Using power series remainder term

In summary, the conversation discusses using the error formula to show that the absolute difference between the natural logarithm of 1.5 and the third order polynomial approximation of ln(1.5) is less than or equal to (0.5)^4/4. The formula for the approximation and the remainder term are also mentioned.
  • #1
morenogabr
29
0

Homework Statement


(For power series about x=1) Using the error formula, show that [tex]\left|ln(1.5)-p_{3}(1.5)\right|\leq\frac{(0.5)^{4}}{4} [/tex]

Homework Equations


[tex]p_{3}(x) = x-1 - \frac{(x-1)^{2}}{2} + \frac{(x-1)^{3}}{3}[/tex]
[tex]\\\epsilon_{n}(x)=\frac{f^{n+1}(\xi)}{(n+1)!}(x-x_{o})^{n+1}\\where \xi lies between x_{o} and x[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


Im sure this is an easy one, but I can't think of any useful relationship between the difference |f(x)-p_3(x)| and that piece of the remainder function... any hints?
(excuse my latex crappiness)
 
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  • #2
Isn't there supposed to be a sigma notation (for sum) on the left of the first term of the second equation (power series)?
 
  • #3
No, its a 3rd order polynomial that approximates the power series, and its written out term by term so sigma is uneeded. Oh, if you mean for the epsilon, its the remainder term used to measure accuracy of the approximation. Its a single term, so no sigma needed. I guess I should say something like n=3 (bc of p_3(x)) so epsi_4(x)...
 

FAQ: Using power series remainder term

What is a power series remainder term?

A power series remainder term is the error or difference between the actual value of a function and its approximation using a finite number of terms in a power series. It is a way to quantify the accuracy of the approximation.

Why is it important to use a power series remainder term?

Using a power series remainder term allows us to determine how accurate our approximation of a function is. It is especially important when using a truncated power series to approximate a function, as it gives us an idea of how many terms we need to include for a desired level of accuracy.

How is a power series remainder term calculated?

The power series remainder term is calculated using the Lagrange form of the remainder, which involves taking the (n+1)th derivative of the function and evaluating it at a point c between the center of the series and the value of x we are interested in. The remainder term is given by Rn(x) = f(n+1)(c)(x-a)n+1/(n+1)!, where n is the degree of the power series and a is the center of the series.

Can the power series remainder term be used for all functions?

No, the power series remainder term can only be used for functions that can be expressed as a power series, also known as analytic functions. These include polynomials, exponential and trigonometric functions, and their combinations. If a function is not analytic, the concept of a power series remainder term cannot be applied.

How can we use the power series remainder term to improve our approximation of a function?

By adjusting the number of terms used in the power series, we can improve our approximation of a function. If the remainder term is too large, we can add more terms to the series to decrease the error. On the other hand, if the remainder term is small, we can stop adding terms to the series to avoid unnecessary computations.

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