Student Resources
Lab 10: Taylor series - part 1
Function 1
Lab Preparation: Answer the following questions individually and bring your write-up to class.
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Find the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for \(f(x) = \frac{1}{1 + x}\) centered at \(a = 2\).
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Plot the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 together with \(f\) and describe what you see. Use a scale that clearly illustrates the convergence of the series to \(f\).
Lab: Work with your group on the problem assigned to you. We encourage you to collaborate both in and out of class, but you must write up your responses individually
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Find a formula for the full Taylor series for \(f(x) = \frac{1}{1 + x}\) centered at \(a = 2\).
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Use the ratio test to compute the radius of convergence for your Taylor series. Speculate on why it diverges beyond this radius.
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Carefully redraw your graph so that
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The interval of convergence fills the entire width of the page
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The graphs of the six Taylor polynomials cover most (but not quite all) of the vertical space on the page.
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- Plot points from the following sequences on your graph until they are within 0.1 of the exact values for the function \(f\). Plot each sequence above the corresponding \(x\)-value as if on a vertical number line. Label each point with its \(n\)-value.
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Pick two of the approximation points from the sequence \(P_n(-0.6)\) on your graph and illustrate the error graphically. What is an algebraic representation of these errors? What is an algebraic representation of the error for any Taylor series approximation?
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Using your graph, explain in detail what it means for the Taylor series of a function to converge to that function.
Function 2
Lab Preparation: Answer the following questions individually and bring your write-up to class.
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Find the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for \(g(x) = \ln(x)\) centered at \(a = 2\).
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Plot the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 together with \(g\) and describe what you see. Use a scale that clearly illustrates the convergence of the series to \(g\).
Lab: Work with your group on the problem assigned to you. We encourage you to collaborate both in and out of class, but you must write up your responses individually
-
Find a formula for the full Taylor series for \(g(x) = \ln(x)\) centered at \(a = 2\).
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Use the ratio test to compute the radius of convergence for your Taylor series. Speculate on why it diverges beyond this radius.
-
Carefully redraw your graph so that
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The interval of convergence fills the entire width of the page
-
The graphs of the six Taylor polynomials cover most (but not quite all) of the vertical space on the page.
-
- Plot points from the following sequences on your graph until they are within 0.1 of the exact values for the function \(g\). Plot each sequence above the corresponding \(x\)-value as if on a vertical number line. Label each point with its \(n\)-value.
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Pick two of the approximation points from the sequence \(P_n(0.1)\) on your graph and illustrate the error graphically. What is an algebraic representation of these errors? What is an algebraic representation of the error for any Taylor series approximation?
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Using your graph, explain in detail what it means for the Taylor series of a function to converge to that function.
Function 3
Lab Preparation: Answer the following questions individually and bring your write-up to class.
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Find the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for \(h(x) = e^{-x})\) centered at \(a = -3\).
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Plot the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 together with \(h\) and describe what you see. Use a scale that clearly illustrates the convergence of the series to \(h\).
Lab: Work with your group on the problem assigned to you. We encourage you to collaborate both in and out of class, but you must write up your responses individually
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Find a formula for the full Taylor series for \(h(x) = e^{-x}\) centered at \(a = -3\).
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Use the ratio test to compute the radius of convergence for your Taylor series. Speculate on why it diverges beyond this radius.
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Carefully redraw your graph with \(-6 < x < 6\) and \(-100 < y < 200\).
- Plot points from the following sequences on your graph until they are within 0.1 of the exact values for the function \(h\). Plot each sequence above the corresponding \(x\)-value as if on a vertical number line. Label each point with its \(n\)-value.
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Pick two of the approximation points from the sequence \(P_n(-5)\) on your graph and illustrate the error graphically. What is an algebraic representation of these errors? What is an algebraic representation of the error for any Taylor series approximation?
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Using your graph, explain in detail what it means for the Taylor series of a function to converge to that function.
