Expanding $f(z) = \frac{e^z -1}{z}$ into a power series around $z = 0$

complex-analysispower series

I have to expand $f(z) = \frac{e^z -1}{z}$ into a power series around $z = 0$.

  1. question: Does this mean that I have to somehow use the Taylor series? I know that a power series is $f(z) = \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} a_n (z – z_0)^n$.

As far as I understand it, a Taylor series is a special case of a power series. But maybe I'm just overthinking it (?)

  1. I know that the power series of $e^z$ is $e^z = \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \frac{z^n}{n!}$. Then, I have $f(z) = \frac{e^z -1}{z} = \frac{e^z}{z} – \frac{1}{z} = \frac{\sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \frac{z^n}{n!}}{z} – \frac{1}{z} = \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \frac{z^n z^{-1}}{n!} – \frac{1}{z} = \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{n-1}}{n!} – \frac{1}{z}$.

But here I'm stuck by determing the power series for $\frac{1}{z}$. Any help on how to determine it?

Best Answer

Based on the power series for $e^{z}$ around $0$, one gets the desired result as follows:

\begin{align*} e^{z} = 1 + z + \frac{z^{2}}{2!} + \frac{z^{3}}{3!} + \ldots & \Rightarrow e^{z} - 1 = z + \frac{z^{2}}{2!} + \frac{z^{3}}{3!} + \ldots \Rightarrow \frac{e^{z} - 1}{z} = 1 + \frac{z}{2!} + \frac{z^{2}}{3!} + \ldots \end{align*}

Hopefully this helps!

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