1 problem found
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*}