Maclaurin Series: cos(2x)/(1+x^2)

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
8 replies · 2K views
Punkyc7
Messages
415
Reaction score
0
F(x)= (cos(2x)/(1+x^2))





Is there anyway to do this without taking a lot of derivatives and looking for a pattern?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
So, I take it that you need to find the Maclaurin Series for the function: f(x) = (cos(2x))/(1+x2) .

How many terms do you need, or do you need to write the result using ∑ notation.

If you know the Maclaurin Series for cos(x) and 1/(1+x2) or 1/(1+x), then No, you don't need to take a of derivatives.
 
The first 3 non zero terms,

I know the Maclaurin series for both of them but when I try doing it like that I don't get the right answer. I have only been able to solve it by taking a bunch of derivatives
 
((-1)^n *((2x)^2n)/(2n!) and (-1^n)((x^2)^n) since our x is -x^2 in the 1/(1+x^2)
 
Ok so how would you know when to stop the a1 and then move onto the a2 and so on... and yes your allowed to multiply them
 
Last edited:
Punkyc7 said:
((-1)^n *((2x)^2n)/(2n!) and (-1^n)((x^2)^n) since our x is -x^2 in the 1/(1+x^2)

I suppose you mean that:

[tex]\cos(2x)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty \ (-1)^n\,\frac{(2x)^{2n}}{(2n)!}[/tex]

and

[tex]\frac{1}{1+x^2}=\sum_{n=0}^\infty \ (-1)^{n}\,x^{2n}[/tex]

Write out the first three terms for each and multiply. Of course group all the terms having the same power of x together.

[tex]\cos(2x)=1-2x^2+\frac{2x^4}{3}-\dots[/tex]

[tex]\frac{1}{1+x^2}=1-\frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{1}{x^4}-\dots[/tex]

Multiply them together.

What term(s) do you multiply, then sum, to get the constant term?

What term(s) do you multiply, then sum, to get the linear (x1) term? -Right, there is none.

What term(s) do you multiply, then sum, to get the squared (x2) term?
 
Thank you for your help it makes sense now