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Multiple Choice
Find the Maclaurin polynomials of order , and for
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Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Recall that the Maclaurin series is a special case of the Taylor series centered at x = 0. The general formula for the nth Maclaurin polynomial is given by: \( p_n(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \frac{f^{(k)}(0)}{k!}x^k \), where \( f^{(k)}(0) \) represents the kth derivative of \( f(x) \) evaluated at x = 0.
Step 2: Start by calculating the derivatives of \( f(x) = \sin(x) \). The first few derivatives are: \( f'(x) = \cos(x) \), \( f''(x) = -\sin(x) \), \( f'''(x) = -\cos(x) \), and \( f^{(4)}(x) = \sin(x) \). Notice the derivatives repeat in a cycle every four terms.
Step 3: Evaluate each derivative at x = 0. For \( f(x) = \sin(x) \), \( f(0) = 0 \). For \( f'(x) = \cos(x) \), \( f'(0) = 1 \). For \( f''(x) = -\sin(x) \), \( f''(0) = 0 \). For \( f'''(x) = -\cos(x) \), \( f'''(0) = -1 \). For \( f^{(4)}(x) = \sin(x) \), \( f^{(4)}(0) = 0 \).
Step 4: Use the formula for the Maclaurin polynomial to construct the polynomials of various orders. For order 0, \( p_0(x) = f(0) = 0 \). For order 1, \( p_1(x) = f(0) + f'(0)x = x \). For order 2, \( p_2(x) = f(0) + f'(0)x + \frac{f''(0)}{2!}x^2 = x \). For order 3, \( p_3(x) = f(0) + f'(0)x + \frac{f''(0)}{2!}x^2 + \frac{f'''(0)}{3!}x^3 = x - \frac{1}{6}x^3 \).
Step 5: Verify the results for each polynomial by substituting the derivatives and simplifying. The Maclaurin polynomials for \( f(x) = \sin(x) \) are: \( p_0(x) = 0 \), \( p_1(x) = x \), \( p_2(x) = x \), \( p_3(x) = x - \frac{1}{6}x^3 \).