Doubt regarding Taylor's theorem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the Lagrange form of the remainder in Taylor's series, specifically comparing two expressions for the remainder. Participants are trying to understand how these two forms relate to each other and the implications of the definitions involved.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the definitions of variables in the expressions, particularly the definition of ##h## and its relationship to ##x-a##. There is also confusion regarding the order of the derivatives in the two forms of the remainder.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the differences between the two forms of the remainder, suggesting that one may represent the remainder after an (n+1)-term polynomial while the other pertains to an n-term polynomial. However, there is no explicit consensus on the exact relationship or the implications of these differences.

Contextual Notes

Participants have noted the potential for differing interpretations of the remainder based on the definitions provided in their respective texts. There is an emphasis on the need for additional context from the book to clarify the distinctions being discussed.

utkarshakash
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Homework Statement


In Taylor's series, the Lagrange form of remainder is given by
[itex]R_n = \dfrac{f^{n+1}(t)(x-a)^{n+1}}{(n+1)!} \\ t \in [a,x][/itex]

whereas my book states that it is given by
[itex]\dfrac{h^n}{n!} f^n (a+ \theta h) \\ \theta(0,1)[/itex]

I don't see how these two are interrelated. Can anyone explain ?
 
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utkarshakash said:

Homework Statement


In Taylor's series, the Lagrange form of remainder is given by
[itex]R_n = \dfrac{f^{n+1}(t)(x-a)^{n+1}}{(n+1)!} \\ t \in [a,x][/itex]

whereas my book states that it is given by
[itex]\dfrac{h^n}{n!} f^n (a+ \theta h) \\ \theta(0,1)[/itex]

I don't see how these two are interrelated. Can anyone explain ?

How is ##h## defined in the expression from your book? Obviously, if ##h = x-a## then your book's expression is the same as the Lagrange version, because if ##\theta \in [0,1]## then ##a + \theta h## is a number in ##[a,x]##.
 
Ray Vickson said:
How is ##h## defined in the expression from your book? Obviously, if ##h = x-a## then your book's expression is the same as the Lagrange version, because if ##\theta \in [0,1]## then ##a + \theta h## is a number in ##[a,x]##.

But the book's version has nth derivative. Shouldn't it be n+1?
 
It would be helpful to include some of the accompanying text in your book. It's possible that your text is giving the remainder after the terms of degree n - 1, while the more usual form you also show gives the remainder after terms of degree n.
 
utkarshakash said:
But the book's version has nth derivative. Shouldn't it be n+1?

I agree with Mark44. One form gives the remainder after an (n+1)-term polynomial (where the powers of (x-a) go from 0 to n) while the other (perhaps) gives the remainder after an n-term polynomial (where the powers go from 0 to n-1).
 

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