Description

1.1        Calculus, Taylor series

Consider the function.

1. Compute lim_x→0 f(x) using l’Hˆopital’s rule.
2. Use Taylor’s remainder theorem to get the same result:
   • Write down P₁(x), the first-order Taylor polynomial for sin(x) centered at a = 0.
   • Write down a good upper bound on the absolute value of the remainder R₁(x) = sin(x)− P₁(x), using your knowledge about the derivatives of sin(x). The goal here is to show that R₁(x)/x is negligible.
   • Express, and compute the limits of the two terms as x → 0. 2 Asymptotic notation

Recall the definitions of the asymptotic notations. We will say that f(x) has “order of growth x^α as x → x₀” (where x₀ is either some fixed real number or ±∞) if f(x) = Θ(x^α) as x → x₀.

1. Consider the functions f(x) = xsinx and g(x) = x. Is f(x) = Θ(g(x)) as x → ∞? Why or why not? (Hint: As always, you should refer back carefully to the definition of Θ(·).)
2. Suppose that we know that f(x) = x + Θ(x²) and g(x) = Θ(x) > 0 as x → 0. Determine the order of growth of f(x) + g(x).

(This problem is meant to get you comfortable with manipulating asymptotic notation when it appears in expressions. When I say something like “f(x) = x + Θ(x²)”, this means that there is some function h(x) = Θ(x²), and f(x) = x+h(x). That is, the fact that h(x) = Θ(x²) is the only thing you know about h(x).)

3. Suppose that we know that f(x) = e^Θ(x) as x → ∞. Does this imply that f(x) = Θ(e^x)? (Hint: Think carefully about the definition of Θ(·), and consider f(x) = e^2x.)

1-1

1-2                                                  Homework 01: ICSI 401 – Numerical Methods

1.3        Relative versus absolute error

1. Suppose that you are approximating a function g(n) by some function f(n). Suppose, further, that you know that the absolute error in approximating g(n) by f(n) satisfies |f(n)−g(n)| = o(1) as n → ∞ (that is, lim_n→∞ |f(n) − g(n)| = 0). Is it true that the relative error also decays to 0? If not, come up with functions f(n) and g(n) for which this is not true. (Hint: Come up with some g(n) and f(n) satisfying g(n) = o(1) and f(n)/g(n) = Θ(1).)

1.4         Matlab warmup/Gentle linear algebra review

1. Complete G&C Chapter 2, Exercise 2.
2. Complete G&C Chapter 2, Exercise 3.