4th order Maclaurin Polynomial - Help with error approximation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the calculation of the upper bound for the error in the 3rd order Maclaurin polynomial approximation of the function e3x. Initially, the user derived the approximation f(x) = 1 + 3x + (9/2)x2 + (9/2)x3 and calculated f(1/3) to be approximately 2.667. The user initially miscalculated the fourth derivative, leading to erroneous bounds for the error. After corrections, the fourth derivative was correctly identified as f(4)(z) = 81e3z, resulting in revised error bounds of approximately 0.04167 and 0.11326.

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opticaltempest
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I have the the follow 3rd order polynomial approximation for e^3x

[tex] f(x) = e^{3x} \approx 1 + 3x + \frac{9}{2}x^2 + \frac{9}{2}x^3 [/tex]

In an earlier part of the problem, I found

[tex] f\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right) = e^{3\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)} [/tex]

[tex] \approx 1 + 3\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right) + \frac{9}{2}\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^2 + \frac{9}{2}\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^3 = \frac{8}{3} \approx 2.667[/tex]

I need to find the upper bound for the error of the above approximation.

[tex] f(x) = e^{3x} = 1 + 3x + \frac{9}{2}x^2 + \frac{9}{2}x^3 + R_3 (x)[/tex]

[tex] \begin{array}{l}<br /> R_3 \left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right) = \frac{{f^{\left( 4 \right)} \left( z \right)}}{{4!}}\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^4 \\ <br /> {\rm{where }}0 < z < \frac{1}{3} \\ <br /> \end{array}[/tex]

[tex] f^{\left( 4 \right)} (z) = 27e^{3z} [/tex]

So the bounds on my error

[tex] \frac{{27e^{3(0)} }}{{4!}} < \frac{{27e^{3z} }}{{4!}} < \frac{{27e^{3\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)} }}{{4!}}[/tex]

Which means my error for this function when evaluated at 1/3 is
somewhere between 1.125 and ~3.058. This must be wrong
because f(1/3) is approx. 2.67.
(e - 2.67) is approx 0.5.

I believe the bounds that I found are saying that my error must be
greater than 1.125 and less than 3.058. Where did I go wrong?

Thanks

EDIT: I found some errors while looking over the problem more carefully.
Please let me know if it looks correct now. Thanks. My corrections are
below.

[tex] f^{\left( 4 \right)} (z) = 81e^{3z} [/tex]

[tex] \frac{{81e^{3(0)} }}{{4!}}\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^4 < \frac{{81e^{3(z)} }}{{4!}}\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^4 < \frac{{81e^{3\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)} }}{{4!}}\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^4 [/tex]

[tex] \approx 0.04167 < \frac{{81e^{3(z)} }}{{4!}}\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^4 < \approx 0.11326[/tex]
 
Last edited:
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(e - 2.67) is approx 0.5.
This still looks wrong.
 
Oops,

(e - 2.67) is approx. 0.05 not 0.5
 

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