juantheron said:If [tex]\mathbf{p(x) = 2009-2008x^{100}+2007x^{99}-2006x^{98}+.....+1909x}[/tex]
Then Calculate [tex]\mathbf{p(2008)}[/tex]
Homework Statement
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
stevenb said:Are you trying to do it exactly via algebra/arithmetic, or approximately with a computer program?
You can do this out in a straightforward way exactly if you use the summation (Sigma) notation. I've attached a scan of a sketched out way to approach the solution. Note that I did this very quickly and so I expect some mistakes there. However, you should be able to pick up on the method.
juantheron said:thanks stevenb
stevenb said:Note that one could work out a general formula in terms of x rather that the one value of x=2008, by following the exact same procedure.
stevenb said:You are welcome.
I hate to leave an answer that I know is wrong, even if my intent was to give the method more than the correct answer. Tonight I was bored, so thought I would take the time to work this out correctly, just for the record, in case anyone comes across this thread in the future.
I attached the correct way to work it out exactly. I know this is correct because I took step #1 and step #10 and fed them into Maxima to make sure they agree. Of course, the answer is hundreds of digits long once expanded out, but both answers agree to the last digit.
Note that one could work out a general formula in terms of x rather that the one value of x=2008, by following the exact same procedure.
stevenb said:Are you trying to do it exactly via algebra/arithmetic, or approximately with a computer program?
You can do this out in a straightforward way exactly if you use the summation (Sigma) notation. I've attached a scan of a sketched out way to approach the solution. Note that I did this very quickly and so I expect some mistakes there. However, you should be able to pick up on the method.
Ray Vickson said:Just as a matter of interest: how do you post an attachment to this forum? I see no tabs or buttons or menu items that look like "attach" commands.
RGV
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