Scribd
Upload
116 views4 pages

Taylor's Theorem Explained

1) Taylor's theorem provides a way to approximate functions using polynomials called Taylor polynomials or Taylor series. It states that if a function f has (n+1) continuous derivatives on an interval around a, its value at any point x in that interval can be approximated by a polynomial Pn of degree n. 2) The Taylor polynomial Pn matches the values of f and its first n derivatives at the point a. For example, the linear approximation P1 matches f and f' at a, while the quadratic approximation P2 matches f, f', and f" at a. 3) The theorem also provides an expression for the error in this approximation, showing that it depends on the (n

Uploaded by

Artist Recording
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
116 views4 pages

Taylor's Theorem Explained

1) Taylor's theorem provides a way to approximate functions using polynomials called Taylor polynomials or Taylor series. It states that if a function f has (n+1) continuous derivatives on an interval around a, its value at any point x in that interval can be approximated by a polynomial Pn of degree n. 2) The Taylor polynomial Pn matches the values of f and its first n derivatives at the point a. For example, the linear approximation P1 matches f and f' at a, while the quadratic approximation P2 matches f, f', and f" at a. 3) The theorem also provides an expression for the error in this approximation, showing that it depends on the (n

Uploaded by

Artist Recording
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial:

Taylors Theorem
Suppose were working with a function f (x) that is continuous and has (n + 1) continuous derivatives on an interval about x = 0. We can approximate f near 0 by a polynomial Pn (x) of degree n: For n = 0, the best constant approximation near 0 is P0 (x) = f (0) which matches f at 0. For n = 1, the best linear approximation near 0 is P1 (x) = f (0) + f (0)x. Note that P1 matches f at 0 and P1 matches f at 0. For n = 2, the best quadratic approximation near 0 is P2 (x) = f (0) + f (0)x + f (0) 2 x. 2!

Note that P2 , P2 , and P2 match f , f , and f , respectively, at 0. Continuing this process, Pn (x) = f (0) + f (0)x + f (x) 2 f (n) (0) n x + ... + x . 2! n!

This is the Taylor polynomial of degree n about 0 (also called the Maclaurin series of degree n). More generally, if f has n + 1 continuous derivatives at x = a, the Taylor series of degree n about a is f (k) (a) f (a) f (n) (a) (x a)k = f (a) + f (a)(x a) + (x a)2 + . . . + (x a)n . k! 2! n! k=0 This formula approximates f (x) near a. Taylors Theorem gives bounds for the error in this approximation:
n

Taylors Theorem Suppose f has n + 1 continuous derivatives on an open interval containing a. Then for each x in the interval, n f (k) (a) f (x) = (x a)k + Rn+1 (x) k! k=0 where the error term Rn+1 (x) satises Rn+1 (x) = and x. This form for the error Rn+1 (x), derived in 1797 by Joseph Lagrange, is called the Lagrange formula for the remainder. The innite Taylor series converges to f , f (k) (a) f (x) = (x a)k , k! k=0 if and only if n Rn (x) = 0. lim Examples of Taylor Series about 0 1. For f (x) = ex , f (k) (x) = ex So ex = 1 + x + = xk k=0 k!

f (n+1) (c) (x a)n+1 for some c between a (n + 1)!

f (k) (0) = 1.

x2 x3 + + ... 2! 3!

ec x(n+1) which converges for all x since n Rn (x) = n lim lim = 0 for all c between 0 and (n + 1)! x. 2. For f (x) = ln(1 + x),
1 f (x) = 1+x 1 f (x) = (1+x)2 2 f (x) = (1+x)3 32 f (4) (x) = (1+x)4 . . .

f (0) = 0 f (0) = 1 f (0) = 1 f (0) = 2 f (4) (x) = 6

So ln(1 + x) = x x2 x3 x4 + + ... 2 3 4 xk+1 = (1)k k+1 k=0

which converges only for 1 < x 1. The Taylor Series in (x a) is the unique power series in (x a) converging to f (x) on an interval containing a. For this reason, By Example 1,

4 e2x = 1 2x + 2x2 x3 + . . . 3 where we have substituted 2x for x. 1 d [ln(1 + x)] = , we can dierentiate the Taylor series for dx 1+x 1 = 1 x + x2 x 3 + . . . . 1+x Substituting x for x, 1 = 1 + x + x 2 + x3 + . . . . 1x

By Example 2, since ln(1 + x) to obtain

In the Exploration, compare the graphs of various functions with their rst through fourth degree Taylor polynomials.

Exploration

Key Concepts
Taylors Theorem

Suppose f has n + 1 continuous derivatives on an open interval containing a. Then for each x in the interval,

f (x) =

a fk (x a)k + Rn+1 (x) (k)! k=0


f n+1 (c) (n+1)!

where the error term Rn+1 (x) satises Rn+1 (x) = and x.

(x a)n+1 for some c between a

[Im ready to take the quiz.] [I need to review more.] [Take me back to the Tutorial Page]

You might also like