Problems for
Intermediate Methods in Theoretical Physics

Edward F. Redish

Power series for trig functions

Calculate the coefficients of the Taylor series for the functions cos(θ) and tan(θ) through the order θ4. Be sure to show your work. Don't just give an answer!

Sketch graphs of each of the functions together with the approximations provided by the truncation of the power series you have obtained.

For what values of θ is an approximation of O(θ) good for these functions? an approximation of O(θ3)?

This page prepared by

Edward F. Redish
Department of Physics
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Phone: (301) 405-6120
Email: redish@umd.edu

Last revision 7. September, 2005.