Consider the function:
$$f(x) = \frac{3x^2 + 16}{(1-3x)(2+x)^2}$$
(a) Find the values of A and C and show that B = 0 - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 7 - 2006 - Paper 7
Question 7
Consider the function:
$$f(x) = \frac{3x^2 + 16}{(1-3x)(2+x)^2}$$
(a) Find the values of A and C and show that B = 0.
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the series ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Consider the function:
$$f(x) = \frac{3x^2 + 16}{(1-3x)(2+x)^2}$$
(a) Find the values of A and C and show that B = 0 - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 7 - 2006 - Paper 7
Step 1
Find the values of A and C and show that B = 0.
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Answer
To solve for the constants A, B, and C, we start by equating the expression: 3x2+16=A(2+x)2+B(1−3x)+C(1−3x)(2+x)2
Substituting specific values for x helps isolate the constants:
Letting x=0 gives:
16 = 4A + B + 4C$$
Next, let x=1/3:
3(\frac{1}{9}) + 16 = A(\frac{7}{3})^2 + 0 + C(0)\
16 + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{49}{9}A\
C = 4\
A = 3\
B = 0$$
Thus, we find that A = 3, C = 4, and show that B = 0.
Step 2
Hence, or otherwise, find the series expansion of f(x), in ascending powers of x, up to and including the term in x^2. Simplify each term.
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Answer
The function can be written as: f(x)=(1−3x)(2+x)2(3x2+16)
We can expand the denominator terms using Taylor series expansions. Let's first consider:
For (1−3x)−1, the series expansion is:
1+3x+9x2+…
For (2+x)−2, we expand using the derivative:
41(1−2x)−2=41(1+2x+43x2+…)
By multiplying these series together and collecting terms, we obtain the series expansion of f(x).
The simplified result for f(x) up to the x2 term is:
4+8x+2.5x2