# Some math met in EM hw solution

1. Sep 23, 2007

### tigigi

I got this :

1 - z / (R^2 + Z^2) ^1/2 = 1- (1+ (R/Z)^2) ^-1/2
= 1 - 1 + (1/2) ( R/Z )^2

I'm confused why it got all these steps. it seems like taylor expansion ? or ?

Thank you.

2. Sep 23, 2007

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
First, it is confusing to me that you are using both Z and z. Are they the same thing?

I can't speak for WHY they are doing this but how they do the first line is evident: Divide both numerator and denominator of the second term by "z". In the numerator you get z/z= 1, in the denominator the "z" becomes "z2" inside the square root: $\sqrt{R^2/z^2+ z^2/z^2}= \sqrt{1+ (R/z)^2}$. That is NOT exactly equal to the last line. The last line is an approximation. Yes, you could think of it as a 2nd[/b] degree Taylor polynomial approximation. You could also think of it as a special case of the binomial theorem- extended to fractional powers. Just as (1+ x)n= 1+ nx to first degree, $(1+ (R/z)^2)^(-1/2)$ is $1+ (-1/2)(R/z)$. Of course, now the "1" and "-1" will cancel. To second degree, 1- z/(R2+ z2)-1/2= (1/2)(R/z)2. I assume the next step will involve a limit as R goes to 0 or z goes to infinity or at least that (R/z) is small to make the approximation as accurate as possible.

3. Sep 23, 2007

### tigigi

Thank you so much. I got it now.
btw, could I ask another question that how do you get those words in white block like that ? Thank you. I appreciate it.