Asst 15 Comp

course Mth 271

Sº©ÊĈþ”É›ÊÔ£ò¢Ò㼚«ºŽóassignment #015

015. The differential and the tangent line

05-01-2009

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10:54:33

`q001. Using the differential and the value of the function at x = 3, estimate the value of f(x) = x^5 and x = 3.1. Compare with the actual value.

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RESPONSE -->

I would estimate the answer to be close to 247. This is because 3^5 is 243.

I was off because the actual answer is 286.29151

confidence assessment: 2

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10:57:04

The differential of a function y = f(x) is `dy = f ' (x) * `dx. Since for f(x) = x ^ 5 we have f ' (x) = 5 x^4, the differential is `dy = 5 x^4 `dx.

At x = 3 the differential is `dy = 5 * 3^4 * `dx, or

`dy = 405 `dx.

Between x = 3 and x = 3.1 we have `dx = .1 so `dy = 405 * .1 = 40.5.

Since at x = 3 we have y = f(3) = 3^5 = 243, at x = 3.1 we should have y = 243 + 40.5 = 283.5, approx..

Note that the actual value of 3.1 ^ 5 is a bit greater than 286; the inaccuracy in the differential is due to the changing value of the derivative between x = 3 and x = 3.1. Our approximation was based on the rate of change, i.e. the value of the derivative, at x = 3.

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RESPONSE -->

I must have missed the differential part of the question. Sorry about that. I also do have a hard time with the differential, but I am getting better at it.

self critique assessment: 2

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10:59:07

`q002. Using the differential and the value of the function at x = e, estimate the value of ln(2.8). Compare with the actual value.

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RESPONSE -->

The differential of ln(2.8) is (1/2.8) * 'dx

But from here, I don't know where to proceed.

confidence assessment: 0

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11:00:46

The differential of the function y = f(x) = ln(x) is `dy = f ' (x) `dx or

`dy = 1/x `dx.

If x = e we have

`dy = 1/e * `dx.

Between e and 2.8, `dx = 2.8 - e = 2.8 - 2.718 = .082, approx.. Thus `dy = 1/e * .082 = .030, approx..

Since ln(e) = 1, we see that ln(2.8) = 1 + .030 = 1.030, approx..

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RESPONSE -->

Oh ok, I approached it wrong. I should have had x as the denominator instead of 2.8. Then evaluate for x= e, then taken the difference and multiplying by 1/e.

self critique assessment: 2

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11:03:12

`q003. Using the differential verify that the square root of a number close to 1 is twice as close to 1 as the number. Hint: Find the differential approximation for the function f(x) = `sqrt(x) at an appropriate point.

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RESPONSE -->

The differential for the function 'sqrt(x) is 1/2 x ^(-1/2)

If using 4 we get

f'(4) = 1/2 (4^-1/2)

f'(4) = 1/2 * 1/2

f'(4) = 1/4

confidence assessment: 1

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11:03:48

The differential for this function is easily seen to be `dy = 1 / (2 `sqrt(x) ) * `dx. At x = 1 the differential is therefore

`dy = 1 / 2 * `dx.

This shows that as we move away from x = 1, the change in y is half the change in x. Since y = f(x) = 1 when x = 1, as x 'moves away' from 1 we see that y also 'moves away' from 1, but only half as much.

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RESPONSE -->

Ok I should have used 1, but I think I got the right answer.

self critique assessment: 2

You had the 1 / (2 `sqrt(x) ) , but you didn't have the entire differential, which is

`dy = 1 / (2 `sqrt(x) ) * `dx.

What this essentially says is that since dy/dx = 1 / (2 sqrt(x)), then for small `dx we have `dy = 1 / (2 `sqrt(x) ) * `dx. That is, given a value of x and how much x changes, we can estimate how much y changes.

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11:05:39

`q004. Using the differential approximation verify that the square of a number close to 1 is twice as far from 1 as the number.

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RESPONSE -->

The differential of this function is f'(x) = 2x

If we plug 1 into both equations, we have

f(x) = (1)^2

f(x) = 1

f'(x) = 2(1)

f'(x) = 2

The square is twice as far from 1.

confidence assessment: 3

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11:05:49

The differential for this function is easily seen to be `dy = 2 x * `dx. At x = 1 the differential is therefore

`dy = 2 * `dx.

This shows that as we move away from x = 1, the change in y is double the change in x. Since y = f(x) = 1 when x = 1, as x 'moves away' from 1 we see that y also 'moves away' from 1, but by twice as much.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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11:07:19

`q005. The lifting strength of an athlete in training changes according to the function L(t) = 400 - 250 e^(-.02 t), where t is the time in weeks since training began. What is the differential of this function? At t = 50, what approximate change in strength would be predicted by the differential for the next two weeks?

