Differentials — Question 6

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Question 6

The radius rr of a right circular cylinder is measured to be 5 cm with a possible error of 0.1 cm. The height hh is 20 cm with a possible error of 0.2 cm.

  • (a) Use differentials to approximate the maximum error in calculating the volume of the cylinder.

  • (b) Find the relative and percentage errors in the volume.

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Question 6 - Solution

The volume of a cylinder is: V=πr2hV = \pi r^2 h

We compute the differential dVdV: dV=∂V∂rdr+∂V∂hdh=2πrhdr+πr2dhdV = \frac{\partial V}{\partial r} \, dr + \frac{\partial V}{\partial h} \, dh = 2\pi r h \, dr + \pi r^2 \, dh

Given: r=5 cm,dr=0.1 cm,h=20 cm,dh=0.2 cmr = 5 \text{ cm}, \quad dr = 0.1 \text{ cm}, \quad h = 20 \text{ cm}, \quad dh = 0.2 \text{ cm}

Substitute into the differential: dV=2π(5)(20)(0.1)+π(5)2(0.2)=20π+5π=25π≈78.54 cm3dV = 2\pi (5)(20)(0.1) + \pi (5)^2 (0.2) = 20\pi + 5\pi = \boxed{25\pi \approx 78.54 \text{ cm}^3}

(a) Maximum error: dV≈78.54 cm3\boxed{dV \approx 78.54 \text{ cm}^3}

(b) Relative and percentage error:

Actual volume: V=π(5)2(20)=500π≈1570.8 cm3V = \pi (5)^2 (20) = 500\pi \approx 1570.8 \text{ cm}^3

Relative error: dVV=25π500π=120=0.05\frac{dV}{V} = \frac{25\pi}{500\pi} = \frac{1}{20} = 0.05

Percentage error: 0.05×100=5%0.05 \times 100 = \boxed{5\%}

Final Answers:

  • Maximum error in volume: 25π≈78.54 cm3\boxed{25\pi \approx 78.54 \text{ cm}^3}

  • Relative error: 0.05\boxed{0.05}

  • Percentage error: 5%\boxed{5\%}

Original worksheet page 2: question and worked solution for 4-12-006

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