Module 3: Taylor Series

Dr. T. Phaneendra

January 9, 2020

1 Taylor’s Series
Let f (z) be analytic in a domain D ⊂ C and z0 ∈ D. Then, f can be represented by
a power series
∞
an (z − z0 )n = a0 + a1 (z − z0 ) + a2 (z − z0 )2 + · · · ,
P
f (z) = (1.1)
n=0

where the coefficients a0n s are given by

f (n) (z0 )
an = n! , n = 1, 2, 3, ..., (1.2)

Remark 1.1. If there exists a positive integer R such that (1.1) converges for all z
with |z − z0 | < R, then R is its radius of convergence and the circle |z − z0 | = R is
its circle of convergence. We write R = ∞, if (1.1) converges for all z, and R = 0, if it
converges only at the center z0 .
f (n) (2) e2
Example 1.1. Let f (z) = ez for all z ∈ C and z0 = 2. Then an = n! = n! for
all n = 1, 2, .... Therefore, its Taylor series about z0 = 2 is given by
∞ ∞
f (z) = ez = an (z − 2)n = e2 1
· (z − 2)n ·
P P
n! (1.3)
n=0 n=0

About z0 = 0, we have
∞ ∞
zn
f (z) = ez = an z n =
P P
n! · (1.4)
n=0 n=0

1
CVPDE (MAT3003) Module 3

Example 1.2. Let f (z) = sin z for all z ∈ C. Then f (0) = sin 0 = 0, and

f 0 (z) = cos z, f 0 (0) = cos 0 = 1;

f 00 (z) = − sin z, f 00 (0) = − sin 0 = 0
f 000 (z) = − cos z, f 000 (0) = − cos 0 = 1;
..
.
(
(n)
0, n is even
f (0) =
(−1)n+1 , n is odd
..
.

Therefore, its Taylor series about z = 0 is given by

∞ ∞
f (n) (z0 ) (−1)n+1
· zn = · z 2n+1 ·
P P
f (z) = sin z = n! (2n+1)! (1.5)
n=0 n=1

∞ ∞
z 2n 1
Example 1.3. We see that f (z) = z cosh z 2 = z · z 2n+1 is a
P P
(2n)! = (2n)!
n=0 n=0
Taylor series about the origin
1
Example 1.4. To find a Taylor series of f (z) = (z−1)(z+2) about z = 0, we split f
into partial fractions and apply the binomial expansion. Now
h i h
−1 i
f (z) = 1
(z−1)(z+2) = 1
3
1
z−1 − 1
z+2 = 1
3−(1 − z)−1 − 12 1 + z2
 ∞ ∞
 ∞ n
P n u n

n+1 o n
1 1
(−1)n = 13 −1 + − 21
P
P
= 3 − z − 2 3 z
n=0 n=0 n=0

The first series converges on the region S1 : |z| < 1, while the second series con-
verges on the region |z/2| < 1 or S2 : |z| < 2. Therefore, the region of convergence
of f (z) is S1 ∩ S2 : |z| < 1, which contains z = 0.
Exercise 1.1. Expand (z+2)21(z−3) in Taylor series about the origin. What is the region
of validity?
1
Exercise 1.2. Expand (z2 +1)(z−1) in Taylor series about the origin. What is the region
of validity?
1
Exercise 1.3. Expand f (x) = z 2 +z+1 in Taylor series about the origin.
1
Example 1.5. To find a Taylor series of f (z) = (z−1)(z−3) about z = 4, we write
u = z − 4 or z = u + 4 in this, and split f into partial fractions and then apply the

Dr. T. Phaneendra 2 511, A10, SJT

CVPDE (MAT3003) Module 3

binomial expansion. Now,

h i h
−1 i
f (z) = 1
(u+3)(u+1) = 1
2
1
u+1 − 1
u+3 = 1
2 (1 + u)−1 − 13 1 + u3
∞ ∞ ∞ 
 
u n
1
(−1)n un − 1
(−1)n 1 1
(−1)n un
P P
P
= 2 3 3 = 2 1 − 3n+1
n=0 n=0 n=0

The first series converges on the region S1 : |u| < 1, while the second series con-
verges on the region |u/3| < 1 or S2 : |u| < 3. Therefore, the region of convergence
of f (z) is S1 ∩ S2 : |u| < 1, which contains u = 0. In other words, the region of
validity is |z − 4| < 1, which is the interior of the circle with centre at 4 and radius 1
Exercise 1.4. Find the Taylor series about the given point for the following functions,
and mention the region of validity in each case:

1 1
(a) f (z) = (z−3)(z+2)2 at z = −1 (b) f (z) = z2 at z = i
2
z +3z z−1
(c) f (z) = 1−z 2 at z = 2 (d) f (z) = z2 at z = 1
1 1
(e) f (z) = z 2 −1 at z = i (f ) f (z) = (z+1)2 at z = −i

Exercise 1.5. Expand f (z) = cos z in ascending powers of π/2

Dr. T. Phaneendra 3 511, A10, SJT