British Universities Film & Video Council

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Taylor Polynomials

Synopsis
How can you work out Sin 0.5? Using computer graphics, shows just how successive Taylor polynomials for Sin x provide better and better approximations. These computer graphics lead to a comparison of the range of accuracy for a family of Taylor polynomials. Recaps the technique of evaluating function derivatives at x=o to determine the Taylor polynomials. You can also think of all Taylor polynomials as made up from a standard set of ingredients 1,x,x squared over 2!, x cubed over 3!, ... and so on. The precise mix for any function would be determined by the value of its derivatives at the origin. This is depicted using a ‘function synthesising machine’ which shows the effect of adding each ingredient a little at a time until the right ‘mix’ is found.
Series
Mathematics: A Foundation Course, Course M101
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 25 min.
Year of production
1978
Availability
OUT OF DISTRIBUTION
Subjects
Mathematics
Keywords
polynomials

Credits

Producer
John Jaworski; John Richmond

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web
http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window
Phone
+44 (0) 1908 274066
Address
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Notes
NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk

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