We now connect differentials to linear approximations. Differentials can be used to estimate the change in the value of a function resulting from a small change in input values.

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Differentials are useful when the value of a quantity is unimportant, only the approximate change in the quantity in response to a change in input is desired. As long as the change dx in input x …

One important use of differentials and linearization in experimental science is estimating the effect of error in measuring one quantity on the error in some other quantity computed from the …

Linear Approximation and Differentials Click here for a printable version of this page. In this section we discuss using the derivative to compute a linear approximation to a function. We …

We now connect differentials to linear approximations. Differentials can be used to estimate the change in the value of a function resulting from a small change in input values.

We now connect differentials to linear approximations. Differentials can be used to estimate the change in the value of a function resulting from a small change in input values.

Suppose that the edge of a cube was measured to be 20 in, with a possible measurement error of 1 in. Use differentials to estimate the maximum possible error, the relative error and the …

We now connect differentials to linear approximations. Differentials can be used to estimate the change in the value of a function resulting from a small change in input values.

This section explains linear approximations and differentials, focusing on how to use the tangent line at a point to approximate the value of a function near that point.