SMALL CHANGES AND APPROXIMATIONS

Learning Outcomes
As a result of studying this topic, students will be able to:
1. Compute the approximate value of a function by making use of the concept of
derivatives.
2. Use differentials to approximate the value of a function.
3. Explain the concept of small changes in approximating function values.

Introduction
The derivative of a function can often be used to approximate certain function
values with a surprising degree of accuracy. To do this, the concept of the
differential of the independent variable and the dependent variable must be
introduced.
1. Small changes and approximations
In this lesson we shall develop further on the definition of the derivative to
understand how we can obtain accurate approximations of f(x) using its first
derivative only. Calculus is defined as the study of mathematically defined
change. In science, changing situations are defined in terms of several
conditions or dimensions where one or more dimensions is changing with
respect to another dimensions.

y = f(x)

Q
(x+h, f(x+h))

(x, f(x))
f(x)
P

0 x x+h
1
Assume points P and Q are very close to each other.
f(x + h) − f(x) δy dy
Gradient at P = lim = lim =
h→0 ℎ δx→0 δx dx
The symbol δ, pronounced as ‘delta’ means a ‘small change in’. If δx is small then
dy δy dy
≈ => δy ≈ . δx
dx δx dx
This gives us a method for determining an approximation for the small change in
one variable when given a small change in a related variable.

Examples
1. Find the approximate change in y when x changes from 2 to 2.01 given that
y = 3x 3 + 2x − 1 .
Solution
dy
δy ≈ . δx = (9𝑥 2 + 2 )(2.01 − 2 ) = (9𝑥 2 + 2 )(0.01 )
dx
𝑥 = 2 and so δy ≈= (9(2)2 + 2 )(0.01 ) = 38(0.01) = 0.38
2. Find the actual change in y when x increases from 2 to 2.01 in (1) above.
Solution
When x = 2, y = 3(2)3 + 2(2) − 1 = 27
When x =2.01, y = 3(2.01)3 + 2(2.01) − 1 = 27.381803
So δy = y(2.01) − y(2) = 27.381803 − 27 = 0.381803. This answer
compares with δy found in (1) above.
3. Find the approximate change in the area of square when the sides increase from
20cm to 20.25 cm.
Solution
Area A = 𝑥 2 where x units is the length of each side of the square.
dy
δA ≈ . δx = (2𝑥 )(20.25 − 20 ) = 2(20)(0.25 ) = 10𝑐𝑚2
dx

2
 NB: The actual change in area is20.252 − 202 = 10.0625 𝑐𝑚2. This answer is
correct to a reasonable degree. The advantage of using the delta method is that
we are able to show an application of derivatives thereby giving us a reasonable
solution.
4. Find the radius of a sphere of volume 1000 𝑐𝑚3. (Give your answer to 4 d.p.).
Determine the approximate change necessary in the radius to cause the volume
to increase to 1010 𝑐𝑚3.

Solution
4
Volume V = 𝜋𝑟 3 where r units is the radius of the sphere.
3
4
V = 𝜋𝑟 3 = 1000 => 𝑟 = 6.2035 (𝑡𝑜 4 𝑑. 𝑝)
3
dV δV dV 1 1
= 4𝜋𝑟 2 ; ≈ => δr ≈ x δV = x(1010 − 1000)
dr δr dr δV 4𝜋𝑟 2
δr
1
= x10 = 0.02 cm
4𝜋 x (6.2035)2

5. If V = 2𝑥 3 , use differentiation to find the approximate percentage change in V

when x changes by 2%.
Solution
V = 2𝑥 3
dV
δV ≈ . δx = (6𝑥 2 )(0.02𝑥 ) = 0.12𝑥 3
dx
0.12𝑥 3
Approximate change in V is = 0.06 = 6%.
2𝑥 3

6. If z = 𝑓(𝑢, 𝑣), approximate change in z is given as:

∂z ∂z
δz ≈ . δu + . δv
∂u ∂v

3
 ws3
Using this concept, if y = , find the percentage change in y when w
d4

increases by 2%, s decreases by 3% and d increases by 1%.

Solution
ws3 ∂y ∂y ∂y
y= => δy ≈ . δw + . δs + . δd (1)
d4 ∂w ∂s ∂d

∂y s 3 ∂y 3ws 2 ∂y 4𝑤s 3
= ; = 4 ; =− 5
∂w d4 ∂s d ∂d d
δw = 0.02w; δs = −0.03s; δd = 0.01d
Substituting these into (1):
s3 3ws 2 4𝑤s 3
δy ≈ 4 (0.02w) + 4 (−0.03s) + − 5 (0.01d)
d d d
ws3 ws3 ws3 ws3
= 0.02 − 0.09 − 0.04 = −0.11
d4 d4 d4 d4

Thus the overall change in y is a decrease of 11%.

Exercise
𝑉2
1. The power consumed by a resistor is given by the following relationship 𝑃 =
𝑅

watts.
Determine the approximate change in power when V changes by 3% and
resistance changes by 0.4%.The original values of V and R are 40 volts and 8
ohms respectively.
𝑉
2. The current flowing in an electric circuit is given by Ohm’s law as 𝑖 = amperes.
𝑅

Calculate the approximate change in the current if the voltage decreases from 120
volts to 118 volts and the resistance increases from 200 ohms to 200.4 ohms.
3. Find the percentage increase in the area of a circle when the radius increases from
5 units to 5.02 units.
𝑑𝑦
4. Given that 𝑦 = 5𝑥 −3 , find when x = 4. Hence estimate the value of
𝑑𝑥
5 5
a) b)
4.013 3.983

4
5. The resonant frequency f of a circuit containing an inductance coil L and
1
capacitor C is given as = .
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶

Calculate the approximate percentage change in the resonant frequency f when

the capacitance C is decreased by 3% and inductance L is increased by 4%.

Answers
∂P ∂P
1. δP ≈ . δV + . δR
∂V ∂R

∂P 2V ∂P V2
= ; = − 2, δV = 0.03V; δR = −0.004R
∂V R ∂R R
2V V2 V2 V2 V2
δP ≈ ( ) ( )
0.03V + (− 2 ) −0.004R = 0.006 + 0.004 = 0.064
R R R R R
So the power increases by approximately 6.4%.
∂i ∂i
2. δi ≈ . δV + . δR
∂V ∂R
∂i 1 ∂i V
= ; = − 2, δV = −2 Volts; δR = 0.4 Ohms
∂V R ∂R R
1 V 1 V
δi ≈ (−2) + (− 2 ) (0.4) = (−2) + (− ) (0.4)
R R 200 2002
= −0.0112 Amps
3. 0.2π cm2
dy ∂y
4. (i) = −15𝑥 −4 . Also δy ≈ . δx = −15(4)−4 (4.01 − 4)
𝑑𝑥 ∂x
5
y𝑁𝑒𝑤 = 𝑦 + δy = 3 + (−15(4)−4(0.01)) = 0.077539
4
(ii)
5
y𝑁𝑒𝑤 = 𝑦 + δy = 3 + (−15(4)−4(−0.02)) = 0.079297
4

5. Decrease of 0.5%.