In the maclaurin series of ln(1+x) and ln(1-x) why cant they be used directly to find an approx value of ln(3)

Question

Complete Question:
Find the Maclaurin series of the functions ln (1 + x) and ln (1 - x) and find the interval of convergence of these series. (You do not need to worry about the convergence or otherwise of the interval endpoints.) Give a reason why neither series can be used, directly, to find an approximate value of ln 3?

I'm having real trouble understanding this question is it do with that maclaurin series by definition are based around zero? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Those series are only good for |x| < 1,
so they can' t be used directly.
BUT
You can use them to find log 1/3,
then use the fact that log 1/3 = -log 3.