Differentials — Question 8

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Question 8

The radius of a spherical balloon is measured to be 10 cm with a possible error of 0.05 cm.

  • (a) Use differentials to estimate the maximum error in calculating the volume of the balloon.

  • (b) Estimate the relative and percentage error in the volume.

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Question 8 - Solution

We are given: r=10 cm,dr=0.05 cmr = 10 \text{ cm}, \quad dr = 0.05 \text{ cm}

The volume of a sphere is: V=43πr3V = \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3

Differentiate using differentials: dV=ddr(43πr3)⋅dr=4πr2⋅drdV = \frac{d}{dr}\left( \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \right) \cdot dr = 4\pi r^2 \cdot dr

Substitute known values: dV=4π(10)2⋅0.05=4π⋅100⋅0.05=20π≈62.83cm3dV = 4\pi (10)^2 \cdot 0.05 = 4\pi \cdot 100 \cdot 0.05 = 20\pi \approx \boxed{62.83 \, \text{cm}^3}

(a) Maximum error in volume: dV≈62.83cm3\boxed{dV \approx 62.83 \, \text{cm}^3}

(b) Relative and percentage error:

Actual volume: V=43π(10)3=40003π≈4188.79cm3V = \frac{4}{3} \pi (10)^3 = \frac{4000}{3} \pi \approx 4188.79 \, \text{cm}^3 Relative error=dVV≈62.834188.79≈0.015\text{Relative error} = \frac{dV}{V} \approx \frac{62.83}{4188.79} \approx 0.015 Percentage error=0.015×100=1.5%\text{Percentage error} = 0.015 \times 100 = \boxed{1.5\%}

Final Answers:

  • Maximum error in volume: 62.83cm3\boxed{62.83 \, \text{cm}^3}

  • Relative error: 0.015\boxed{0.015}

  • Percentage error: 1.5%\boxed{1.5\%}

Original worksheet page 2: question and worked solution for 4-12-008

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