Math 152: Worksheet 20

Taylor Polynomials

Learning Problems

These problems should be completed on your own. If you need hints on solving a problem, there are some provided with each problem. Click on the word "hint" to view it and again to hide it. They go in increasing order of helpfulness, with the last hint mostly giving away how to do the problem. Try to work from the earlier hints to the later ones, as this will give you the practice you need to succeed in this class.

Problem 1

Calculate the Taylor Polynomials $T_3(x)$ and $T_4(x)$ for the function $f(x) = \tan{x}$ centered at $\frac{\pi}{4}$.

Problem 2

Find the Taylor Polynomial $T_4(x)$ centered at $c=-2$ for the function $f(x) = e^x$.

Problem 3

Determine the maximum possible error is using $T_2\left(\frac{\pi}{12}\right)$ to approximate $\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{12}\right)$ where the Taylor Polynomial is centered at $c=0$. Evaluate both $T_2\left(\frac{\pi}{12}\right)$ and $\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{12}\right)$ and confirm that this meets the error bound.

Problem 4

How many terms of the Maclaurin Series for $f(x) = \ln(1+x)$ are needed to approximate the value of $\ln(1.2)$ to within $0.0001$?

Problem 5

Use $T_6(x)$ to approximate $\displaystyle \int_0^1 e^{-x^2}\ dx$.

Submission Problems

Problem 1

Find the Taylor Polynomial $T_5(x)$ for the function $\sqrt{x}$ centered at $a=9$.

Problem 2

Use the Error Bound to find a value $N$ for which the error in using $T_n(-0.1)$ to approximate $e^{-0.1}$ to within $10^{-9}$, where $T_n$ is the Taylor polynomial centered at $0$.