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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the -degree Maclaurin polynomial for the function ?
A
B
C
D
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Recall the formula for the Maclaurin series expansion of a function f(x). It is given by: f(x) = f(0) + f'(0)x + f''(0)x^2/2! + f'''(0)x^3/3! + f''''(0)x^4/4! + f'''''(0)x^5/5! + ...
Step 2: Identify the function f(x) = e^{-x}. The derivatives of e^{-x} alternate between e^{-x} and -e^{-x}, depending on the order of differentiation.
Step 3: Evaluate the derivatives at x = 0. For example, f(0) = e^0 = 1, f'(0) = -e^0 = -1, f''(0) = e^0 = 1, f'''(0) = -e^0 = -1, and so on.
Step 4: Substitute these values into the Maclaurin series formula. For the 5th-degree polynomial, include terms up to x^5/5!. This results in: f(x) ≈ 1 - x + x^2/2! - x^3/3! + x^4/4! - x^5/5!.
Step 5: Simplify the factorials in the denominators (e.g., 2! = 2, 3! = 6, 4! = 24, 5! = 120) to write the polynomial explicitly as: 1 - x + x^2/2 - x^3/6 + x^4/24 - x^5/120.