Chapter 4: Problem 73
For the following exercises, find the differential and evaluate for the given \(x\) and \(d x .\) $$ y=\frac{1}{x+1}, \quad x=1, \quad d x=0.25 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The differential is \(dy = -0.0625\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We need to find the differential, denoted as \(dy\), of the function \(y = \frac{1}{x+1}\) and then evaluate it at \(x = 1\) with \(dx = 0.25\). The differential \(dy\) provides the change in \(y\) corresponding to a small change \(dx\) in \(x\).
02
Differentiate the Function
First, we find the derivative of \(y\) with respect to \(x\). Given \(y = \frac{1}{x+1}\), we use the power rule and chain rule. The derivative is:\[\frac{dy}{dx} = -\frac{1}{(x+1)^2}.\]
03
Calculate the Differential
The differential \(dy\) is calculated using the formula \(dy = \frac{dy}{dx} \cdot dx\). Substituting the derivative and \(dx\), we get: \[dy = -\frac{1}{(x+1)^2} \cdot 0.25.\]
04
Substitute Values to Evaluate
Substitute \(x = 1\) into the expression for \(dy\):\[dy = -\frac{1}{(1+1)^2} \cdot 0.25 = -\frac{1}{4} \cdot 0.25.\]
05
Simplify the Expression
Simplify \(-\frac{1}{4} \cdot 0.25\) to find \(dy\):\[dy = -0.0625.\] Thus, the differential evaluated at the given \(x\) and \(dx\) is \(-0.0625\).
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Differentiation Techniques
Differentiation is a key concept in calculus that helps us understand how a function changes. To differentiate the function \(y = \frac{1}{x+1}\), we need to use specific techniques like the power rule and chain rule. Let's explore these.
- Power Rule: If you have a function of the form \(f(x) = x^n\), its derivative is \(f'(x) = nx^{n-1}\). This rule doesn't directly apply to \(y = \frac{1}{x+1}\), but it helps set the foundation for more complex derivatives.
- Chain Rule: This rule is essential when dealing with composite functions. If you have a function within another function, differentiate the outer function first, then multiply it by the derivative of the inner function. For \(y = \frac{1}{x+1}\), think of it as \((x+1)^{-1}\). Apply the power rule to get \(-1(x+1)^{-2}\) and then multiply by the derivative of \(x+1\), which is simply 1.
Differential Evaluation
Once we've differentiated our function, the next task is to evaluate the differential, denoted as \(dy\). The differential tells us how a small change in \(x\), represented by \(dx\), results in a small change in \(y\).To compute \(dy\), we use the formula:\[dy = \frac{dy}{dx} \cdot dx\]
- First, calculate the derivative \(\frac{dy}{dx}\) which we found in the previous section as \(-\frac{1}{(x+1)^2}\).
- Multiply this by \(dx\), the small change in \(x\), given in the problem as 0.25.
Derivative Calculation
Calculating a derivative involves the practical application of differentiation techniques. Let's break down the steps we used from the function \(y = \frac{1}{x+1}\) to find the derivative as \(-\frac{1}{(x+1)^2}\).
- Identify the form: Recognize \(y\) as a function in the form of \((x+1)^{-1}\), which suggests the use of the power rule combined with the chain rule.
- Apply the power rule: Differentiate \((x+1)^{-1}\) by bringing the exponent down in front and decreasing the exponent by one, resulting in \(-1(x+1)^{-2}\).
- Use the chain rule: Since \((x+1)\) is the inner function, its derivative is simply 1. Multiply the results to get \(\frac{dy}{dx} = -\frac{1}{(x+1)^2}\).