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Approximating Functions With Polynomials
 

The Taylor Series

 
 

Terms

 
Taylor's Formula  -  A formula expressing a function in terms of a polynomial approximation and an error (remainder) term. Explicitly, given a function f (x) and a real number a,


f (x) = f (a) + f'(a)(x - a) + ... + f(n-1)(a) + f(n)(t)dt  
  = pn-1(x) + rn(x)  

where pn-1(x) is a Taylor polynomial and rn(x) is the remainder term
 
Taylor Polynomial  -  The approximation of a function f (x) around a point x = a by a polynomial

pn(x) = f (a) + f'(a)(x - a) + f''(a)(x - a)2 + ... + f(n)(a)(x - a)n    

for some n≥ 0.
 
Taylor Series  -  Given a function f (x), the Taylor series about x = a is

(x - a)n    

The Taylor polynomials for f about a are the partial sums of this series.
 
Remainder Term  -  The difference between a Taylor polynomial and a function it approximates.
 
 
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