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Worked solution

Match trigonometric and exponential series

Let f(x)=asec⁡x+btan⁡xf(x)=a\sec x+b\tan x for real distinct positive constants a,ba,b.

(i) Show that f′(x)=f(x)tan⁡x+bf^\prime(x)=f(x)\tan x+b.

(ii) Hence find the first three nonzero Maclaurin terms in terms of a,ba,b.

(iii) These terms agree with the first three terms of e2xcos⁡xe^{\sqrt2 x}\cos x for small xx. Using MF27, find the exact values of a,ba,b.

[2022/RVHS/II/4(modified)]

CJC · Discussion · Question 11

Answer

f(x)=a+bx+(a/2)x2+O(x3)f(x)=a+bx+(a/2)x^2+O(x^3); a=1a=1, b=2b=\sqrt2.

(i) Factor the derivative

f′=asec⁡xtan⁡x+bsec⁡2x=asec⁡xtan⁡x+btan⁡2x+b=(asec⁡x+btan⁡x)tan⁡x+b=ftan⁡x+bf^\prime=a\sec x\tan x+b\sec^2x=a\sec x\tan x+b\tan^2x+b=(a\sec x+b\tan x)\tan x+b=f\tan x+b.

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(ii) Evaluate derivatives at zero

f′′=f′tan⁡x+fsec⁡2xf^{\prime\prime}=f^\prime\tan x+f\sec^2x. At zero, f(0)=af(0)=a, f′(0)=bf^\prime(0)=b, f′′(0)=af^{\prime\prime}(0)=a. Hence f(x)=a+bx+(a/2)x2+O(x3)f(x)=a+bx+(a/2)x^2+O(x^3).

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(iii) Match the correct exponential scale

e2xcos⁡x=(1+2x+(2x)2/2+O(x3))(1−x2/2+O(x4))=1+2x+x2/2+O(x3)e^{\sqrt2 x}\cos x=(1+\sqrt2 x+(\sqrt2 x)^2/2+O(x^3))(1-x^2/2+O(x^4))=1+\sqrt2 x+x^2/2+O(x^3). Comparing gives a=1a=1 and b=2b=\sqrt2, which are positive and distinct.

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Common mistakes

The exponential scale is √2, so its quadratic coefficient before multiplying by cosine is 1.

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