Taylor series

noun

, Mathematics.

1. an approximation of a given function f at a particular point x, in terms of values of the function and its derivatives at a neighboring point x 0 , by a power series in which the terms are given by f (n) ( x 0 ) ( x−x 0 ) n/n !, where f (n) ( x 0 ) is the derivative of order n evaluated at point x 0 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of Taylor series¹

1905–10; after Brook Taylor