For #f(x)=x^-3#, #a=1#, and #2.5\lex\le3.5#, find the following?

a. #T_3(x)#
b. #R_3(x)# (remainder)

(The next one is optional)
c. What if the interval was #1\lex\le3#?

1 Answer
May 31, 2018

a) #T_3(x)=1-3(x-1)+6(x-1)^2-10(x-1)^3#
b) #R_3(x)<=0.9599#

Explanation:

a) The #nth# degree Taylor Polynomial of a function #f(x)# about #x=a# is defined as

#T_n(x)=f(a)+f'(a)(x-a)+f''(a)(x-a)^2/(2!) +f^((3))(a)(x-a)^3/(3!)+...+f^((n))(a)(x-a)^n/(n!)#

So, to find #T_3(x)# for #f(x)=x^-3# at #a=1,# we need the #f(1)# and the first three derivatives each evaluated at #1#.

#f(1)=1^-3=1#
#f'(x)=-3x^-4, f'(1)=-3#
#f''(x)=12x^-5, f''(1)=12#
#f^((3))(x)=-60x^-6, f^((3))(1)=-60#

Thus,

#T_3(x)=1-3(x-1)+12(x-1)^2/(2!)-60(x-1)^3/(3!)#

#T_3(x)=1-3(x-1)+12(x-1)^2/(2)-60(x-1)^3/(6)#

#T_3(x)=1-3(x-1)+6(x-1)^2-10(x-1)^3#

b) We can find #R_3(x)# using Taylor's Inequality, which tells us that

#|R_n(x)|<=C|x-a|^(n+1)/((n+1)!)#

Where #C# is the bounding value for the #(n+1)th# derivative on the interval #2.5<=x<=3.5# .

That is, #C>=|f^((n+1))(x)|# on #2.5<=x<=3.5#

We're looking to maximize #f^((n+1))(x)# on #2.5<=x<=3.5#.

Well, we have #n=3, n+1=4, f^((4))(x)=360x^-7#

#f^((4))(x)=360/x^7#

On #2.5<=x<=3.5, |360/x^7|=360/x^7# is maximized for #x=2.5,# which yields the smallest possible denominator on this interval and therefore the largest value overall.

So, #C=|f^((4))(2.5)|=360/(2.5)^7=0.589824#

Thus,

#|R_3(x)|<=C|x-1|^(3+1)/((3+1)!)#

#|R_3(x)|<=0.589824|x-1|^(4)/(4!)#

We know

#2.5<=x<=3.5#

So,

#2.5-1<=x-1<=3.5-1#

#1.5<=x-1<=2.5#

We see #|x-1|<=2.5#, so #|x-1|^4<=(2.5)^4=39.0625#

Then,

#|R_3(x)|<=0.589824*39.0625/(4!)=0.9599#

#R_3(x)<=0.9599#