Maclaurin series question

**Dr Zoidburg** · May 22nd 2008, 11:09 PM

Use the definition of the Maclaurin series to find the first four non-zero terms of the Maclurin series for:
$f(x) = xe^x + cosx$

Can I work out each part seperately and then add them?
And is
$xe^x = x + x^2 + 3x^3/3! + 4x^4/4!...$
$cosx = 1 - x^2/2 + x^4/4! - x^6/6!...$

If so then am I correct in saying the series would be:
$f(x) = 1 + x + x^2 + x^3/3 + 5x^4/4!...$

and if not, where have I screwed up?!

**Moo** · May 22nd 2008, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Dr Zoidburg

Use the definition of the Maclaurin series to find the first four non-zero terms of the Maclurin series for:
$f(x) = xe^x + cosx$

Can I work out each part seperately and then add them?
And is
$xe^x = x + x^2 + 3x^3/3! + 4x^4/4!...$
$cosx = 1 - x^2/2 + x^4/4! - x^6/6!...$

If so then am I correct in saying the series would be:
$f(x) = 1 + x + x^2 + {\color{red}x^3/3} + 5x^4/4!...$

and if not, where have I screwed up?!

Hey, $3x^3/3!=3x^3/6=x^3/2 \neq {\color{red}x^3/3}$

But yes, you can work out each part separately

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