Function 4
Lab Preparation: Answer the following questions individually and bring your write-up to class.
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Find the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for \(r(x) = 3\sin\left(\frac{\pi x}{5} \right) \) centered at \(a = 5\).
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Plot the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 together with \(r\) and describe what you see. Use a scale that clearly illustrates the convergence of the series to \(r\).
Lab: Work with your group on the problem assigned to you. We encourage you to collaborate both in and out of class, but you must write up your responses individually
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Find a formula for the full Taylor series for \(r(x) = 3\sin\left(\frac{\pi x}{5} \right)\) centered at \(a = 5\).
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Use the ratio test to compute the radius of convergence for your Taylor series. Speculate on why it diverges beyond this radius.
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Carefully redraw your graph with \(0 < x < 20\) and \(-10 < y < 10\).
- Plot points from the following sequences on your graph until they are within 0.1 of the exact values for the function \(r\). Plot each sequence above the corresponding \(x\)-value as if on a vertical number line. Label each point with its \(n\)-value.
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Pick two of the approximation points from the sequence \(P_n(19)\) on your graph and illustrate the error graphically. What is an algebraic representation of these errors? What is an algebraic representation of the error for any Taylor series approximation?
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Using your graph, explain in detail what it means for the Taylor series of a function to converge to that function.
Function 5
Lab Preparation: Answer the following questions individually and bring your write-up to class.
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Find the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for \(q(x) = (1 + 2x)^{-2}\) centered at \(a = 0\).
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Plot the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 together with \(q\) and describe what you see. Use a scale that clearly illustrates the convergence of the series to \(q\).
Lab: Work with your group on the problem assigned to you. We encourage you to collaborate both in and out of class, but you must write up your responses individually
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Find a formula for the full Taylor series for \(q(x) = (1 + 2x)^{-2}\) centered at \(a = 0\).
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Use the ratio test to compute the radius of convergence for your Taylor series. Speculate on why it diverges beyond this radius.
-
Carefully redraw your graph so that
-
The interval of convergence fills the entire width of the page
-
The graphs of the six Taylor polynomials cover most (but not quite all) of the vertical space on the page.
-
- Plot points from the following sequences on your graph until they are within 0.1 of the exact values for the function \(q\). Plot each sequence above the corresponding \(x\)-value as if on a vertical number line. Label each point with its \(n\)-value.
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Pick two of the approximation points from the sequence \(P_n(-0.4)\) on your graph and illustrate the error graphically. What is an algebraic representation of these errors? What is an algebraic representation of the error for any Taylor series approximation?
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Using your graph, explain in detail what it means for the Taylor series of a function to converge to that function.
Function 6
Lab Preparation: Answer the following questions individually and bring your write-up to class.
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Find the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for \(s(x) = \cos(2x)\) centered at \(a = \frac{\pi}{2}\).
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Plot the Taylor polynomials of orders 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 together with \(s\) and describe what you see. Use a scale that clearly illustrates the convergence of the series to \(s\).
Lab: Work with your group on the problem assigned to you. We encourage you to collaborate both in and out of class, but you must write up your responses individually
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Find a formula for the full Taylor series for \(s(x) = \cos(2x)\) centered at \(a = \frac{\pi}{2}\).
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Use the ratio test to compute the radius of convergence for your Taylor series. Speculate on why it diverges beyond this radius.
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Carefully redraw your graph with \(-\pi < x < 4\pi\) and \(-5 < y < 5\)
- Plot points from the following sequences on your graph until they are within 0.1 of the exact values for the function \(r\). Plot each sequence above the corresponding \(x\)-value as if on a vertical number line. Label each point with its \(n\)-value.
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Pick two of the approximation points from the sequence \(P_n(\pi)\) on your graph and illustrate the error graphically. What is an algebraic representation of these errors? What is an algebraic representation of the error for any Taylor series approximation?
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Using your graph, explain in detail what it means for the Taylor series of a function to converge to that function.