Differentials, Linear Approximation, and Error Propagation

Differentials
Linear Approximation
Error Propagation

Differentials, Linear Approximation, and Error Propagation are more applications of Differential Calculus.

Differentials

Think of differentials of picking apart the “fraction” $ \displaystyle \frac{{dy}}{{dx}}$ we learned to use when differentiating a function.
We learned that the derivative or rate of change of a function can be written as $ \displaystyle \frac{{dy}}{{dx}}={f}’\left( x \right)$, where $ dy$ is an infinitely small change in $ y$, and $ dx$ (or $ \Delta x$) is an infinitely small change in $ x$. It turns out that if $ f\left( x \right)$ is a function that is differentiable on an open interval containing $ x$, and the differential of $ x$ ($ dx$) is a non-zero real number, then $ dy={f}’\left( x \right)dx$ (see how we just multiplied both sides by $ dx$)? And I won’t get into this at this point, but the differential of $ y$ can be used to approximate the change in $ y$, so $ \Delta y\approx dy$. (I always forget this, but remember that $ \Delta y=f\left( {x+\Delta x} \right)-f\left( x \right)$.) Anyway, all this can get really theoretical really fast, so I’m leaving out a lot, but hopefully this will be enough to work the problems.

Calculating Differentials

We learned differentiation rules earlier, and these apply to differentials too. These look familiar, right? We’ll see that we’ll need to use the differential produce rule in the problem here. Here are the differential formulas:

If $ u$ and $ v$ are differentiable functions of $ x$:

Constant Multiple: $ d\left[ {cu} \right]=c\,du$

Sum/Difference: $ d\left[ {u\pm v} \right]=du\pm dv$

Product: $ d\left[ {uv} \right]=u\,dv+v\,du$

Quotient: $ \displaystyle d\left[ {\frac{u}{v}} \right]=\frac{{v\,du-udv}}{{{{v}^{2}}}}$

Linear Approximation

We can use differentials to perform linear approximations of functions, like we did with tangent lines here in the Equation of the Tangent Line, Tangent Line Approximation, and Rates of Change section. This formula that looks similar to a point-slope formula, since a derivative is a slope: $ y-{{y}_{0}}={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$, or $ f\left( x \right)-f\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$, which means $ f\left( x \right)=f\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)+{f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$. (Remember that the variables with subscript “0” are the “old” or “original” values.)

Think of this equation as the “new $ y$” equals the “old $ y$” plus the derivative at the “old $ x$” times the difference between the “new $ x$” and the “old $ x$”.

Note: Another way we can think of differentials is using this formula; some teachers prefer this way: $ \displaystyle \frac{{dy}}{{dx}}={f}’\left( x \right);\,\,dy={f}’\left( x \right)dx$ (this makes sense, right? A “slope” is a “slope”). Then once we get $ dy$, we just add it back to the original $ y$ to get the approximation. This is also shown in the fourth problem below.

Here are some examples in both finding differentials and finding approximations of functions:

Problem

Solution

Find the value of $ \boldsymbol {dy}$ and $ \boldsymbol {\Delta y}$ for $ y={{x}^{2}}-1$ when $ x=4$ and $ \Delta x=.1$.

Remember that $ \Delta y=f\left( {x+\Delta x} \right)-f\left( x \right)$,

First, find $ dy$ by differentiating:

$ \displaystyle y={{x}^{2}}-1;\,\,\,\,\frac{{dy}}{{dx}}=2x;\,\,dy=\,2x\cdot dx$

When $ x=4$ and $ \Delta x=.1$, $ \displaystyle dy=2\left( 4 \right)\,\cdot .1=.8$. (in these problems, $ dx=\Delta x$)

$ \displaystyle \begin{align}\Delta y&=f\left( {x+\Delta x} \right)-f\left( x \right)=f\left( {4+.1} \right)-f\left( 4 \right)\\&=\left( {{{{4.1}}^{2}}-1} \right)-\left( {{{4}^{2}}-1} \right)=.81\end{align}$

The answers are close since $ \Delta x$ is small.

Find the differential $ \boldsymbol {dy}$ for:

$ y=4\cos \left( {2x} \right)-8{{x}^{3}}$

$ \displaystyle \begin{align}y&=4\cos \left( {2x} \right)-8{{x}^{3}}\\\frac{{dy}}{{dx}}&=4\cdot -\sin \left( {2x} \right)\cdot 2-24{{x}^{2}}\\dy&=\left( {-8\sin \left( {2x} \right)-24{{x}^{2}}} \right)dx\end{align}$

Use differentials and the graph of $ {f}’\left( x \right)$ (derivative) to approximate $ f\left( {3.2} \right)$, given that $ f\left( 3 \right)=5$.

Use this formula: $ y-{{y}_{0}}={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$

(I like to use this formula since it looks like point-slope. Remember that the variables with subscript 0 are the “original” or “old” values). Note that this is a variation of the formula $ f\left( x \right)=f\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)+{f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$.

