Application of the total differential to error estimation

In measurement, the total differential is used in estimating the error f of a function f based on the
errors x, y, ... of the parameters x, y, .... Assuming that the interval is short enough for the
change to be approximately linear:
f(x) = f'(x) x
and that all variables are independent, then for all variables,
!his is because the derivative fx "ith respect to the particular parameter x gives the
sensitivity of the function f to a change in x, in particular the error x. As they are
assumed to be independent, the analysis describes the "orst#case scenario. !he
absolute values of the component errors are used, because after simple computation,
the derivative may have a negative sign. $rom this principle the error rules of summation,
multiplication etc. are derived, e.g.:
%et f(a, b) = a b&
f = faa ' fbb& evaluating the derivatives
f = ba ' ab& dividing by f, "hich is a b
f(f = a(a ' b(b
!hat is to say, in multiplication, the total relative error is the sum of the
relative errors of the parameters.