What is the Maclaurin Series for f(x)=x/(e^x-1) up to x^2?

In summary, the conversation discusses finding the first few terms of the Taylor Series for a piecewise function involving x/(e^x - 1) and 1, using the formula for the Taylor series of e^x. The solution involves dividing the numerator and denominator by x and using an expansion for 1/(1+a) to find the terms up to and including x^2.
  • #1
DjDriftX
2
0
Find the first few terms of the Taylor Series around x=0...?
of the function

f(x)= {x/(e^x - 1) , x =/ 0}
{1 , x=0}

the function is piecewise.
up to and including the term involving x^2

It says to not compute derivatives of f but to use the formula for the Taylor series of e^x


x/(e^x-1) = x (1/(e^x-1)
so.
would that be x (1/ [tex]\sum[/tex](xn/n!) - 1)
or maybe x [tex]\sum[/tex] (1 / (xn/n!) - 1))

I'm not really sure where to start
 
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  • #2
Remember you only need terms up to and including x^2. 1-e^x=x+x^2/2!+x^3/3!+... Divide numerator and denominator by x. Now you've got 1/(1+x/2!+x^2/3!+...). You know an expansion for 1/(1+a), right? Use it. Throw away terms that are higher power than you are looking for.
 

What is a Maclaurin series?

A Maclaurin series is a type of power series expansion that represents a function as an infinite sum of terms, where each term is a polynomial function of the variable x. It is centered at x=0 and is often used to approximate a function with a polynomial for easier calculation.

How do I find the Maclaurin series for a given function?

To find the Maclaurin series for a function, you can use the general formula for a Maclaurin series, which is given by f(x) = f(0) + f'(0)x + (f''(0)/2!)x^2 + (f'''(0)/3!)x^3 + ... + (f^(n)(0)/n!)x^n. This formula involves taking derivatives of the function at x=0, which can be done using the power rule.

What is the purpose of using a Maclaurin series?

The purpose of using a Maclaurin series is to approximate a function with a polynomial, which can make calculations easier. It is also useful for studying the behavior of a function near x=0, as the polynomial terms become more accurate as x gets closer to 0.

How accurate is a Maclaurin series in approximating a function?

The accuracy of a Maclaurin series depends on the number of terms used in the expansion. The more terms used, the more accurate the approximation will be. However, as the number of terms approaches infinity, the series may not converge to the function at all points.

Can a Maclaurin series be used for any function?

Technically, yes, a Maclaurin series can be used for any function. However, the series may not converge or may only converge for certain values of x. It is important to check for convergence before using a Maclaurin series to approximate a function.

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