Local Linearization of f(x) = cosx at a = $\pi$/2

Mirole
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
f(x) = cosx, a = \pi/2
since, L(x)=f'(x)(x-a) -f(a)
f'(x) = -sinx
= -sin(\pi/2)(x-\pi/2) - f(a)


I'm stuck as to where to go next, is this even right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Nevermind, I got it to be -x+\pi/2, which is correct!
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top