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RESPONSE -->

The differential of an ""e"" function still confuses me. I always tend to say that the differential is the same as the equation.

confidence assessment: 0

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11:09:42

The differential is

`dL = L ' (t) * `dt =

-.02 ( -250 e^(-.02 t) ) `dt, so

`dL = 5 e^(-.02 t) `dt.

At t = 50 we thus have

`dL = 5 e^(-.02 * 50) `dt, or

`dL = 1.84 `dt.

The change over the next `dt = 2 weeks would therefore be approximately

`dL = 1.84 * 2 = 3.68.

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RESPONSE -->

I do understand these steps past the differential. I still don't understand how or why we multiply by 5?

self critique assessment: 1

We multiply by the factor -.02 because of the chain rule.

The original exponential function was 250 e^(-.02 t), and its derivative is 250 * (-.02 e^(-.02 t)).

You probably already have, but if not be sure to see also similar notes in your preceding submissions.

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11:12:01

`q006. As you move away from a fairly typical source of light, the illumination you experience from that light is given by I(r) = k / r^2, where k is a constant number and r is your distance in meters from the light. Using the differential estimate the change in illumination as you move from r = 10 meters to r = 10.3 meters.

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RESPONSE -->

The differential to this function is 'dr = k / 2r

At r = 10, we have 'dr = 2(10) 'dr

From 10 to 10.3, the change in r is .3, so

'dr = 20 * .3 = 6

confidence assessment: 1

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11:12:56

The differential is

`dI = I ' (r) * `dr,

where I ' is the derivative of I with respect to r.

Since I ' (r) = - 2 k / r^3, we therefore have

`dI = -2 k / r^3 * `dr.

For the present example we have r = 10 m and `dr = .3 m, so

`dI = -2 k / (10^3) * .3 = -.0006 k.

This is the approximate change in illumination.

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RESPONSE -->

I don't understand where I am messing up. On this problem, where did the -2 come from?

self critique assessment: 1

Your procedure with the differential was perfectly correct, except that you didn't have your derivative right.

k / r^2 means k * r^(-2), by the laws of exponents.

The derivative of r^n is n * r^(n-1), so the derivative of r^(-2) is -2 r^(-2-1) = -2 r^(-3), or -2 / r^3.

With just a little more practice you'll be just fine with the rules of differentiation and the concept of the differential.

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11:14:54

`q007. A certain crystal grows between two glass plates by adding layers at its edges. The crystal maintains a rectangular shape with its length double its width. Its width changes by .1 cm every hour. At a certain instant its width is 5 cm. Use a differential approximation to determine its approximate area 1 hour later.

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RESPONSE -->

f(x) = 2w * w

f'(x) = 2w

f'(5) = 10 * dw

f'(60) = 120

confidence assessment: 0

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11:16:45

If the width of the crystal is x then its length is 2x and its area is 2x * x = 2x^2. So we wish to approximate f(x) = 2x^2 near x = 5.

f ' (x) = 4 x, so when x = 5 we have y = 2 * 5^2 = 50 and y ' = 4 * 5 = 20.

The rate at which area changes with respect to width is therefore close to y ' = 20 units of area per unit of width. A change of .1 cm in width therefore implies a change of approximately 20 * .1 = 2 in area. Thus the approximate area should be 50 + 2 = 52. This can easily be compared with the accurate value of the area which is 52.02.

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RESPONSE -->

I know I was way off. I can see the appropriate way to solve this problem now. I started off right, but sometimes I have a problem stepping out, and looking at the steps to take.

self critique assessment: 2

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11:19:08

`q008. The radius of a sphere is increasing at the rate of .3 cm per day. Use the differential to determine the approximate rate at which its volume is increasing on a day when the radius is in the neighborhood of 20 cm.

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RESPONSE -->

f(x) = pi * r^2

f'(x) = 2*pi*r

f(20) = pi * (20^2)

f(20) = 1256.64

f'(20) = 2 * pi * 20

f'(20) = 125.66

approx.

confidence assessment: 1

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11:22:33

The volume of a sphere is V(r) = 4/3 * `pi * r^3. The rate at which the volume changes with respect to the radius is dV / dr = 4 * `pi * r^2.

Thus when r = 20 the volume is changing at a rate of 4 * `pi * 20^2 = 1600 `pi cm^3 volume per cm of radius. It follows that if the radius is changing by .3 cm / day, the volume must be changing at 1600 `pi cm^3 / (cm of radius) * .3 cm of radius / day = 480 `pi cm^3 / day.

Note that this is the instantaneous rate at the instant r = 20. This rate will increase as r increases.

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RESPONSE -->

I didn't remember the volume of a sphere formula, this is where I messed up on this one. Other than that I would have taken the right steps.

self critique assessment: 2

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You're doing OK at this stage. By the end of the assignment you were applying the differential correctly, but still making some errors with the rules of differentiation. All you need is a little more practice, which you'll get when you reach these topics in your text.