206.11.3.11 Find the first four nozero terms of the Maciaurin series

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the first four nonzero terms of the Maclaurin series for the function \( f(x) = (-5 + x^2)^{-1} \). Participants explore the calculation of derivatives, the formulation of the series, and the interval of convergence. There are also concerns about the accuracy of the derivatives and the presentation of the results.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants present their calculations for the derivatives of \( f(x) \) and the corresponding values at \( a = 0 \), noting that \( f^0(0) = 1 \) and \( f^2(0) = -\frac{2}{25} \), among others.
  • There are claims of typographical errors in the derivatives, such as incorrect terms in \( f^{(2)}(x) \) and \( f^{(5)}(x) \), with some participants suggesting corrections.
  • One participant proposes a geometric series approach to simplify the calculation, expressing \( f(x) \) in terms of a series expansion and identifying the interval of convergence as \( |x| < \sqrt{5} \).
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about their calculations and the correctness of their answers, indicating they are self-learning and relying on the forum for assistance.
  • Concerns are raised about the accuracy of the presented results, with some participants suggesting that the answers should match and highlighting the importance of synthesizing information correctly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the calculations, with multiple competing views on the accuracy of the derivatives and the overall approach to finding the series expansion. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the final presentation of the results.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential typographical errors in the derivatives, differing interpretations of the series expansion, and varying levels of understanding among participants. Some calculations may depend on assumptions not explicitly stated.

Who May Find This Useful

Students studying series expansions, particularly in the context of Maclaurin series, as well as those interested in mathematical reasoning and derivative calculations in calculus.

karush
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$\textsf{a. Find the first four nozero terms of the Maciaurin series for the given function} \\$
\begin{align}
a&=0 \\
f(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1} \\
\\
f^0(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1}\therefore f^0(a) = 1 \\
f^1(x)&=\frac{-2x}{(x^2-5)^2} \therefore f^1(a) = 0 \\
f^2(x)&=\frac{2(3x^3+5)}{(x^2-5)^3} \therefore f^2(a) = \frac{-2}{25} \\
f^3(x)&=\frac{-24x(x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^4} \therefore f^3(a) = 0 \\
f^4(x)&=\frac{120x(x^4+10x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^5} \therefore f^4(a) = \frac{-24}{125} \\
f^5(x)&=\frac{240x(x^4+10x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^6} \therefore f^5(a) = 0 \\
f^6(x)&=\frac{720x(7x^6+175x^4+525x^2+125))}{(x^2-5)^7} \therefore f^6(a) = \frac{-144}{125}\\
\end{align}
$\textsf{so}$
\begin{align}
f(x)&=1+\frac{-x^2}{25}-\frac{-x^4}{125}-\frac{x^6}{625}
\end{align}
$\textsf{b. write the power series using $\sigma$ notation.} \\$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
f(x)&=\frac{1}{1-x}=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}x^k, \textsf{ for } |x|<1 \\
&=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}
\end{align}
$\textsf{c.Determine the interval of convergence of the series.} \\$
\begin{align}
IOC&=\left[a,b\right]
\end{align}

$\textit{not even sure if I did a. correctly.. tons of calculation which I did most on TI}\\$
$\textit{b. and c. will try if a. looks ok did a few before on other problems.}\\$
$\textit{On a. I just skipped the the ones that =0 thanks for know it is a headache!}$
 
Last edited:
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karush said:
$\textsf{a. Find the first four nozero terms of the Maciaurin series for the given function} \\$
\begin{align}
a&=0 \\
f(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1} \\
\\
f^0(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1}\therefore f^0(a) = 1 \\
f^1(x)&=\frac{-2x}{(x^2-5)^2} \therefore f^1(a) = 0 \\
f^2(x)&=\frac{2(3x^3+5)}{(x^2-5)^3} \therefore f^2(a) = \frac{-2}{25} \\
f^3(x)&=\frac{-24x(x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^4} \therefore f^3(a) = 0 \\
f^4(x)&=\frac{120x(x^4+10x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^5} \therefore f^4(a) = \frac{-24}{125} \\
f^5(x)&=\frac{240x(x^4+10x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^6} \therefore f^5(a) = 0 \\
f^6(x)&=\frac{720x(7x^6+175x^4+525x^2+125))}{(x^2-5)^7} \therefore f^6(a) = \frac{-144}{125}\\
\end{align}
$\textsf{so}$
\begin{align}
f(x)&=1+\frac{-x^2}{25}-\frac{-x^4}{125}-\frac{x^6}{625}
\end{align}
$\textsf{b. write the power series using $\sigma$ notation.} \\$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
f(x)&=\frac{1}{1-x}=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}x^k, \textsf{ for } |x|<1 \\
&=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}
\end{align}
$\textsf{c.Determine the interval of convergence of the series.} \\$
\begin{align}
IOC&=\left[a,b\right]
\end{align}

$\textit{not even sure if I did a. correctly.. tons of calculation which I did most on TI}\\$
$\textit{b. and c. will try if a. looks ok did a few before on other problems.}\\$
$\textit{On a. I just skipped the the ones that =0 thanks for know it is a headache!}$
I didn't actually check all of the derivatives but you need to look at f(0) and f^(4)(0) again. It does look like you've got the idea down, though. Give b) and c) a try.

-Dan
 
f^(2)(x) has a typo. It's [math]3x^2 + 5[/math] not [math]x^3[/math].

f^(5)(x) has a big typo...the polynomial in the parenthesis is just copied over from the line above. And you missed an overall minus sign.

In f^(4)(x) and f^(6)(x) the x's on the outside of the parenthesis should not be there. But these are just typos.

