# Taylor expansions in two variables

1. Mar 17, 2012

### mimsy57

1. Problem: if f(1,3)=7, use Taylor expansion to describe f(1.2,3.1) and f(.9,2.8) if the partials of f are give by

df/dx=.2
d^2f/dx^2=.6
df/dy=.4
d^2f/dy^2=.9

(you do not need to go beyond the second derivative for this problem)

2. I know from class how to do this if one variable changes. I thought I knew how to do it with 2, but I am getting the wrong answer.

if I wanted to do f(1.2,3) I would do f(1,3)+df/dx*(.2)+d2f/dx2*(.2)^2=7+(.2)*(.2)+(.2)^2/2*(.6).

so I thought if I wanted to do both, I would expand in both variables:

f(1.2,3.1) ~ f(1,3)+df/dx*(.2)+d2f/dx2*(.2)^2+df/dy*(.1)+d2f/dy2*(.1)^2

Why is this coming out to be the wrong answer?

2. Mar 17, 2012

### Dick

Perhaps you are missing some factorials?

3. Mar 17, 2012

### HallsofIvy

If f(x, y) is a function of the two variables, x and y, then its Taylor series, about x= a, y= b, is
$$f(a,b)+ f_x(a,b)(x- a)+ f_y(a,b)(y- b)+ (f_{xx}(a,b)/2!)(x- a)^2+ (f_{xy}(a,b)/2!)(x- a)(y- b)+ (f_{yy}(a,b)/2!)(y- b)^2+ (f_{xxx}(a,b)/3!)(x- a)^3+ (f_{xxy}(a,b)/3!)(x- a)^2(y- b)+ (f_{xyy}(a,b)/3!)(x-a)(y-b)^2+ (f_{yyy}(a,b)/3!)(y- b)^2+ \cdot\cdot\cdot$$
Get the idea?