26. The interval of convergence for the series \[ x-\frac{x^2}{2}+\frac{x^3}{3}-\frac{x^4}{4}+\cdots \] is






Answer is: option4

\( -1 < x \le 1 \)

Solution:

The general term of the series is \[ (-1)^{n+1}\frac{x^n}{n}, \qquad n\ge 1 \]

Using the Ratio Test: \[ \left|\frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1}\cdot\frac{n}{x^n}\right| = \frac{n}{n+1}|x| \] so that \[ \lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{n}{n+1}|x|=|x| \]

Thus the series converges if \[ |x|<1 \] or \[ -1

Checking endpoints:

If \(x=-1\), the series becomes \[ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{-1}{n} \] which diverges.

If \(x=1\), the series becomes \[ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{n+1}}{n} \] which is the convergent alternating harmonic series.

Therefore, the interval of convergence is \[ -1

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