AP® CALCULUS BC

2012 SCORING GUIDELINES

Question 6

The function g has derivatives of all orders, and the Maclaurin series for g is
∞ 2 n +1 3
x5
 ( −1)n x x x
= − + − .
n=0
2 n + 3 3 5 7

(a) Using the ratio test, determine the interval of convergence of the Maclaurin series for g.
1
(b) The Maclaurin series for g evaluated at x = is an alternating series whose terms decrease in absolute
2
value to 0. The approximation for g
1
2 ()
using the first two nonzero terms of this series is
17
120
. Show that

this approximation differs from g

1
2
by less than
1
200().

(c) Write the first three nonzero terms and the general term of the Maclaurin series for g ′( x ) .

(a)
x 2 n + 3 2n + 3
⋅
2n + 5 x 2 n +1
=
2n + 3
2n + 5
⋅ x2 ( )  1 : sets up ratio
 1 : computes limit of ratio

 1 : identifies interior of
lim
n →∞ ( 22nn ++ 53 ) ⋅ x 2
= x2 5: 
 interval of convergence
 1 : considers both endpoints
 1 : analysis and interval of convergence
x 2 < 1  −1 < x < 1 
The series converges when −1 < x < 1.

1 1 1 1
When x = −1, the series is − + − + −
3 5 7 9
This series converges by the Alternating Series Test.

1 1 1 1
When x = 1, the series is − + − +
3 5 7 9
This series converges by the Alternating Series Test.

Therefore, the interval of convergence is −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.

1 5
()
(b) g()
1
2
−
17
120
<
2
7
=
1
<
1
224 200
2: { 1 : uses the third term as an error bound
1 : error bound

(c) g ′( x ) =
1 3 2 5 4
− x + x +  + ( −1)n
3 5 7
2n + 1 2 n
2n + 3
x + ( ) 2: { 1 : first three terms
1 : general term

© 2012 The College Board.

Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.