# Find Taylor Series

1. Sep 23, 2014

### TheRedDevil18

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find the taylor series representation for the following function
f(x) = cos(x) in powers of x-pi

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

I don't know what they mean by "in powers of x-pi", that's the part i'm confused with. Can somebody please explain that part for me, thanks

2. Sep 23, 2014

### ShayanJ

That just means you should expand around $x=\pi$ rather than the usual $x=0$.

3. Sep 23, 2014

### TheRedDevil18

Does that mean the "a" value is pi ?

4. Sep 23, 2014

### ShayanJ

If you write $f(a+\delta)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{f^{(n)}(a)}{n!} \delta^n$, then yes!

5. Sep 23, 2014

### TheRedDevil18

I use this formula

f^(n)(a)*((x-a)^n)/n!

And sub in pi for a, thanks

6. Sep 23, 2014

### Staff: Mentor

Yes, this is what the general term in your Taylor series will look like. Note that a Maclaurin series is a special case of a Taylor series, where a = 0.

7. Sep 26, 2014

Ok , thanks