1}{2^{0+1}} = \frac12\) we can include the wayward \(\frac12\) in our infinite sum and so we have the required result.
  3. Consider \(f(x) = x - e^{\lambda x}\) we are interested in \(f^{-1}(0)\). \begin{align*} && \frac{\d^{n-1}}{\d y^{n-1}} [y - (y-e^{\lambda y})]^n &= \frac{\d^{n-1}}{\d y^{n-1}} [e^{n\lambda y}] \\ &&&= n^{n-1} \lambda^{n-1}e^{n \lambda y} \\ \Rightarrow && f^{-1}(0) &= \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n!} n^{n-1} \lambda^{n-1} \end{align*} We don't care about convergence, but it's worth noting this has a radius of convergence of \(\frac{1}{e}\) (ie this series is valid if \(|\lambda| < \frac1e\)).