What is a Maclaurin series?
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What is a Maclaurin series?
A Maclaurin series is a way of representing a function as an infinite sum of increasing integer powers of x.
E.g.
What is a truncated Maclaurin series?
A truncated Maclaurin series is a Maclaurin series that is shortened by stopping at a particular power of x. This provides an approximation of the original function.
True or False?
A truncated Maclaurin series is always exactly equal to the original function for and .
False.
A truncated Maclaurin series is always exactly equal to the original function for .
What is the general Maclaurin series formula?
The general Maclaurin series formula is .
This is in the exam formula booklet.
What is the Maclaurin series expansion for ?
The Maclaurin series expansion for is .
This is in the exam formula booklet.
What is the Maclaurin series expansion for ?
The Maclaurin series expansion for is .
This is in the exam formula booklet.
What is the Maclaurin series expansion for ?
The Maclaurin series expansion for is .
This is in the exam formula booklet.
What is the Maclaurin series expansion for ?
The Maclaurin series expansion for is .
This is in the exam formula booklet.
What is the Maclaurin series expansion for ?
The Maclaurin series expansion for is .
This is in the exam formula booklet.
How do you find the Maclaurin series for a product of two functions?
To find the Maclaurin series for a product of two functions:
start with the Maclaurin series for the individual functions,
put brackets around each series and multiply them together,
then collect terms and simplify coefficients.
How many terms to use for each Maclaurin series will depend on the highest power of x that you need in your final answer.
How do you find the Maclaurin series for a composite function?
To find the Maclaurin series for a composite function:
start with the Maclaurin series for the basic 'outside function',
substitute the 'inside function' everywhere x appears,
then expand and simplify.
How can you use a function's Maclaurin series to find the Maclaurin series of the functions' derivative?
The Maclaurin series of a function's derivative can be found by differentiating the Maclaurin series of the original function term by term.
True or False?
Integrating the Maclaurin series for a derivative gives the Maclaurin series for the function without any additional considerations being required.
False.
Integrating the Maclaurin series for a derivative gives the Maclaurin series for the function , but you must also consider the constant of integration.
What is the connection between Maclaurin series expansions and binomial theorem series expansions?
For a function like , the binomial theorem series expansion is exactly the same as the Maclaurin series expansion for the same function.
If you have a differential equation in the form , what other piece of information do you need to know in order to find the Maclaurin series of the solution to the equation?
If you have a differential equation in the form , in order to find the Maclaurin series of the solution to the equation you also need to know (i.e., the value of when is equal to 0).
How many derivatives do you need to find when solving a differential equation using Maclaurin series?
The number of derivatives you need to find when solving a differential equation using Maclaurin series depends on how many terms of the Maclaurin series you want to find.
For example, for terms up to , you need to find derivatives up to .
(Note: only the complete infinitely-long series gives the exact solution to the differential equation.)
What are the steps for finding the Maclaurin series for the solution to a differential equation?
The steps for finding the Maclaurin series for the solution to a differential equation are:
Use implicit differentiation to find expressions for , etc., in terms of and lower-order derivatives of .
Use the given initial value for to find the values of , etc., one by one.
Put the values found in step 2 into the general Maclaurin series formula (where , , etc.)
Simplify the coefficients for each of the powers of in the resultant Maclaurin series.
The general Maclaurin series formula is in the exam formula booklet.
True or False?
A Maclaurin series solution to a differential equation can be used to find approximations of the solution for different values of , even if the exact solution cannot be found explicitly.
True.
A Maclaurin series solution to a differential equation can be used to find approximations of the solution for different values of , even if the exact solution cannot be found explicitly.
True or False?
The Maclaurin series solution to a differential equation always gives you the explicit function of x that corresponds to the solution.
False.
The Maclaurin series solution to a differential equation does not necessarily give you the explicit function of x that corresponds to the solution.
What it does give you is the exact Maclaurin series of that solution.
How can you increase the accuracy of the Maclaurin series approximation for a differential equation solution?
You can increase the accuracy of the Maclaurin series approximation for a differential equation solution by calculating additional terms of the Maclaurin series for higher powers of x.