Advanced Maths

Taylor Series


If a function can be expressed in the form of,
f(x) = f(a) + f'(a)(x-a) + f"(a)(x-a)2/2! + ...,
it is considered as Taylor's Series.


If a = 0, then it leads to another series, known as Maclaurin Series


So, Maclaurin Series is as follows:

f(x) = f(0) + f'(0)x/1! + f"(0)x2/2!....


Taylor series leads to the following power series:


E.g.1

If f(x)=ex, then,
dy/dx=ex,    d2y/dx2 = ex; so,
f(0)=1;
f'(0)=1;
f"(0)=1;

So, ex = 1 + x/1! + x2/2! + x3/3!....


In the same way, e-x = 1 - x/1! + x2/2! - x3/3!....


E.g.2

If f(x) = sin x, then,
dy/dx=cos x,    d2y/dx2 = -sin x; so,
f(0) = 0;
f'(0)=1;
f"(0)=0;

So, sin x = 1 - x3/3! + x5/5!....


E.g.3

If f(x) = cos x, then,
dy/dx= -sin x,    d2y/dx2 = -cos x; so,
f(0) = 1;
f'(0)=0;
f"(0)=-1;

cos x = 1 - x2/2! + x4/4! - x6/6!....


Now work out the following:


1) Show Taylor Series to prove that 1/(1 + x) = 1 -x + x2 - x3 + x4 + ...


2) Find an expression for tan x, using Taylor Series.


3) Show that ln(1 + x) = x - x2/2 + x3/3 - x4/4...


4) Use Taylor Series to find esin x.


5) Use Taylor Series to find ecos x.