Converting Exponential Decay to Polynomial: Solving for Y(0) and k

[darthxepher]

Homework Statement

Turn y = y(0) * e^(-kt) into a polynomial.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea of how I would go about doing this. I know you can use taylor series to approximate it, but is there any other way?

Thanks,

Darthxepher

 

[lanedance]

you can express it as a infinite sum of polynomial terms - the full taylor series

any finite number of terms will only be an approximation

see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_function

 

[Dick]

Well, no. exp(-kt) isn't a finite degree polynomial in t. You can only approximate it with polynomials. There are other approximations besides taylor series, but I'm not really sure what you are asking.

 

[darthxepher]

The assignment is to find some value of k given some information, but the assignment wants us to convert that expression into a polynomial then solve for k. Does that make sense?

 

[vela]

Take the log of both sides of the equation.

 

[darthxepher]

Ya i did that, then solved for k but that still doesn't give me a polynomial... :P

 

[HallsofIvy]

then perhaps you should tell us what the problem really is- what the "some information" that is given?