subexpressions (OT: math)

[Wildemar Wildenburger]

Erik Max Francis wrote:
> Wildemar Wildenburger wrote:
>
>   
>> So  in each term of the sum you have a derivative of f, which in the 
>> case of the sine function translates to sine and cosine functions at the 
>> point 0. It's not like you're rid of the function just by doing a 
>> polynomial expansion. The only way to *solve* this is to forbid x from 
>> having a dimension. At least *I* see no other way. Do you?
>>     
>
> That was precisely his point.  The Maclaurin series (not MacLaurin) only 
> makes any sense if the independent variable is dimensionless.  And thus, 
> by implication, so it is also the case for the original function.
>
>   
No that was not his point. Maybe he meant it, but he said something 
profoundly different. To quote:

Stebanoid at gmail.com wrote:
> if we expand sine in taylor series sin(x) = x - (x3)/6 + (x5)/120 etc.
> you can see that sin can be dimensionless only if x is dimensionless too.


This argumentation gives x (and sin(x)) the option of carrying a unit. 
That however is *not* the case. This option does not exist. Until 
someone proves the opposite, of course.

Geez, I love stuff like that. Way better than doing actual work. :D


/W

(PS: THX for the MacLaurin<>Maclaurin note. I can't help that 
appearantly; I also write 'LaGrange' all the time.)