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Taylor and Maclaurin (Power) Series Calculator

Find Taylor/Maclaurin series step by step

The calculator will find the Taylor (or power) series expansion of the given function around the given point, with steps shown. You can specify the order of the Taylor polynomial. If you want the Maclaurin polynomial, just set the point to $$$0$$$.

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Enter a point:

For Maclaurin series, set the point to `0`.

Order `n=`

Evaluate the series and find the error at the point

The point is optional.

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Solution

Your input: calculate the Taylor (Maclaurin) series of $$$x^{4} - 6 x^{2}$$$ up to $$$n=5$$$

A Maclaurin series is given by $$$f\left(x\right)=\sum\limits_{k=0}^{\infty}\frac{f^{(k)}\left(a\right)}{k!}x^k$$$

In our case, $$$f\left(x\right) \approx P\left(x\right) = \sum\limits_{k=0}^{n}\frac{f^{(k)}\left(a\right)}{k!}x^k=\sum\limits_{k=0}^{5}\frac{f^{(k)}\left(a\right)}{k!}x^k$$$

So, what we need to do to get the desired polynomial is to calculate the derivatives, evaluate them at the given point, and plug the results into the given formula.

$$$f^{(0)}\left(x\right)=f\left(x\right)=x^{4} - 6 x^{2}$$$

Evaluate the function at the point: $$$f\left(0\right)=0$$$

  1. Find the 1st derivative: $$$f^{(1)}\left(x\right)=\left(f^{(0)}\left(x\right)\right)^{\prime}=\left(x^{4} - 6 x^{2}\right)^{\prime}=4 x \left(x^{2} - 3\right)$$$ (steps can be seen here).

    Evaluate the 1st derivative at the given point: $$$\left(f\left(0\right)\right)^{\prime }=0$$$

  2. Find the 2nd derivative: $$$f^{(2)}\left(x\right)=\left(f^{(1)}\left(x\right)\right)^{\prime}=\left(4 x \left(x^{2} - 3\right)\right)^{\prime}=12 x^{2} - 12$$$ (steps can be seen here).

    Evaluate the 2nd derivative at the given point: $$$\left(f\left(0\right)\right)^{\prime \prime }=-12$$$

  3. Find the 3rd derivative: $$$f^{(3)}\left(x\right)=\left(f^{(2)}\left(x\right)\right)^{\prime}=\left(12 x^{2} - 12\right)^{\prime}=24 x$$$ (steps can be seen here).

    Evaluate the 3rd derivative at the given point: $$$\left(f\left(0\right)\right)^{\prime \prime \prime }=0$$$

  4. Find the 4th derivative: $$$f^{(4)}\left(x\right)=\left(f^{(3)}\left(x\right)\right)^{\prime}=\left(24 x\right)^{\prime}=24$$$ (steps can be seen here).

    Evaluate the 4th derivative at the given point: $$$\left(f\left(0\right)\right)^{\prime \prime \prime \prime }=24$$$

  5. Find the 5th derivative: $$$f^{(5)}\left(x\right)=\left(f^{(4)}\left(x\right)\right)^{\prime}=\left(24\right)^{\prime}=0$$$ (steps can be seen here).

    Evaluate the 5th derivative at the given point: $$$\left(f\left(0\right)\right)^{\left(5\right)}=0$$$

Now, use the calculated values to get a polynomial:

$$$f\left(x\right)\approx\frac{0}{0!}x^{0}+\frac{0}{1!}x^{1}+\frac{-12}{2!}x^{2}+\frac{0}{3!}x^{3}+\frac{24}{4!}x^{4}+\frac{0}{5!}x^{5}$$$

Finally, after simplifying we get the final answer:

$$$f\left(x\right)\approx P\left(x\right) = -6x^{2}+x^{4}$$$

Answer: the Taylor (Maclaurin) series of $$$x^{4} - 6 x^{2}$$$ up to $$$n=5$$$ is $$$x^{4} - 6 x^{2}\approx P\left(x\right)=-6x^{2}+x^{4}$$$

Related Notes: Taylor Polynomial , Maclaurin Polynomials of Common Functions