General Formula

[soccer_gal]

Hello

Comments

[joshua_green]

If you are trying to find the Taylor series for ƒ(x), there are easier ways than taking a bunch of derivatives.  Start with the series for 1/(x - 1) and go from there.

[joshua_green]

And if you really need all the derivatives, begin with a partial fraction expansion.

[soccer_gal]

Well I was just asked to come up with a general formula for 1/(x^2-1).
And I have never heard of the Taylor series before but I just googled it.

So..I didn't understand what you meant by starting with the series for 1/ (x-1)...but is this what you mean I should do with regards to the Taylor series I(and from what I got from wikipedia about the Taylor series)...
1/(x-1) + 1/(x-1)^2 + 1/ (x-1)^3 ????

[joshua_green]

If you know the Taylor series for 1/(x - 1), you can easily find the Taylor series for 1/(x2 - 1).  However, if you're not looking for the Taylor series, you can ignore that piece of "advice."  The partial fraction expansion would be a better route.

[alteredmana]

I second green's response above-- use partial fraction decomposition and it will be expressible as the sum or difference of two easily-to-infinitely-differentiate rational functions.