Expanding (i) and Solving (ii): Find the Solution

  • Thread starter Thread starter chwala
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Expanding
Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on expanding the expression (4-x)^{-1/2} and deriving a solution for part (ii) based on that expansion. The direct expansion yields a series that includes terms of x and leads to simultaneous equations for coefficients a and b. The values obtained are a=32 and b=-6, which satisfy the conditions set forth in the problem. There is a debate about the appropriateness of substituting x=0 directly versus using the expansion from part (i). The approach is deemed acceptable, indicating a successful method for solving the problem.
chwala
Gold Member
Messages
2,827
Reaction score
415
Homework Statement
See attached problem with ms
Relevant Equations
binomial theorem
Find question here and ms... In part ##i## we could just as well expand directly hence reason why i am sharing...

1652569825633.png
1652569864876.png


1652569923412.png


My direct expansion for part (i),

$$(4-x)^{-\frac{1}{2}} =4^{-\frac{1}{2}}+\frac{(\frac{-1}{2}⋅4^{-\frac{3}{2}}⋅-x)}{1!}+\frac {(\frac{3}{2}⋅\frac{1}{2}⋅4^-\frac{5}{2}⋅(-x)^2)}{2!}=\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16}x+\frac{3}{256}x^2+...$$

part (ii) follows directly from (i),

##(a+bx)(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16}x+\frac{3}{256}x^2+...)=16-x...##
##\frac{1}{2}a+\frac{1}{16}ax+\frac{3}{256}ax^2+\frac{1}{2}bx+\frac{1}{16}bx^2+\frac{3}{256}bx^3+...=16-x...##

giving us the two simultaneous equations indicated. cheers
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
As an alternative way
(\frac{a+bx}{\sqrt{4-x}})_{x=0}=\frac{a}{2}=16
a=32
(\frac{32+bx}{\sqrt{4-x}})'_{x=0}=\frac{b+4}{2}=-1
b=-6
 
anuttarasammyak said:
As an alternative way
(\frac{a+bx}{\sqrt{4-x}})_{x=0}=\frac{a}{2}=16
a=32
(\frac{32+bx}{\sqrt{4-x}})'_{x=0}=\frac{b+4}{2}=-1
b=-6
Smart move there @anuttarasammyak ...just wondering if this approach would be acceptable, i.e substituting ##x=0## directly ... are we not supposed to make use of part (i) though?

I can see that its a B mark, thus acceptable...cheers
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K