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Differentials

If y f x , where f is a differentiable
Unit 4.6 function, then

Differentials and the differential of x is given by dx x

Approximation
and the differential of y is given by
dy f ' x dx.

Example 1

Find the differential of the following functions.

y
1. f x x4 5x2 3
x
df f ' x dx 4 x 3 10 x dx

2. g x cos 1 x 2 x x x

dg g ' x dx sin 1 x 2 2 x dx y f x x f x

dy
As x becomes smaller, dy approaches y.

x dx Thus, for appropriately small values of x, we

can use the differential dy to approximate y.

x x x
dy
Slope of the Tangent Line is given by .
dx

1
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Example 2
ii. Given r 500, dr 0.05
Use differentials to approximate the amount of
paint needed to apply a coat of paint 0.05 cm iii. Approximate V
thick to a sphere of diameter 10 m.
4
iv. V r 3
i. Let r be the radius of the sphere 3
V be the radius of the sphere dV V ' dr 4 r 2 dr

v. dV 4 500 0.05 50000

2
ii. Given r 500, r 0.05

Example 3

The radius of a circular disk is given as 24 cm

with maximum error in measurement of 0.2 cm.
vi. Therefore, the amount of paint used is Use differentials to estimate the maximum
approximately 50000 cm . 3 error in the calculated area of the disk.

i. Let r be the radius of the disk.

A be the area of the disk.

ii. Given r 24 and dr 0.2,

iii. Approximate A.
vi. The maximum error in the calculated value
iv. A r 2
of A is approximately 9.6 cm 2 .
dA 2 r dr

v. dA 2 24 0.2 9.6

2
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y y f x x f x

x f x x f x y

f x x f x f ' x x

x x x

y f x x f x

Example 5.6.4
Estimate 16.01 using differenitals.
1
i. Let f x x f ' x
2 x
ii. Using f x x f x f ' x x,
End of Unit 4.6
f 16 0.01 f 16 f ' 16 0.01
1
16 0.01
2 16
0.01
4 4.00125
8