Module 1: Introduction to Numerical Analysis

Questions
Q1. Write down the linear (tangent line) approximation to y = e / at the
point x = 0, and sketch the graph of this function and the tangent line.
x 2

y = ex/2 , x = 0
Answer:
y= +1

Q2. Give the first 3 non-zero terms of the Taylor polynomial approximation to
sin x about the point x = 0.
Answer:
f(x) = sin(x) = x - + ...

Q3. Let N be the second last digit of your student number, so N = 3. Use the
Taylor polynomial of Q2 to give an approximation to sin N
Answer:
f(x) = sin(x) = x - + = 3 - + = 0.525
Q4. Using the remainder formula for the Taylor polynomial approximation, estimate
the error in your approximation to sin N.
Answer:
sin(3o) = 0.0523
Q5 Represent the numbers 387 and 25 as floating point numbers and illustrate the
calculation of 387+25, using rounding. What is the calculated sum?
Answer:
+.39 x 103
+.02 x 103
+.41 x 103
Calculated sum is 412