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Approximations

The document outlines the applications of differentiation, specifically focusing on linear approximations in mathematics. It provides an introduction to the concept, examples of linear approximations for specific functions, and practice questions for students. The content is prepared for a first-semester mathematics course at the University of Ghana.

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eugenesomiah16
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9 views10 pages

Approximations

The document outlines the applications of differentiation, specifically focusing on linear approximations in mathematics. It provides an introduction to the concept, examples of linear approximations for specific functions, and practice questions for students. The content is prepared for a first-semester mathematics course at the University of Ghana.

Uploaded by

eugenesomiah16
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Approximations

Lilian F. Kyei (Coordinator)


Notes Prepared By Esther Hill

Department of Mathematics
University of Ghana

First Semester, 2021

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 1 / 10
Outline

• Introduction
• Linear Approximations
• Examples
• Practice Questions

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 2 / 10
Introduction
y=L(x)

(a,f(a))

y=f(x)

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 3 / 10
• A curve lies very close to its tangent line near the point of tangency.
Some functions are complicated; it will be easier to calculate a value
f (a) of the function but difficult to compute nearby values of f .
• So instead we use the linear function L whose graph is the tangent
line of f at (a, f (a)).
• The tangent line at (a, f (a)) is an approximation to the curve
y = f (x) when x is near a.
•

y = f (a) + f 0 (a)(x − a) −→ equation of the tangent line


f (x) ≈ f (a) + f 0 (a)(x − a)
L(x) = f (a) + f 0 (a)(x − a) i.e the linear approximation of f at a

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 4 / 10
Example

√
(1) Find the linear approximation of the function
√ f (x) =
√ x + 3 at a = 1
and use it to approximate the numbers 3.98 and 4.05.
Solution:
1
f (x) = (x + 3) 2
1 −1
f 0 (x) = (x + 3) 2
2
1
= √
2 x+3

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 5 / 10
a=1
1
f (1) = 2 f 0 (1) =
4
L(x) = f (1) + f 0 (1)(x − 1)
1
= 2 + (x − 1)
4
7 x
= +
4 4
√ 7 x
∴ x+3≈ +
4 4

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 6 / 10
√ √ 7 0.98
3.98 = 0.98 + 3 ≈ + = 1.995
4 4
√ √ 7 1.05
4.05 = 1.05 + 3 ≈ + = 2.0125
4 4

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 7 / 10
√
(2) Find the linear approximation of the function
√ √ = 1 − x at a = 0
f (x)
and use it approximate the numbers 0.9 and 0.99
Solution:
1
f (x) = (1 − x) 2
1 1
f 0 (x) = − (1 − x)− 2
2
a=0
1
f (0) = 1 f 0 (0) = −
2
L(x) = f (0) + f 0 (0)(x − 0)
1
= 1− x
2
√ 1
∴ 1−x≈1− x
2

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 8 / 10
√ √ 1
1 − 0.1 ≈ 1 − (0.1) = 0.95
0.9 =
2
√ √ 1
0.99 = 1 − 0.01 ≈ 1 − (0.01) = 0.995
2

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 9 / 10
Practice Questions

√
1 Find the linear approximation of the function
√ g(x) =√ 3 1 + x at a = 0
and use it to approximate the numbers 3 0.95 and 3 1.1.
Find the linear approximation L(x) of the function at a.
2 f (x) = x3 , a=1
3 f (x) = ln x, a = 1
√
4 f (x) = 3 x, a = −8
Verify the given the linear approximation at a = 0.
5 ex ≈ 1 + x
1
6 ≈ 1 − 8x
(1 + 2x)4

MATH 101 (Department of Mathematics University of Ghana)


Approximations First Semester, 2021 10 / 10

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