Chapter 9: Problem 76
Suppose you want to approximate \(\sqrt{72}\) using four terms of a Taylor series. Compare the accuracy of the approximations obtained using Taylor series for \(\sqrt{x}\) centered at 64 and 81
Short Answer
Expert verified
A) Taylor series centered at 64
B) Taylor series centered at 81
Answer: A) Taylor series centered at 64
Step by step solution
01
Find the derivatives of the function
To approximate \(\sqrt{x}\), we'll first find its first, second, and third derivatives:
$$f(x) = \sqrt{x}$$
$$f'(x) = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}}$$
$$f''(x) = -\frac{1}{4x\sqrt{x}}$$
$$f'''(x) = \frac{3}{8x^2\sqrt{x}}$$
02
Evaluate the derivatives at 64 and 81
Now we'll evaluate the derivatives at 64 and 81 to find the Taylor series centered at these points.
For \(a = 64\):
$$f(64) = \sqrt{64} = 8$$
$$f'(64) = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{64}} = \frac{1}{16}$$
$$f''(64) = -\frac{1}{4(64)\sqrt{64}} = -\frac{1}{1024}$$
$$f'''(64) = \frac{3}{8(64)^2\sqrt{64}} = \frac{3}{262144}$$
For \(a = 81\):
$$f(81) = \sqrt{81} = 9$$
$$f'(81) = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{81}} = \frac{1}{18}$$
$$f''(81) = -\frac{1}{4(81)\sqrt{81}} = -\frac{1}{1458}$$
$$f'''(81) = \frac{3}{8(81)^2\sqrt{81}} = \frac{3}{39366}$$
03
Find the first four terms of the Taylor series
Using the formula for the Taylor series, we'll find the first four terms for each approximation:
For the Taylor series centered at 64:
$$\sqrt{x} \approx 8 + \frac{1}{16}(x-64) - \frac{1}{1024}(x-64)^2 + \frac{3}{262144}(x-64)^3$$
For the Taylor series centered at 81:
$$\sqrt{x} \approx 9 - \frac{1}{18}(x-81) - \frac{1}{1458}(x-81)^2 + \frac{3}{39366}(x-81)^3$$
04
Approximate \(\sqrt{72}\) using the Taylor series
Now we'll use the Taylor series to approximate \(\sqrt{72}\):
For the series centered at 64:
$$\sqrt{72} \approx 8 + \frac{1}{16}(72-64) - \frac{1}{1024}(72-64)^2 + \frac{3}{262144}(72-64)^3 \approx 8.48901367$$
For the series centered at 81:
$$\sqrt{72} \approx 9 - \frac{1}{18}(72-81) - \frac{1}{1458}(72-81)^2 + \frac{3}{39366}(72-81)^3 \approx 8.48060512$$
05
Compare the accuracy of the approximations
Let's now compare the accuracy of the approximations. The actual value of \(\sqrt{72}\) is approximately 8.48528137.
For the series centered at 64, the error is:
$$|8.48901367 - 8.48528137| = 0.0037323$$
For the series centered at 81, the error is:
$$|8.48060512 - 8.48528137| = 0.00467625$$
Since the error for the approximation using the Taylor series centered at 64 is smaller, this approximation is more accurate.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Derivatives
To approximate functions using a Taylor series, we need to calculate derivatives. Derivatives are expressions derived from a function that describe its rate of change. In our exercise, the function is \( f(x) = \sqrt{x} \). Each derivative gives us insights into how the function behaves near specific points.
- The first derivative, \( f'(x) = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}} \), describes the slope or inclination of the function.
- The second derivative, \( f''(x) = -\frac{1}{4x\sqrt{x}} \), gives information on the concavity, telling us if the curve is curving upwards or downwards.
- The third derivative, \( f'''(x) = \frac{3}{8x^2\sqrt{x}} \), can help estimate the change in concavity.
Taylor Polynomial
A Taylor polynomial is a powerful tool for approximating functions around a specific point, often denoted as \( a \). It uses derivatives to build a polynomial, which locally mimics the function.
The general formula for a Taylor series of a function \( f(x) \) centered at \( a \) is:\[ f(x) \approx f(a) + f'(a)(x-a) + \frac{f''(a)}{2!}(x-a)^2 + \frac{f'''(a)}{3!}(x-a)^3 + \ldots \]In the exercise, Taylor polynomials centered at 64 and 81 are used.
The general formula for a Taylor series of a function \( f(x) \) centered at \( a \) is:\[ f(x) \approx f(a) + f'(a)(x-a) + \frac{f''(a)}{2!}(x-a)^2 + \frac{f'''(a)}{3!}(x-a)^3 + \ldots \]In the exercise, Taylor polynomials centered at 64 and 81 are used.
- When centered at 64, the polynomial has terms up to \( (x - 64)^3 \); these use the values of the function and its derivatives at \( x = 64 \).
- Similarly, when centered at 81, the polynomial relies on the values at \( x = 81 \).
Approximation Accuracy
The accuracy of a Taylor polynomial approximation depends on various factors, including the degree of the polynomial and the chosen point \( a \).
- In our exercise, the actual value of \( \sqrt{72} \) is 8.48528137. Two Taylor series, centered at 64 and 81 respectively, are used to approximate this value.
- When centered at 64, the polynomial yields an approximation of 8.48901367, with a small error of 0.0037323.
- The polynomial centered at 81 gives an approximation of 8.48060512, showing a larger error of 0.00467625.