Isabela State University - Echague

College of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering

Differentials
Applications of Derivatives: Approximations and Errors

CE 111 | CALCULUS 1 Module

1
 Δx = actual change in x
Differentials Δy = actual change in y
Theorem dx = actual change in x
Δx dy = approximate change in y
lim = f′(x)
x→0 Δy y2 B
Δy
= f′(x) + ϵ ϵ
Δx
Δy = f′(x)Δx + ϵΔx Δy
Δy = f′(x)Δx dy
y1 A
dy = f′(x)dx
Δx
dy = Differential of f(x) or d f(x) dx = Δx
=Differential of y
x1 x2





2
Sample Problem. Find the differential of the ff. functions.
4 3
1. y = 2x dy = (8x )dx
3 2 2
2. y = x − 2x + 5 dy = (3x − 4x)dx
4 3 3 2
3. y = 2x − 3x − 5x dy = (8x − 9x − 5)dx

3
Sample Problem 2.
4 3
Ify = x − 2x + 9x + 7 , using di erentials, nd an approximate value of y when
x = 1.997.
Solution:
From a value of x
= 2 to x = 1.997,
Δx = dx = − 0.003 x dx x
3 2
dy = (4x − 6x + 9)dx
3 2
dy = (4[2] − 6[2] + 9)(−0.003) 1.997 2
dy = − 0.051 *Approximate change in y
? 25
Approximate Value for y: dy
y2 = y1 + dy y y
4 3
y2 = 25 − 0.051 *f(2) = (2) − 2(2) + 9(2) + 7
y2 = 24.949
4
ff
fi
Sample Problem 3.
Using di erentials, nd an approximate value for 98 .
Solution:
From a value of x
= 100 to x = 98, Approximate Value for y:
Δx = dx = − 2 y2 = y1 + dy
*y1 = f(100) = 100
y= x

(2)
1 1
y2 = 10 − 0.1
−2
dy = (x) dx
y2 = 9.9
dx −2
dy = =
2 x 2 100
dy = − 0.1

5
ff
fi
Sample Problem 4.
If the radius of a sphere is measured as 5 inches with a possible error of ± 0.02
inch, nd approximately the greatest possible error and percentage error in the
computed value of the volume
Solution:
dy = differential of y
= approximate error of y Least
Possible
dV = differential of V Error in
Radius
= approximate error of V ss i b le R
P o u s
e s t a d i
e t
a in R
r
dR = differential of R G ror
Er

= approximate error of R

6
fi
Sample Problem 4.
If the radius of a sphere is measured as 5 inches with a possible error of ± 0.02
inch, nd approximately the greatest possible error and percentage error in the
computed value of the volume
Solution:
Volume of a Sphere:
4 3
V = πR Least
3 Possible
Error in
4 2 * R = 5 in
Radius
R
dV = π ⋅ 3R ⋅ dR ss i b le

3 P o s
dR = ± 0.02 in s t d i u
t e
a in R a
re
G ror
4 2 ±
Er
dV = π ⋅ 3(5 in) ⋅ ( 0.02 in)
3
dV = ± 2π in 3
*Possible error in the computed volume.

7
fi
Sample Problem 4.
If the radius of a sphere is measured as 5 inches with a possible error of ± 0.02
inch, nd approximately the greatest possible error and percentage error in the
computed value of the volume
Solution: dV = ± 2π in 3
dV dV
Relative Error: RE = Percentage Error: PE = × 100
V V
4 3 500π 3
Volume of Sphere: V = π(5) = in Least

3 3 Possible
Error in
Radius
± 2π in 3 s i ble R
Relative Error: RE = = 0.012 P os us
t e st adi
re a in R
500π G ror

in 3 Er

3
Percentage Error: PE = RE × 100 = 0.012 × 100
= 1.2 %
8
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 x dx x
1.997 2
? 25
dy
y y