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Library AP Calculus AB/BC BC 2023 FRQ 6
⁂   AP Calculus AB/BC · BC Track · 2023

FRQ 6. 2023 BC

A function has derivatives of all orders with supplied derivative relationships. Students find a higher-order derivative and build a fourth-degree Taylor polynomial about zero, use the Lagrange error bound to bound the approximation error, and construct a Taylor polynomial for a related function.

9 rubric points Calculator: Not allowed Difficulty 5/5
The Question (paraphrase)
Prompt paraphrase — original Tian2 description

A function has derivatives of all orders with supplied derivative relationships. Students find a higher-order derivative and build a fourth-degree Taylor polynomial about zero, use the Lagrange error bound to bound the approximation error, and construct a Taylor polynomial for a related function.

Read the complete question in the official College Board FRQ PDF ›

Worked Solution

Original Tian2 solution. Each part identifies which rubric points are earned and why.

Part (a)

4 RUBRIC POINTS

**Fourth derivative.** Differentiate the given $f'''(x)=-2x\,f'(x^2)$ using the product rule (and the chain rule on $f'(x^2)$): $$f^{(4)}(x)=\frac{d}{dx}\Bigl[-2x\,f'(x^2)\Bigr]=-2\,f'(x^2)+(-2x)\,f''(x^2)\cdot 2x.$$ **Derivatives at $0$.** Use $f(0)=2$, $f'(0)=3$, and the given relations: - $f''(0)=-f(0^2)=-f(0)=-2.$ - $f'''(0)=-2(0)\,f'(0)=0.$ - $f^{(4)}(0)=-2\,f'(0)+0=-2(3)=-6.$ **Fourth-degree Taylor polynomial about $x=0$.** $$T_4(x)=f(0)+f'(0)x+\frac{f''(0)}{2!}x^2+\frac{f'''(0)}{3!}x^3+\frac{f^{(4)}(0)}{4!}x^4.$$ Substituting, $$T_4(x)=2+3x+\frac{-2}{2}x^2+\frac{0}{6}x^3+\frac{-6}{24}x^4=2+3x-x^2-\frac{1}{4}x^4.$$

Working
<span class="math-block">\[f^{(4)}(x)=-2\,f'(x^2)+(-2x)\,f''(x^2)\cdot 2x\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[f''(0)=-f(0)=-2,\quad f'''(0)=-2(0)f'(0)=0\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[f^{(4)}(0)=-2\,f'(0)+0=-6\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[T_4(x)=2+3x+\tfrac{-2}{2!}x^2+\tfrac{0}{3!}x^3+\tfrac{-6}{4!}x^4\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[T_4(x)=2+3x-x^2-\tfrac{1}{4}x^4\]</span>
Rubric annotation

4 points: P1 for correct product-rule form of f4(x), i.e. -2 f'(x^2) + (-2x) f''(x^2)(2x). P2 only for a completely correct f4(x) expression. P3 for two correct terms of T4 (the 2 + 3x - x^2 portion, using f''(0) = -2). P4 for the remaining terms, i.e. the zero x^3 term and the -(1/4)x^4 term; a nonzero x^3 term, any degree >4 term, or a trailing '+...' forfeits P4.

Part (b)

2 RUBRIC POINTS

By the Lagrange error bound, the error in using $T_4$ to approximate $f(0.1)$ satisfies $$\bigl|T_4(0.1)-f(0.1)\bigr|\le\frac{\displaystyle\max_{0\le x\le 0.1}\bigl|f^{(5)}(x)\bigr|}{5!}\,(0.1)^5.$$ We are given $\bigl|f^{(5)}(x)\bigr|\le 15$ on $0\le x\le 0.5$ (hence on $0\le x\le 0.1$), so $$\bigl|T_4(0.1)-f(0.1)\bigr|\le\frac{15}{120}\cdot(0.1)^5=\frac{15}{120}\cdot\frac{1}{10^5}=\frac{1}{8}\cdot\frac{1}{10^5}=\frac{1}{800000}.$$ Since $\dfrac{1}{800000}\le\dfrac{1}{10^5}=\dfrac{1}{100000}$, the approximation is within $\dfrac{1}{10^5}$ of the exact value of $f(0.1)$.

Working
<span class="math-block">\[\bigl|T_4(0.1)-f(0.1)\bigr|\le\frac{\max_{0\le x\le 0.1}|f^{(5)}(x)|}{5!}(0.1)^5\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[\le\frac{15}{120}\cdot(0.1)^5=\frac{15}{120}\cdot\frac{1}{10^5}\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[=\frac{1}{800000}\le\frac{1}{10^5}\]</span>
Rubric annotation

2 points: P1 for the correct error-bound form, max|f5|/5! * (0.1)^5, or equivalently (15/5!)(0.1)^5. P2 for communicating the full inequality Error <= (15/5!)(0.1)^5 <= 1/10^5. Writing Error = (15/5!)(0.1)^5 (an equality) or Error = 1/10^5 does not earn P2 — the chain must be an inequality terminating at <= 1/10^5.

Part (c)

3 RUBRIC POINTS

We need the second-degree Taylor polynomial for $g$ about $x=0$, i.e. $g(0)$, $g'(0)$, $g''(0)$. - $g(0)=4$ (given). - $g'(x)=e^{x}f(x)\Rightarrow g'(0)=e^{0}f(0)=1\cdot 2=2.$ - Differentiate with the product rule: $g''(x)=e^{x}f(x)+e^{x}f'(x)$, so $g''(0)=e^{0}f(0)+e^{0}f'(0)=f(0)+f'(0)=2+3=5.$ Then $$T_2(x)=g(0)+g'(0)x+\frac{g''(0)}{2!}x^2=4+2x+\frac{5}{2}x^2.$$

Working
<span class="math-block">\[g(0)=4\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[g'(x)=e^{x}f(x)\ \Rightarrow\ g'(0)=f(0)=2\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[g''(x)=e^{x}f(x)+e^{x}f'(x)\ \Rightarrow\ g''(0)=f(0)+f'(0)=5\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[T_2(x)=4+2x+\tfrac{5}{2}x^2\]</span>
Rubric annotation

3 points: P1 for g''(x) = e^x f(x) + e^x f'(x) (or g''(0) = f(0)+f'(0)). P2 for the first two terms of the polynomial, the form 4 + 2x + ax^2. P3 for the complete correct polynomial 4 + 2x + (5/2)x^2. An alternate path multiplying the Maclaurin series of e^x by the part-(a) polynomial and integrating g'(x) is fully acceptable. Any degree >2 term or a trailing '+...' forfeits P3.

Originality statement

Our worked solutions and practice questions are original instructional content created by Tian2 AP. They are aligned to the concepts and skills described in College Board’s Course and Exam Description and are not reproductions of, or affiliated with, College Board’s official materials.