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Ch. 11 - Power Series
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBriggs 3rd EditionCh. 11 - Power SeriesProblem 11.3.61
Chapter 11, Problem 11.3.61

Working with binomial series Use properties of power series, substitution, and factoring to find the first four nonzero terms of the Maclaurin series for the following functions. Use the Maclaurin series


(1 + x)⁻² = 1 − 2x + 3x² − 4x³ + ⋯, for −1 < x < 1.


1/(3 + 4x)²

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Start with the given Maclaurin series for \((1 + x)^{-2}\): \[ (1 + x)^{-2} = 1 - 2x + 3x^{2} - 4x^{3} + \cdots \]
Rewrite the function \(\frac{1}{(3 + 4x)^2}\) in a form that resembles \((1 + u)^{-2}\). Factor out the constant from the denominator: \[ \frac{1}{(3 + 4x)^2} = \frac{1}{9(1 + \frac{4x}{3})^2} \]
Identify the substitution \(u = \frac{4x}{3}\) so that the function becomes: \[ \frac{1}{9} (1 + u)^{-2} \]
Use the known Maclaurin series for \((1 + u)^{-2}\) and substitute \(u = \frac{4x}{3}\) into the series: \[ (1 + u)^{-2} = 1 - 2u + 3u^{2} - 4u^{3} + \cdots \]
Multiply the entire series by \(\frac{1}{9}\) and expand the terms up to the \(x^{3}\) term to find the first four nonzero terms of the Maclaurin series for \(\frac{1}{(3 + 4x)^2}\).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Maclaurin Series

A Maclaurin series is a special case of the Taylor series expanded at x = 0. It represents a function as an infinite sum of terms involving powers of x and derivatives evaluated at zero. Understanding this allows approximation of functions near zero using polynomials.
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Convergence of Taylor & Maclaurin Series

Power Series Substitution and Manipulation

Power series substitution involves replacing the variable in a known series with an expression to find a new series expansion. Factoring and algebraic manipulation help rewrite functions into forms compatible with known series, enabling term-by-term expansion.
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Intro to Power Series

Binomial Series Expansion

The binomial series generalizes the expansion of expressions like (1 + x)^n for any real exponent n. It provides coefficients for each term in the series, which is essential for expanding functions like (1 + x)^{-2} and related forms within their radius of convergence.
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Geometric Series
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Combining power series Use the geometric series


f(x) = 1/(1-x) = ∑ₖ₌₀∞ xᵏ, for |x| < 1,


to find the power series representation for the following functions (centered at 0). Give the interval of convergence of the new series.


f(x³) = 1/(1 − x³)

Textbook Question

Suppose you use a second-order Taylor polynomial centered at 0 to approximate a function f. What matching conditions are satisfied by the polynomial?

Textbook Question

Radius and interval of convergence Determine the radius and interval of convergence of the following power series.


∑ₖ₌₁∞ ((−1)ᵏ⁺¹(x−1)ᵏ)/k

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Textbook Question

Tangent line is p₁ Let f be differentiable at x=a


a. Find the equation of the line tangent to the curve y=f(x) at (a, f(a)).


b. Verify that the Taylor polynomial p_1 centered at a describes the tangent line found in part (a).

Textbook Question

Approximating real numbers Use an appropriate Taylor series to find the first four nonzero terms of an infinite series that is equal to the following numbers.

tan ⁻¹ (1/2)

Textbook Question

Approximating definite integrals Use a Taylor series to approximate the following definite integrals. Retain as many terms as needed to ensure the error is less than 10⁻⁴.∫₀⁰ᐧ²⁵ e⁻ˣ² dx

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