# Series expansion (bug in 11.2?)

The following code:

Series[x^2 Sqrt[1 + 1/x^4], {x, 0, 0}]


gives different results in Mathematica 11.0 and 11.2. In 11.0 I get the expected result

1+O[x]^2


while 11.2 gives

O[x]^2


Even worse, in Mathematica 11.2

Series[x^2 Sqrt[1 + 1/x^6], {x, 0, 0}]


also gives

O[x]^2


while in 11.0 I get

1/x + O[x]^1


Is this a known bug in 11.2? Does anyone have a workaround?

• In v11.2, Limit[x^2 Sqrt[1 + 1/x^4], x -> 0] evaluates to 1 – Bob Hanlon Nov 17 '17 at 13:05
• Despite 0 being a branch point I think this should probably not return an empty series. Provisionally treating it as a bug in 11.2. I should remark that in the absence of assumptions on x, 1+O[x]^2 is also not a correct result. – Daniel Lichtblau Nov 17 '17 at 16:50
• @DanielLichtblau: sure, 1+O[x]^2 is not correct for all x. However, if I expand y Sqrt[1 + 1/y^2] v11.2 gives y Sqrt[1/y^2], so for the first example in my question x^2 Sqrt[1/x^4] seems a reasonable answer. Furthermore, even with Assuming [x \[Element] Reals, ... ] I get 0 and not 1. – Olof Nov 18 '17 at 4:25
• What you propose as a reasonable answer is what I'm hoping to get into the next release. – Daniel Lichtblau Nov 18 '17 at 16:16

Assuming [x \[Element] Reals && x >= 0, Series[Sqrt[1 + 1/x^4] x^2, {x, 0, 0}]]

• Thanks. Actually assuming x >= 0 is enough. – Olof Nov 17 '17 at 12:52
• Or assume x <= 0 or x < 0 || x >= 0 – Bob Hanlon Nov 17 '17 at 13:10