-Dan
 
karush said:
$\textsf{a. Find the first four nozero terms of the Maciaurin series for the given function} \\$
\begin{align}
a&=0 \\
f(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1} \\
\\
f^0(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1}\therefore f^0(a) = 1 \\
f^1(x)&=\frac{-2x}{(x^2-5)^2} \therefore f^1(a) = 0 \\
f^2(x)&=\frac{2(3x^3+5)}{(x^2-5)^3} \therefore f^2(a) = \frac{-2}{25} \\
f^3(x)&=\frac{-24x(x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^4} \therefore f^3(a) = 0 \\
f^4(x)&=\frac{120x(x^4+10x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^5} \therefore f^4(a) = \frac{-24}{125} \\
f^5(x)&=\frac{240x(x^4+10x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^6} \therefore f^5(a) = 0 \\
f^6(x)&=\frac{720x(7x^6+175x^4+525x^2+125))}{(x^2-5)^7} \therefore f^6(a) = \frac{-144}{125}\\
\end{align}
$\textsf{so}$
\begin{align}
f(x)&=1+\frac{-x^2}{25}-\frac{-x^4}{125}-\frac{x^6}{625}
\end{align}
$\textsf{b. write the power series using $\sigma$ notation.} \\$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
f(x)&=\frac{1}{1-x}=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}x^k, \textsf{ for } |x|<1 \\
&=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}
\end{align}
$\textsf{c.Determine the interval of convergence of the series.} \\$
\begin{align}
IOC&=\left[a,b\right]
\end{align}

$\textit{not even sure if I did a. correctly.. tons of calculation which I did most on TI}\\$
$\textit{b. and c. will try if a. looks ok did a few before on other problems.}\\$
$\textit{On a. I just skipped the the ones that =0 thanks for know it is a headache!}$

I would realize that this can be written as a geometric series, it's so much less work...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} f(x) &= \frac{1}{-5 + x^2 } \\ &= -\frac{1}{5} \left( \frac{1}{1 - \frac{x^2}{5}} \right) \\ &= -\frac{1}{5} \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \left( \frac{x^2}{5} \right) ^n \end{align*}$

which is convergent where

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \left| \frac{x^2}{5} \right| &< 1 \\ \frac{ x^2 }{ 5 } &< 1 \\ x^2 &< 5 \\ \left| x \right| &< \sqrt{5} \\ -\sqrt{5} < x &< \sqrt{5} \end{align*}$So the first four nonzero terms are

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} -\frac{1}{5}\left( 1 + \frac{x^2}{5} + \frac{x^4}{25} + \frac{x^6}{125} \right) = -\frac{1}{5} - \frac{x^2}{25} - \frac{x^4}{125} - \frac{x^6}{625} \end{align*}$
 
$\textsf{a. Find the first four nozero terms of the Maciaurin series for the given function} \\$
\begin{align}
a&=0 \\
f(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1} \\
\\
f^0(x)&=(-5+x^2)^{-1}\therefore f^0(a) = 1 \\
f^1(x)&=\frac{-2x}{(x^2-5)^2}
\therefore f^1(a) = 0 \\
f^2(x)&=\frac{2(3x^2+5)}{(x^2-5)^3}
\therefore f^2(a) = \frac{-2}{25} \\
f^3(x)&=\frac{-24x(x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^4}
\therefore f^3(a) = 0 \\
f^4(x)&=\frac{120(x^4+10x^2+5))}{(x^2-5)^5}
\therefore f^4(a) = \frac{-24}{125} \\
f^5(x)&=-\frac{240.(3x^4+50x^2+75))}{(x^2-75)^6}
\therefore f^5(a) = 0 \\
f^6(x)&=\frac{720x(7x^6+175x^4+525x^2+125))}{(x^2-5)^7} \therefore f^6(a) = \frac{-144}{125}\\
\end{align}
$\textsf{so}$
\begin{align}
f(x)&=1+\frac{-x^2}{25}-\frac{-x^4}{125}-\frac{x^6}{625}
\end{align}
$\textsf{b. write the power series using $\sigma$ notation.} \\$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
f(x)&;=\frac{1}{1-x}=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}x^k, \textsf{ for } |x|<1 \\
&=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}
\end{align}

\begin{align*}
\displaystyle
f(x) &= \frac{1}{-5 + x^2 } \\
&= -\frac{1}{5} \left( \frac{1}{1 - \frac{x^2}{5}} \right) \\
&= -\frac{1}{5} \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \left( \frac{x^2}{5} \right) ^n \end{align*}

$\textsf{c.Determine the interval of convergence of the series.} \\$

\begin{align*}
\displaystyle
\left| \frac{x^2}{5} \right| &< 1 \\
\frac{ x^2 }{ 5 } &< 1 \\ x^2 &< 5 \\
\left| x \right| &< \sqrt{5} \\
-\sqrt{5} < x &< \sqrt{5}
\end{align*}
 
Last edited:
after correcting and plagiarising...
 
karush said:
after correcting and plagiarising...

Shame you didn't synthesise the information - it's pretty obvious you've made some mistakes, as the answers are supposed to match!
 
well being confined to a small tablet doesn't help the typo problem to much. also doing so much cut and paste will intoduce mistakes too.

the answer is ussauly given anyway so the steps are of most interest to me. plus the best way to formally present the problem so it is it is understood.

I'm personally self learning this. I was auditing the class but had to sit in the back of a very large class and could not read the board or hear the teacher plus a very long jaring bus ride round trip.

by far most of the learning I receilve is gratfully thru MHB. I try other sites but the LateX has no live review. plus the replies here are much more helpful. Mahalo
 

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