Let $𝐗$ be a point set with a limit point $c$. As $x\to c$ in $𝐗$

The symbol $O$ can also apply to the whole set $𝐗$, and not just as $x\to c$.

Integration of asymptotic and order relations is permissible, subject to obvious convergence conditions. For example, suppose $f(x)$ is continuous and $f(x)\sim x^{\nu }$ as $x\to +\mathrm{\infty }$ in $ℝ$, where $\nu$ ($\in ℂ$) is a constant. Then

Differentiation requires extra conditions. For example, if $f(z)$ is analytic for all sufficiently large $|z|$ in a sector $𝐒$ and $f(z)=O\left(z^{\nu }\right)$ as $z\to \mathrm{\infty }$ in $𝐒$, $\nu$ being real, then $f^{\prime }(z)=O\left(z^{\nu -1}\right)$ as $z\to \mathrm{\infty }$ in any closed sector properly interior to $𝐒$ and with the same vertex (Ritt’s theorem). This result also holds with both $O$’s replaced by $o$’s.

Let $\sum a_s{x}^{-s}$ be a formal power series (convergent or divergent) and for each positive integer $n$,

as $x\to \mathrm{\infty }$ in an unbounded set $𝐗$ in $ℝ$ or $ℂ$. Then $\sum a_s{x}^{-s}$ is a Poincaré asymptotic expansion, or simply asymptotic expansion, of $f(x)$ as $x\to \mathrm{\infty }$ in $𝐗$. Symbolically,

Condition (2.1.13) is equivalent to

for each $n=0,1,2,\mathrm{\dots }$. If $\sum a_s{x}^{-s}$ converges for all sufficiently large $|x|$, then it is automatically the asymptotic expansion of its sum as $x\to \mathrm{\infty }$ in $ℂ$.

If $c$ is a finite limit point of $𝐗$, then

means that for each $n$, the difference between $f(x)$ and the $n$th partial sum on the right-hand side is $O\left({(x-c)}^n\right)$ as $x\to c$ in $𝐗$.

Most operations on asymptotic expansions can be carried out in exactly the same manner as for convergent power series. These include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Substitution, logarithms, and powers are also permissible; compare Olver (1997b, pp. 19–22). Differentiation, however, requires the kind of extra conditions needed for the $O$ symbol (§2.1(ii)). For reversion see §2.2.

Some asymptotic approximations are expressed in terms of two or more Poincaré asymptotic expansions. In those cases it is usually necessary to interpret each infinite series separately in the manner described above; that is, it is not always possible to reinterpret the asymptotic approximation as a single asymptotic expansion. For an example see (2.8.15).

Asymptotic expansions of the forms (2.1.14), (2.1.16) are unique. But for any given set of coefficients $a_0,a_1,a_2,\mathrm{\dots }$, and suitably restricted $𝐗$ there is an infinity of analytic functions $f(x)$ such that (2.1.14) and (2.1.16) apply. For (2.1.14) $𝐗$ can be the positive real axis or any unbounded sector in $ℂ$ of finite angle. As an example, in the sector $|\mathrm{ph}z|\le \frac{1}{2}\pi -\delta$ () each of the functions $0,{\mathrm{e}}^{-z}$, and ${\mathrm{e}}^{-\sqrt{z}}$ (principal value) has the null asymptotic expansion

If the set $𝐗$ in §2.1(iii) is a closed sector $\alpha \le \mathrm{ph}x\le \beta$, then by definition the asymptotic property (2.1.13) holds uniformly with respect to $\mathrm{ph}x\in [\alpha ,\beta ]$ as $|x|\to \mathrm{\infty }$. The asymptotic property may also hold uniformly with respect to parameters. Suppose $u$ is a parameter (or set of parameters) ranging over a point set (or sets) $𝐔$, and for each nonnegative integer $n$

is bounded as $x\to \mathrm{\infty }$ in $𝐗$, uniformly for $u\in 𝐔$. (The coefficients $a_s(u)$ may now depend on $u$.) Then

as $x\to \mathrm{\infty }$ in $𝐗$, uniformly with respect to $u\in 𝐔$.

Similarly for finite limit point $c$ in place of $\mathrm{\infty }$.

Let ${\varphi }_s(x)$, $s=0,1,2,\mathrm{\dots }$, be a sequence of functions defined in $𝐗$ such that for each $s$

where $c$ is a finite, or infinite, limit point of $𝐗$. Then $\{{\varphi }_s(x)\}$ is an asymptotic sequence or scale. Suppose also that $f(x)$ and $f_s(x)$ satisfy

for $n=0,1,2,\mathrm{\dots }$. Then $\sum f_s(x)$ is a generalized asymptotic expansion of $f(x)$ with respect to the scale $\{{\varphi }_s(x)\}$. Symbolically,

As in §2.1(iv), generalized asymptotic expansions can also have uniformity properties with respect to parameters. For an example see §14.15(i).

Care is needed in understanding and manipulating generalized asymptotic expansions. Many properties enjoyed by Poincaré expansions (for example, multiplication) do not always carry over. It can even happen that a generalized asymptotic expansion converges, but its sum is not the function being represented asymptotically; for an example see §18.15(iii).