Finding the Taylor Series of f(x) = x/(2+x)

In summary, the conversation is about obtaining the Taylor series for the function f(x) = x/(2 + x) in terms of y = x + 1, which can be rewritten as f(y) = (y - 1)/(y + 1). The suggested method is to use previous knowledge on Taylor series to find the expansion, either by rewriting the function as 1 - 2/(x + 2) or 1 - 2/(x + 1 + 1).
  • #1
chemnoob.
9
0

Homework Statement


Obtain the Taylor series in powers of x + 1 for f(x) = x/(2 + x), giving
the general term.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Wrote it out as x*(1/1-(-(x+1)).
 
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  • #2
If
[tex]
f(x)=\frac{x}{x+2}
[/tex]
We are asked to write it as a series in [tex]y=x+1[/tex], so in terms of y, the function becomes:
[tex]
F(y)=\frac{y-1}{y+1}
[/tex]
Now use all your previous knowledge about Taylor series to find the expansion in terms of y
 
  • #3
hmm.. confused
 
  • #4
OK, write your function as the following:
[tex]
f(x)=\frac{x}{x+2}=\frac{(x+1)-1}{(x+1)+1}
[/tex]
Use all the previous knowledge you have to find the taylor series.
 
  • #5
Or you could write:
[tex]
f(x)=\frac{x}{x+2}=\frac{x+2-2}{x+2}=1-\frac{2}{x+2}=1-\frac{2}{(x+1)+1}
[/tex]
If that makes it easier.
 

1. What is a Taylor series?

A Taylor series is a mathematical representation of a function as an infinite sum of terms. It is used to approximate a function at a given point by considering the values of its derivatives at that point.

2. How do you find the Taylor series for a function?

To find the Taylor series for a function, you must first determine the value of the function and its derivatives at a specific point. Then, you can use the Taylor series formula to calculate the coefficients of each term in the series. The series will begin with the function value at the point and each subsequent term will be multiplied by the corresponding derivative evaluated at the point, divided by the factorial of the term number.

3. What is the Taylor series for f(x) = x/(2+x)?

The Taylor series for f(x) = x/(2+x) is: x/2 - x^2/4 + x^3/8 - x^4/16 + x^5/32 - ...

4. How many terms do you need to include in the Taylor series to get an accurate approximation of f(x) = x/(2+x)?

The number of terms required to get an accurate approximation of a function using its Taylor series depends on the function and the point at which the series is centered. Generally, the more terms included, the more accurate the approximation will be. However, including more terms also makes the calculations more complex and time-consuming.

5. What is the benefit of using a Taylor series to approximate a function?

The benefit of using a Taylor series to approximate a function is that it allows for a more accurate representation of the function, especially at points where the function is difficult to evaluate directly. Additionally, Taylor series can be used to approximate complex functions using only a few terms, making calculations more efficient.

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