Sequences and Series 207
superior and L2 the limit inferior of lan+1l/lanl, as stated in the following
theorem, due to S. Pincherle.
Theorem 4.21 Let R be the radius of convergence of I: anzn (an -=/= Q),
and suppose that
1. 1msup I --an+1 I = L 1
n-+oo an
and 1.. 1mm f I --an+1 I = L 2
n--+oo an
Then l/L1 ::::; R ::::; 1/L 2.
Proof The third form of the ratio test gives
hmsup. I an+1zn+1 I = Lilzl < 1
n-+oo anzn
for convergence, and
or
or
1
lzl < Li
1
lzl > L2
for divergence. Hence the power series does not diverge if lzl < 1/ L 1 , and
it does not converge if lzl > l/L 2 • Thus, 1/L 1 ::::; R::::; 1/L 2 •
In some cases it is possible to give a precise formula for the computation
of R, as in the next theorem (Gonzalez [4]).
Theorem 4.22 Suppose that the ordinary limits
1. lm I akm+r I = L r
m-+oo ak(m+l)+r
( k > 1 fixed, r = 0, ... , k - 1)
exist, and let L = min(L 0 , ••. , Lk-d· Then the radius of convergence of
I: anzn is given by
(4.11-7)
Alternatively,
R =^1 1m.. 1n f k I --an I
n-+oo an+k
(4.11-8)
Proof It suffices to decompose I: anzn into k power series of the form
00
~ ~ akm+rZ· km+r (r = 0,1, ... ,k-1)
m=O
For the rth series we have, by the ratio test,