Definition:Taylor Polynomial

Definition

Let $f$ be a real function which is continuous on the closed interval $\closedint a b$ and $n$ times differentiable on the open interval $\openint a b$.

Let $\xi \in \openint a b$.

The polynomial $T_n$ defined as:

$\ds \map {T_n} x = \sum_{i \mathop = 0}^n \frac {\paren {x - \xi}^i} {i!} \map {f^{\paren i} } \xi$

is known as the Taylor polynomial of degree $n$ for $f$ about $\xi$.

That is, a Taylor polynomial is a Taylor series taken for $n$ initial terms.

Also see

• Taylor's Theorem

Source of Name

This entry was named for Brook Taylor.

Sources

• 2011: Robert G. Bartle, Donald R. Sherbert: Mathematical Analysis: Introduction to Real Analysis (4th Edition) $\S 6.4$
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Taylor polynomial, Taylor series (expansion)