ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

UNIT 4.1
DIFFERENTIALS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

UNIT 4.1: DIFFERENTIALS ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

DIFFERENTIALS
Approximating the tangent line
[1] 𝒅𝒙 = ∆𝒙
𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙)
[2] 𝒅𝒚 ≠ ∆𝒚 but 𝒅𝒚 ≈ ∆𝒚
𝒅𝒚 GAP
For illustration
𝒇(∆𝒙 + 𝒙𝟏 )
𝑦 = 𝑥2
∆𝒚 𝑑𝑦
= 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝒇(𝒙𝟏 )
𝒅𝒙 𝑑𝑦 = 2𝑥 ⋅ 𝑑𝑥
𝒅𝒚 = 𝒇′ (𝒙) ⋅ 𝒅𝒙 ≈ ∆𝒚
∆𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝑑𝑦, 𝑑𝑥 is called the differentials*
Differential is a variable whose value is infinitesimal.
• If ∆𝑥 or 𝑑𝑥 is very small, ∆𝑦 or 𝑑𝑦 is very small also
𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐 = ∆𝒙 + 𝒙𝟏
• If Δ𝑥 is very small, then the actual change in 𝑦, which is
*Assume ∆𝑥 as a REALLY small increment Δ𝑦, is approximately equal to 𝑑𝑦.
*Assume ∆𝑦 as a REALLY small increment
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
UNIT 4.1: DIFFERENTIALS ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

DIFFERENTIALS
EXAMPLE 1 Compute the differential of the following function: 𝑦 = 𝑡 3 − 4𝑡 2 + 7𝑡

𝑦 = 𝑡 3 − 4𝑡 2 + 7𝑡

𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 7
𝑑𝑡

𝒅𝒚 = 𝒇′ (𝒙) ⋅ 𝒅𝒙

𝑑𝑦 = 3𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 7 ⋅ 𝑑𝑡

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

UNIT 4.1: DIFFERENTIALS ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

DIFFERENTIALS
EXAMPLE 2 Compute the differential of the following function: 𝑤 = 𝑥 2 sin(2𝑥)

𝑤 = 𝑥 2 sin(2𝑥)

𝑑𝑤
= (𝑥 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ cos(2𝑥)) + sin 2𝑥 ⋅ 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑤
= (2𝑥 2 cos(2𝑥)) + 2𝑥 sin 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝒅𝒚 = 𝒇′ (𝒙) ⋅ 𝒅𝒙

𝑑𝑤 = (2𝑥 2 cos(2𝑥)) + 2𝑥 sin 2𝑥 ⋅ 𝑑𝑥

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

UNIT 4.1: DIFFERENTIALS ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

DIFFERENTIALS
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑓′(𝑥) ⋅ 𝑑𝑥
𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) 𝑑𝑥
A tangent line can be viewed as a linear approximation or
𝒅𝒚
tangent line approximation to a function
𝒇(∆𝒙 + 𝒙𝟏 )
This can be used to approximate function values
∆𝒚
∆𝑦 ≈ 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑓′(𝑥) ⋅ 𝑑𝑥
𝒇(𝒙𝟏 )
𝒅𝒙 The change in y of the function is approximately equal to
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 times 𝑑𝑥 when 𝑑𝑥 is small

The change in 𝑦 of the tangent line is APPROXIMATELY

∆𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝑑𝑦 ≈ ∆𝑦 the change in 𝑦 of the original function

The change in 𝑥 of the tangent line is equal to the change

𝑑𝑥 ≈ ∆𝑥 in 𝑥 of the original function
𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐 = ∆𝒙 + 𝒙𝟏

*Assume ∆𝑥 as a REALLY small increment

*Assume ∆𝑦 as a REALLY small increment
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS