Radius of Convergence of Product – Calculus and Real Analysis

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Let $\sum_{i=0}^\infty a_nz^n$ and $\sum_{i=0}^\infty b_nz^n$ be power series, and define the product $\sum_{i=0}^\infty c_nz^n$ by $c_n=a_0b_n+a_1b_{n-1}+\ldots+a_nb_0$. Find an example where the first two series has radius of convergence $R$, while the third (the product) has radius of convergence larger than $R$.

The radius of convergence of $\sum_{i=0}^\infty a_nz^n$ is given by $1/R=\limsup{|a_n|^{1/n}}$. I tried some sequences like $a_0=a_1=\ldots=b_0=b_1=\ldots=1$. Then the two sequences have radius $1$. But $c_i=i+1$, and $\lim_{i\rightarrow\infty}(i+1)^{1/i}=1$. So the radius is the same as the original two sequences, which doesn't work.

Best Answer

A simpler example: let $$ f(z) = \frac{1+z}{1-z} = \frac{1}{1-z} + \frac{z}{1-z}. $$ Note that the first term is just the formula for the geometric sum with first term 1, $$\frac{1}{1-z} = 1 + z + z^2 + z^3 + \cdots, \qquad |z| < 1,$$ and the second term is the formula for a geometric sum with first term equal to the common ratio $z$: $$ \frac{z}{1-z} = \frac{1}{1-z} - 1 = z + z^2 + z^3 + \cdots, \qquad |z| < 1. $$ Then the power series for $f(z)$ is given by $$ f(z) = \frac{1+z}{1-z} = 1 + 2z + 2z^2 + 2z^3 + \cdots = 1 + 2\sum_{n=1}^\infty z^n, \qquad |z| < 1, $$ and has radius of convergence $R_f = 1$. If we form a new power series $g(z)$ by making the substitution $z \mapsto -z$, we have $$ g(z) = \frac{1-z}{1+z} = 1 - 2z + 2z^2 - 2z^3 + \cdots = 1 + 2\sum_{n=1}^\infty (-z)^n, \qquad |z| < 1, $$ also with radius of convergence $R_g = 1$. However, the product series is $$ f(z)g(z) = \left( \frac{1+z}{1-z} \right) \left( \frac{1-z}{1+z} \right) = 1 = 1 + 0z + 0z^2 + 0z^3 + \cdots, \qquad \forall z\in\mathbb{C} $$ and has radius of convergence $R_{fg} = \infty$, which is strictly larger than $R_f = R_g = 1$.