Error calculation and using for loop

The cosine function can be evaluated by the following infinite series: cos(x)=1-x^2/2!+x^4/4!-x^6/6!+... Create an M-file to compute cos(1.18 rad) for up to and including number of terms terms, which is up to the term x^8/8!. Your program should compute and display the values of cos x as each term in the series is added. then compute and display true relative error as a percentage..

attempted solution:

n=14;
x=pi;
terms=[0:2:n]
facts=factorial(terms);
x_power=x.^terms;
signs=(-1).^(terms/2);
quotes=x_power ./facts;
series=signs.*quotes;
m_cos_n=cumsum(series);
plot (m_cos_n);
true=-1.0;
p_error=(true-m_cos_n)/true*100;
plot(terms,(abs(p_error)));

[the cyclist]

What's your question?

Answer 1

[Abhishek Jain]

You can use the following code:

cosx=1;
x=1.18;
for i=1:4
  cosx=cosx+(-1)^i.*x^(2*i)/factorial(2*i)
end

It prints the value of cos(x) after each step.

Answer 2

[elias GR]

1. You need to put your code inside a function, in order x and n to be parameters.
2. You can estimate the true value by just using MATLAB's cos function.
3. Add figure commands in order to see both plots.
4. Usually we take the absolute value of the relative error.
5. You need to take care if true=0 (not to divide by zero) - this is not included in the code below

function cosAppr(x,n)

terms=[0:2:n];
facts=factorial(terms);
x_power=x.^terms;
signs=(-1).^(terms/2);
quotes=x_power ./facts;
series=signs.*quotes;
m_cos_n=cumsum(series);
figure
plot (m_cos_n);
true=cos(x);
p_error=abs((true-m_cos_n)/true*100);
figure
plot(terms,(abs(p_error)));

end

You can call the function like

cosAppr(1.18,8)