- #1
KateyLou
- 17
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Homework Statement
Taking e to be small, we have been given these two formulas to prove
m1 = [tex]\frac{-1+\sqrt{1-4e}}{2e}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{-1+(1-2e+O(e^2))}{2e}[/tex] = -1+ O(e)
m2= [tex]\frac{-1-\sqrt{1-4e}}{2e}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{-1-(1-2e+O(e^2))}{2e}[/tex] = -1+ O(1)
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Firstly, the second stage in each of these? I am assuming what they have done is say that
(1 - 4e) = (1 - 2e + O(e2))2
If you do this manually you get
(1 - 2e - O(e2) - 2e + 4e2 + O(e3) + O(e2) - O(e3) + O(e4))
Is this right - I am assuming O(e^2) means "some term of the order e^2
This simplifies to
(1 - 4e + O(e2) + O(e3) + O(e4)
And as e is little the O(e2) can be neglected...however if this is the case then when both including O(e2) at all??
Secondly (sorry)
breaking down the first equation is ok:
= -1/2e +1/2e - 2e/2e + O(e2)/2e
= -1 + O(e)
however breaking down the second equation
= -1/2e -1/2e +2e/2e - O(e2)/2e
= -1/e + 1 - O(e)
Our tutor said that 1 - O(e) is the same as O(1) becuase O(e) is small; but if this is so, why doesn't the first equation become -1?