9.
7 Problems of Small Changes and Approximations
Small Changes
1. Given that y  x 2  4 x , find
the small change in y when x
increases from 2 to 2.01.
dy
4. Given that y  4 x , find .
dx
Hence, find the small change in
y when x increases from 4 to
4.02.
7. The volume, V cm3 , of a cuboid
with rectangular base is given by
V  x 3  2 x 2  3x , where x
cm is the width of the base. Find
the small change in the volume
when the width increases from
4 cm to 4.05 cm
10. A cube has side of 6 cm. If
each of the side of the cube
decreases by 0.1 cm, find the
approximate decrease in the
total surface area of the cube.
13. Given y 
27
, find the value of 14. Given y  4 , find
3
x x
dy
when x = 3. Hence, estimate
dx
27
the value of .
3.03 3
Approximate Value
2. Given that y  x 2  3x , find
the small change in y when x
increases from 6 to 6.01.
5. Given the area of a rectangle,
A  3 x 2  2 x , where x is the
width, find the small change in
the area when the width
decreases from 3 cm to 2.98 cm.
8. In a pendulum of length x
meters, the period T seconds is
x Calculate the approximate
given as T  2 . Find
10
dT
. Hence, find the small
dx
change in T when x increases
from 2.5 m to 2.6 m.
11. The volume of a sphere
increases from
288  cm 3 to 290  cm 3 .
Calculate the approximate
increase in its radius.
32
dy
.
dx
Hence, estimate the value of
32
1.99 4
3. Given that y  2 x 2  x , find
the small change in y when x
decreases from 8 to 7.98.
6. A cuboid with square base has a
total surface area,
A  3 x 2  4 x , where x is the
length of the side of the base.
Find the small change in the
total surface area when the
length of the side of the base
decreases from 5 cm to 4.99 cm.
9. The height of a cylinder is
three times its radius.
increase in the total surface
area of the cylinder if its
radius increases from 7 cm to
7.05 cm.
4
12. Given that y  , calculate the
x5
dy
value of if x = 2.
dx
Hence, estimate the values of
4 4
(a ) (b)
2.03 5 1.98 5
15. Given that y  x 2  5 x, use
differentiation to find the small
change in y when x increases
from 3 to 3.01.