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Exercise 1499Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Series › Power seriesL2Added 2 Nov 2026

A series of functions

#series of functions#normal convergence#pointwise convergence

Statement

For x≥0x\ge0 let un(x)=xn(1+nx)u_n(x)=\dfrac x{n(1+nx)}. Show that ∑un(x)\sum u_n(x) converges for every x≥0x\ge0 and that the convergence is normal on [0,+∞)[0,+\infty). What can you say about the sum f(x)=∑n≥1un(x)f(x)=\sum_{n\ge1}u_n(x)?

Hint

Bound un(x)u_n(x) by 1n2\frac1{n^2} uniformly in xx.

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Solution

Pointwise. For x=0x=0, all terms vanish. For x>0x>0, 1+nx≥nx1+nx\ge nx, so
0≤un(x)=1n⋅x1+nx≤1n⋅1n=1n2.0\le u_n(x)=\frac1n\cdot\frac x{1+nx}\le\frac1n\cdot\frac1n=\frac1{n^2}.
The series converges.

Normally. The bound 0≤un(x)≤1n20\le u_n(x)\le\frac1{n^2} holds for all x≥0x\ge0, and ∑1n2<∞\sum\frac1{n^2}<\infty. So ∑sup⁡x∣un∣<∞\sum\sup_x|u_n|<\infty: the convergence is normal, hence uniform, on [0,+∞)[0,+\infty).

Consequence. Each unu_n is continuous on [0,+∞)[0,+\infty), and a uniformly convergent series of continuous functions has a continuous sum. So ff is continuous on [0,+∞)[0,+\infty), with f(0)=0f(0)=0.