Chapter 11: Problem 18
Find the Taylor series for \(f(x)\) centered at the given value of a. [Assume that \(f\) hat \(f\) has a power series expansion. Do not show that \(R_{n}(x) \rightarrow 0 . ]\) \(f(x)=\sin x, \quad a=\pi / 2\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The Taylor series for \( \sin x \) centered at \( \frac{\pi}{2} \) is \( 1 - \frac{1}{2}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^2 + \frac{1}{24}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^4 - \cdots \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Function and Center
The given function is \( f(x) = \sin x \) and the center is \( a = \frac{\pi}{2} \). We are to find the Taylor series expansion of \( \sin x \) around \( \frac{\pi}{2} \).
02
Calculate the Function and its Derivatives
Calculate \( f(a) = f(\frac{\pi}{2}) = \sin(\frac{\pi}{2}) = 1 \). Now find the derivatives at \( a = \frac{\pi}{2} \):- \( f'(x) = \cos x \), so \( f'(\frac{\pi}{2}) = \cos(\frac{\pi}{2}) = 0 \).- \( f''(x) = -\sin x \), so \( f''(\frac{\pi}{2}) = -1 \).- \( f'''(x) = -\cos x \), so \( f'''(\frac{\pi}{2}) = 0 \).- \( f''''(x) = \sin x \), so \( f''''(\frac{\pi}{2}) = 1 \).Note the repeating cycle: \( f^{(n)}(x) = \sin x, \cos x, -\sin x, -\cos x \) depending on whether \( n \equiv 0, 1, 2, 3 \mod 4 \).
03
Construct the Taylor Series
The Taylor series for \( f(x) \) about \( x = a \) (where \( a = \frac{\pi}{2} \)) is given by:\[ f(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{f^{(n)}(a)}{n!} (x - a)^n.\]Substitute the derivatives calculated:\[\sin x = 1 - \frac{1}{2!}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^2 + \frac{1}{4!}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^4 - \frac{1}{6!}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^6 + \cdots\]This series is derived from the repeated cycle obtained in the previous step.
04
Simplify the Series
Every second derivative contributes to the series, creating alternating series terms:\[\sin x \approx 1 - \frac{1}{2}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^2 + \frac{1}{24}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^4 - \cdots\]The series terms involve factorials in the denominator of odd-numbered terms.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Power Series Expansion
The power series expansion is a fundamental concept for understanding Taylor series. A power series is an infinite sum of terms, each in the form of a power of a variable. It looks like this:
- It's expressed as \( \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n (x - c)^n \), where \( a_n \) are coefficients, and \( c \) is the center of the series.
- With Taylor series, the coefficients \( a_n \) are specific derivatives of a function evaluated at a point \( c \).
Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions
Understanding derivatives, especially of trigonometric functions, is critical in building a Taylor series for functions like \( \sin x \). Here are important points about the derivatives:
- The derivatives of \( \sin x \) follow a cyclical pattern:
- \( f'(x) = \cos x \)
- \( f''(x) = -\sin x \)
- \( f'''(x) = -\cos x \)
- \( f''''(x) = \sin x \), and so on.
- This repetitive cycle can be summarized using modular arithmetic: for \( n \equiv 0, 1, 2, 3 \mod 4 \), the derivative cycle maintains location and sign.
- Evaluating these derivatives at \( x = \pi/2 \) determines the coefficients of our power series.
Alternating Series
An alternating series is a series where the terms alternate in sign. This happens in our Taylor series for \( \sin x \) around \( \pi/2 \):
- The series starts with a positive term, then negative, then positive, and so on. It forms: \[ \sin x \approx 1 - \frac{1}{2}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^2 + \frac{1}{24}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^4 - \cdots \]
- This alternating pattern often results from trigonometric functions' derivatives, which shift signs cyclically as calculated.
- Alternating series are importantly convergent, which means they tend toward a limit as more terms are added.
sin x Expansion
The expansion of \( \sin x \) using its Taylor series is a classical example in calculus. It reveals how trigonometric functions can be expressed as infinite polynomials:
- For \( \sin x \) centered at \( \pi/2 \), the expansion starts with the value of \( \sin(\pi/2) = 1 \).
- Subsequent terms derive from incremented even powers of \((x - \pi/2)\), using cycles of \( \sin \) and \( \cos \) derivatives to determine sign and behavior.
- We see how important even-power terms in this expansion cancel or bridge polarities with factorial denominators: \[ 1 - \frac{1}{2}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^2 + \frac{1}{24}(x - \frac{\pi}{2})^4 - \cdots \]
- With each additional term, the approximation of \( \sin x \) becomes more accurate, illustrating its periodic nature and smooth curves even with polynomial representation.