Question

help me please! pretty urgent..

Compute the Taylor series of ln(1-x) at a=2.

I've done some work and the answer I have right now is ln(-1) + (

Answer 1

\[\ln(-1) + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n+1}((x-2)^{n})/n\]

Answer 2

what I did was compute a general formula for the derivative of ln(1-x) at a=2 and plug that into the taylor series. however, ln(-1) doesn't make much sense.. thank you very much in advance!!

Answer 3

I am not sure if you're taylor series is right.

Answer 4

It shouldn't be alternating, the terms should all be negative

Answer 5

Yes, I know ln(1+x)
=> x - x^2/2 + x^3/3 - x^4/4

Answer 6

my general formula for the derivatives is \[\sum_{1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n+1}(n-1)!\] which I place over n! and multiply by (x-2)^n..

Answer 7

Replace all the x's with -x and you get -x -x^2/2 -x^3/3 -x^4/4

Answer 8

compute a general formula for the derivative of ln(1-x) <= what do you mean by this.

Answer 9

i took the first four derivatives and noticed a trend so that I can replace the "top part" of the taylor series, which is f^(n)(a) with some sort of general formula. in this case, i got that the first derivative of ln(1-x) with a=2 is equal to 1, and the second derivative of ln(1-x) with a=2 is equal to -1

Answer 10

and then the third derivative of ln(1-x) with a=2 is 2, and the fourth derivative of ln(1-x) with a=2 is -6. based off this, i noticed that it is alternating and equal to (n-1)!, so i put that back into the top of the taylor series sum

Answer 11

I think it would be \[\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} (-1)^k \frac{(-x)^{k+1}}{k+1}\] rather than what you have.

Answer 12

If I can do it for ln(1+x) its definetly \[\sum_{k=0}^{inftny} (-1)^k \frac{(x)^{k+1}}{k+1} \]

Answer 13

and then evaluated at a=2 we get.

Answer 14

i pi+(x-2)-1/2 (x-2)^2+1/3 (x-2)^3-1/4 (x-2)^4+1/5 (x-2)^5

Answer 15

ipi = ln(-1) just as you got.

Answer 16

The only thing you got messed up on was the negative term alternating, they are all negative.
sorry for writing so much i was trying to figure it out for myself.

Answer 17

i apologize for not regularly checking this, please wait as i read your replies!

Answer 18

my formula for ln(1-x) is wrong, i just evaluate at a=2 by hand. and that's what i got.

Answer 19

i'm confused as to why the terms are not alternating. when i plug in 2, i explicitly get negative numbers in an alternating fashion due to the alternating negative sign for the derivative

Answer 20

as in the first derivative of ln(1-x) being 1/(x-1), and the second derivative being -1/(x-1)^2 and etc..

Answer 21

wow. this was actually an assignment for class and i just received notice that there was a typo and that this is centered at a=-2 and not a=2..

i shall reattempt this problem.. thank you very much!!

Answer 22

well that should fix ln(-1)

Answer 23

haha, yeah. i will now reattempt the problem, which will be similar to ln(3). thank you very much!!

Answer 24

and they are alternating because
f^'(x) = -1/x-1 f''(x) = -1/(x-1)^2 f'''(x) = 2/(x-1)^3 but at a=-2, f''''(x) = -6/(x-1)^4.
All the odd terms will be negative because of -2, and even by design

Answer 25

but I just took the series for ln(1+x) and replaced it with -x, and found them to be alternating.

Answer 26

for ln(1-x) at a=-2, i got the formula..

\[\ln(3) + \sum_{1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n+1}(x+2)^n/3^nn\]

does this look correct?

Answer 27

I am still getting all terms negative.

Answer 28

I apologize, the 3^n on the bottom should be (-3)^n, this would multiply with the (-1)^n+1 so that the terms would always be negatie

Answer 29

in that case its correct.

Answer 30

is there a simpler way of stating that it would always be negative? or is this the best way of presenting the answer. also, thank you very much! i am definietly becoming a fan :)

Answer 31

You can run it on maple to be sure.

Answer 32

yea get rid of the n on top of (-1)

Answer 33

I'll run it for you one sec.

Answer 34

log(3)-(x+2)/3-1/18 (x+2)^2-1/81 (x+2)^3-1/324 (x+2)^4-(x+2)^5/1215-(x+2)^6/4374-(x+2)^7/15309-(x+2)^8/52488-(x+2)^9/177147-(x+2)^10

Answer 35

so it would be..
\[\ln(3) + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)(x+2)^n/(-3)^nn\]

Answer 36

without the (-3)

Answer 37

so simply (3)^n*n?

Answer 38

yes.

Answer 39

last confirm..
\[\ln(3) + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)(x+2)^n/3^nn\]

Answer 40

Yes =] you can take the negative out too if you want, by the linearity property of the sum.

Answer 41

as in make it ln(3) - sum?

Answer 42

yes

Answer 43

i think i am going braindead.. hahaha. okay!! thank you!!

Answer 44

is this calc ii or i

Answer 45

ii at ucb

Answer 46

what's ucb

Answer 47

berkeley?

Answer 48

yes

Answer 49

Awesome

Answer 50

once again, thank you very much! i think i shall call it a night.. or at least until i post another question here..

thank you!

Answer 51

np.