On composition of formal power series (Q1608229)

Summary: Given a formal power series \(g (x)=b_{0}+b_{1}x+b_{2}x^{2}+\dots\) and a non-unit \(f (x)=a_{1}x+a_{2}x^{2}+\dots\), it is well known that the composition of \(g\) with \(f\), \(g (f (x))\), is a formal power series. If the formal power series \(f\) above is not a non-unit, that is, the constant term of \(f\) is not zero, the existence of the composition \(g (f (x))\) has been an open problem for many years. The recent development investigated the radius of convergence of a composed formal power series like \(f\) above and obtained some very good results. This note gives a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of the composition of some formal power series. By means of the theorems established in this note, the existence of the composition of a non-unit formal power series is a special case.