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Lv 5
? asked in Science & MathematicsMathematics · 8 years ago

Evaluating a limit using Taylor series?

Use Taylor series to evaluate the limit:

lim(x->0) (x-arctanx)/(x^3)

I keep getting infinity, but I don't think that's correct. Please explain how to find the limit! :)

1 Answer

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  • kb
    Lv 7
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Series for arctan x:

    Since 1/(1 - t) = 1 + t + t^2 + ..., letting t = -x^2 yields

    1/(1 + x^2) = 1 - x^2 + x^4 - ... .

    Integrate both sides from 0 to x:

    arctan x = x - x^3/3 + x^5/5 - ...

    -----------------------------

    Therefore,

    lim(x→0) [x - arctan(x)] / x^3

    = lim(x→0) [x - (x - x^3/3 + x^5/5 - ...)] / x^3

    = lim(x→0) (x^3/3 - x^5/5 + ...) / x^3

    = lim(x→0) x^3 (1/3 - x^2/5 + ...) / x^3

    = lim(x→0) (1/3 - x^2/5 + ...)

    = 1/3.

    I hope this helps!

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