Chapter 10: Problem 6
Find the Taylor polynomials of orders \(0,1,2,\) and 3 generated by \(f\) at \(a .\) \(f(x)=1 /(x+2), \quad a=0\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
Order 0: \(T_0(x) = \frac{1}{2}\); Order 1: \(T_1(x) = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4}x\); Order 2: \(T_2(x) = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4}x + \frac{1}{8}x^2\); Order 3: \(T_3(x) = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4}x + \frac{1}{8}x^2 - \frac{1}{16}x^3\).
Step by step solution
01
Find the function value at a
To find the Taylor polynomials at a point, we begin by evaluating the function at that point. For the given function, evaluate it at \(a = 0\). So, we find \(f(0) = \frac{1}{0+2} = \frac{1}{2}\).
02
Compute the first derivative and its value at a
Take the first derivative of the function \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x+2}\). The derivative is \(f'(x) = -\frac{1}{(x+2)^2}\). Evaluate this at \(a = 0\), yielding \(f'(0) = -\frac{1}{4}\).
03
Compute the second derivative and its value at a
Next, find the second derivative of the function. The second derivative is \(f''(x) = \frac{2}{(x+2)^3}\). Evaluate this at \(a = 0\), giving \(f''(0) = \frac{1}{4}\).
04
Compute the third derivative and its value at a
For the third derivative, differentiate again to get \(f'''(x) = -\frac{6}{(x+2)^4}\). Evaluating at \(a = 0\) gives \(f'''(0) = -\frac{3}{8}\).
05
Form the Taylor polynomial of order 0
The 0th-order Taylor polynomial is simply the function value at \(a\), which is \(f(0) = \frac{1}{2}\).
06
Form the Taylor polynomial of order 1
The first-order Taylor polynomial is \(T_1(x) = f(0) + f'(0)(x-0)\). Plugging the values, \(T_1(x) = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4}x\).
07
Form the Taylor polynomial of order 2
The second-order Taylor polynomial is \(T_2(x) = f(0) + f'(0)(x-0) + \frac{f''(0)}{2!}(x-0)^2\). Substitute the values to get \(T_2(x) = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4}x + \frac{1}{8}x^2\).
08
Form the Taylor polynomial of order 3
The third-order Taylor polynomial is \(T_3(x) = f(0) + f'(0)(x-0) + \frac{f''(0)}{2!}(x-0)^2 + \frac{f'''(0)}{3!}(x-0)^3\). Plug in the calculated values: \(T_3(x) = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4}x + \frac{1}{8}x^2 - \frac{1}{16}x^3\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Calculus
Calculus is a fascinating branch of mathematics that focuses on change. It's used to understand how things evolve over time and can be broken down into two main parts: **differential calculus** and **integral calculus**.
- Differential calculus is concerned with rates of change and slopes of curves. It allows us to find derivatives, which tell us how a function behaves as its input changes.
- Integral calculus deals with accumulation or the total size, such as finding areas under curves.
Derivatives
Derivatives play a critical role in understanding functions. They give us the rate at which a function's value changes as its input changes. Here's how derivatives were used for our Taylor polynomial example:
- **First Derivative**: Given a function, its first derivative describes its rate of change or slope. For the function \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x+2}\), the first derivative \(f'(x) = -\frac{1}{(x+2)^2}\) tells us how steep or flat the curve is at any point.
- **Higher Order Derivatives**: These are simply derivatives of derivatives. So the second derivative \(f''(x)\), gives insight into the function’s curvature, or how its slope changes. For instance, \(f''(x) = \frac{2}{(x+2)^3}\). The third derivative \(f'''(x)\), provides even more detail about the function's shape around its expansion point.
Polynomial Approximation
Polynomial approximation is a powerful technique where a complex function is approximated using a polynomial. The closer the polynomial is to the function, the better the approximation.In the case of Taylor Polynomials, this approximation depends on:
- **Order of the Polynomial**: More terms (higher order polynomials) generally provide a better approximation. For example, a third-order Taylor polynomial is typically a closer fit than a first-order polynomial.
- **Point of Expansion (a)**: This is the point where the function is approximated. In our case, it's \(a = 0\). The polynomial is designed to coincide with the function’s value and derivatives at this point.