# Homework Help: Big O taylor series truncate

1. Sep 25, 2011

### Damidami

I have to prove that
$$\cos(x) = 1 - \frac{x^2}{2} + O(x^4)$$ $$(x \to 0)$$

My ugly attempt:
$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\cos(x) - 1 + \frac{x^2}{2}}{x^4}$$

$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\cos(x) - 1}{x^4} + \frac{1}{2x^2}$$

$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sin(x)}{4x^3} + \frac{1}{2x^2}$$

$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1}{4x^2} + \frac{1}{2x^2}$$

$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1}{4x^2} + \frac{2}{4x^2} = \frac{3}{4x^2} = \infty$$ (It should be a finite number)

Something does not work here, any help? Thanks!

2. Sep 25, 2011

### LCKurtz

Have you looked at the Taylor series with remainder theorem?

3. Sep 25, 2011

### Damidami

Hi LCKurtz,
I was searching an alternative (and elementary) way to prove it (otherwise there is nothing to prove, right?)

My thought was: It should work using L'Hopital some finite numer of times, doesn't it? I don't know what am I doing wrong.

Thanks.

4. Sep 25, 2011

### LCKurtz

Yes, you can do it that way:

$$\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}\frac{\cos(x)-1+\frac{x^2}{2}}{x^4} =\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}\frac{-\sin(x)+x}{4x^3}$$

and keep going as long as you have 0/0 form. You get 1/24 eventually.

5. Sep 25, 2011

### Damidami

You are completly right! Thanks!

I think my mistake was in the second step:

$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\cos(x) - 1}{x^4} + \frac{1}{2x^2}$$

The limit of a sum is the sum of the limit only of both limits exists right? But the second one clearly is $$+\infty$$ and that isn't a real number, so that theorem does not apply, am I right now?

Thanks!

Share this great discussion with others via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook