Maclaurin Series Expansion of 5ln(7-x)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around representing the function 5ln(7-x) as a Maclaurin series. Participants are exploring the coefficients of the series and the application of derivatives in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to calculate the coefficients C_0, C_1, C_2, and C_3 of the Maclaurin series. There is a question regarding the application of the chain rule and the correct method for finding the coefficients through derivatives.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided hints regarding the use of derivatives to find the coefficients, while others are questioning the correctness of their calculations and the method of deriving the coefficients. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationship between the function and its derivatives.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of deriving a power series expansion and are referencing textbook definitions for Taylor series coefficients, which may not be fully clear to all involved.

beanryu
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Represent the function 5ln(7-x) as a power series, i.e., Maclaurin series,

C_0=
C_1=
C_2=
C_3=
C_4=

i got C_0 = 5 ln (7-0)

and i think C_1 = 5/(7-1)

but its wrong

the textbook says that C_1 will be the derivative of C_0

anyway... please give me some hint
 
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You forgot to apply the chain rule.
 
okay thanx

i got C_2 = -(5/7)

but how come C_3 is not -5/49

I think you just keep taking the derivative of the previous and set x = 0

am I wrong?
 
beanryu said:
I think you just keep taking the derivative of the previous and set x = 0
Ehm, no, that's not the expression for the n-th coefficient of a Taylor series. (which should be in your book).

But you can find out. If f function is written as:
[tex]f(x)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty c_n (x-a)^n[/tex]
what is [itex]c_n[/itex] in terms of f and/or its derivatives? (Assume you can interchange differentiation and summation).
 

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