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Chapter 5
DIFFERENTIAL AND ITS APPLICATIONS

5.1 DIFFERENTIAL

The differential of the function y=f ( x ) is the product of the derivative of the
function and differential of x , i.e.
dy=f ' ( x ) dx

Example 1. If y=x 3 +3 x 2 −4 x+5 , find dy .

Solution:
y=x 3 +3 x 2 −4 x+5
dy=( 3 x 2 +6 x −4 ) dx
π
V = x3 dV .
Example 2. If 3 , find
Solution:
π
V = x3
3
2
dV =π x dx

5.2 APPLICATIONS
Differential can be used in approximation, ie. in finding the approximate change
or error and in computing the approximate value.
Approximation and Error

The approximate change or approximate error of the function y=f ( x ) is given

by
differential of y, i.e.
dy=f ' ( x ) dx .
The approximate change or approximate error for radius R, Area A and Volume
V, are given by dR, dA and dV, respectively. Their relative and percentage error can be
determined, i.e.
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Relative Error
For radius R,
dR
RE=
R
For Area A ,
dA
RE=
A
For Volume V ,
dV
RE=
V

Percentage Error
% Error=RE x 100%

Example 3. Find the approximate change of y=√ x is x changes from 4 to

4.02
Solution:
y=√ x
1
dy= dx
2 √x
x=4 , dx=4 . 02−4=0. 02
1
dy= ( 0 .02 ) =0 .005
2 √4
3
Example 4. Find the approximate value of (a) √ 18 and (b) √ 25 .
Solution:

(a) √ 18≈ y+dy

Let y=√ x
1
dy= dx
2 √x
Choosing a perfect square number closest to 18 , i.e.
x=16 gives y=√ 16=4 .
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1
dy= ( 2 )=0 . 25
dx=18−16=2 and 2 √16 .

Thus ,
√ 18≈4+0.25=4.25
3
(b) √ 25≈ y +dy
3
Let y=√ x
1
dy= dx 3
3 √ x2
Choosing a perfect cube number closest to 25 , i.e.
3
x=27 gives y=√ 27=3 .
1 2
dy= (−2 )=−
dx=25−27=−2 and
3
3 √ 272 27
Thus ,
3 2
√ 25≈3− =2 . 926
27 .

Example 5. Determine the approximate increase in the (a) surface area and (b)
volume of sphere if the radius increases from 10 cm to 10.05 cm.
Solution:
(a) Surface Area
2
S=4 πr
dS=8 π rdr
=8 π(10)(0.05)
dS=4 π cm2.

(b) Volume
4
V = πr 3
3
2
dV =4 πr dr
2
=4 π ( 10 ) ( 0.05 )
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dV =20 π cm3.

Example 6. The radius of the sphere of radius 50cm is measured with an

approximate error of 0.10 cm. Find the percentage error in its computed
(a) surface area and (b) volume.
Solution:
(a) Surface Area
dS
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
S
For sphere¸
2
S=4 πr from which dS=8 π rdr ,
8 π rdr
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
4 πr 2
2dr
= ( 100 % )
r
2(0 . 1)
% ERROR= ( 100 % )=0 . 4 %
50
(b) Volume
dV
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
V
For sphere,
4
V = πr 3 2
3 from which dV =4 πr dr .
4 πr 2 dr
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
4 3
πr
3
3 dr
= ( 100 % )
r
3( 0. 1)
% ERROR= (100 % )=0 . 6 %
50

Example 7. If the percentage error in measuring the edge of the cube is 2.5%,
find the percentage error in its computed volume.
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Solution:
dV
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
V

For cube of edge x,

3 2
V =x from which dV =3 x dx .
2
3 x dx
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
x3

=3 ( dxx (100 % ) )
dx
( 100 % )
Since x = 2.5%,
% ERROR=3(2. 5 %)
% ERROR =7.5%

Example 8. The semi major and semi minor axis of an ellipse are measured with
an error of 0.25cm and 0.3cm, respectively. Find the percentage error in its area if
the major and minor axis are 8cm and 6cm, respectively.
Solution:
dA
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
A
For Ellipse,
A=π ab
dA=π [ adb+bda ]
π [ adb+bda ]
% ERROR= ( 100 % )
π ab
[ adb+bda ]
= ( 100 % )
ab
[ 4 (0 .3 )+3(0 . 25)]
= ( 100 % )
4(3 )
% ERROR =16.25%