Make a table to organize what we know:

$ {{x}_{0}}$	$ {{y}_{0}}$	$ {f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)$	$ y$	$ x$
3	5	2.25	?	3.2

$ y-{{y}_{0}}={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$, or $ y-5=2.25\left( {3.2-3} \right)$. Thus, $ y=2.25\left( {3.2-3} \right)+5=5.45$.

Use differentials to approximate:

$ \sqrt{{15}}$

Alternative way to solve without point-slope formula. Use 16 for $ x$, 4 for $ {{y}_{0}}$, $ 15–16=– 1$ for $ dx$:

$ \displaystyle \begin{align}y&=\sqrt{x}={{x}^{{\frac{1}{2}}}}\\\frac{{dy}}{{dx}}&=\frac{1}{2}{{x}^{{-\frac{1}{2}}}};\,\,dy=\frac{1}{2}{{x}^{{-\frac{1}{2}}}}dx\\dy&=\frac{1}{2}{{\left( {16} \right)}^{{-\frac{1}{2}}}}\left( {-1} \right)=-\frac{1}{8}\end{align}$

$ \displaystyle y={{y}_{0}}+dy=4+-\frac{1}{8}=3.875$

Use this formula: $ y-{{y}_{0}}={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$

The function is $ y=\sqrt{x}={{x}^{{\frac{1}{2}}}}$, so $ \displaystyle {f}’\left( x \right)=\frac{1}{2}{{x}^{{-\frac{1}{2}}}}$. The trick is to find an easier value in the function so to solve it without a calculator; use $ \sqrt{{16}}=4$. Now we have:

$ {{x}_{0}}$	$ {{y}_{0}}=\sqrt{{{{x}_{0}}}}$	$ {f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)$	$ y$	$ x$
16	4	$ \displaystyle \frac{1}{2}{{\left( {16} \right)}^{{-\frac{1}{2}}}}=.125$	?	15

$ y-{{y}_{0}}={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$, or $ \displaystyle y-4=.125\left( {15-16} \right)$. Thus, $ \displaystyle y=.125\left( {15-16} \right)+4=3.875$. Compare this to what you get on your calculator. Pretty cool!

Use differentials to approximate:

$ \displaystyle \sin \left( 3 \right)$

Use this formula: $ y-{{y}_{0}}={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$

The function is $ y=\sin \left( x \right)$, so $ {f}’\left( x \right)=\cos \left( x \right)$. The trick is to find an easier value in the function so to solve it without a calculator; use $ \sin \left( \pi \right)\,\,(\pi \approx 3.14)$. Now we have:

$ {{x}_{0}}$	$ {{y}_{0}}=\sin \left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)$	$ {f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)$	$ y$	$ x$
$ \pi $	$ \sin \left( \pi \right)=0$	$ \cos \left( \pi \right)=-1$	?	3

$ y-{{y}_{0}}={f}’\left( {{{x}_{0}}} \right)\left( {x-{{x}_{0}}} \right)$, or $ \displaystyle y-0=-1\left( {3-\pi } \right)$. Thus, $ \displaystyle y=\pi -3=.14112$. Pretty close!

Error Propagation

We can also use differentials to estimate errors, for example, for error analyses in Physics. In these problems, we’ll typically take a derivative, and use the “$ dx$” or “$ dy$” part of the derivative as the error. Then, to get percent error, we’ll divide the error by the total amount and multiply by 100. When solving for error, it can go either way, so we typically express our answers with a “$ \pm $”.

Attack these problems the same way we did with Related Rates problems: write down what we know, what we need, and how we relate the variables. Typically, the words “is correct within” signifies error. Here are some problems; you’ll have to use some Geometry:

Error Propagation Problem	Solution
The volume of a cube is 125 in³. If the volume measurement is known to be correct to within 2.5 in³, estimate the error in the measurement of a side of the cube.	Write down what we know, what we need, and how we relate the variables. We have $ V=125$, and $ dV=2.5$ (remember that the error is the “$ dx$” part of the equation). We want the error in the side of the cube, so we want $ ds$. Relate the variables and differentiate with respect to $ s$: $ \displaystyle V={{s}^{3}};\,\,\,\,\,\frac{{dV}}{{ds}}=3{{s}^{2}};\,\,\,\,\,dV=3{{s}^{2}}ds$ Substitute and solve for $ ds$. Note that since the volume ($ V$) is 125, a side ($ s$) is $ \sqrt[3]{{125}}=5$: $ \displaystyle dV=3{{s}^{2}}ds;\,\,\,\,2.5=3{{\left( 5 \right)}^{2}}ds;\,\,\,\,ds=\frac{{2.5}}{{3{{{\left( 5 \right)}}^{2}}}}=\pm \frac{1}{{30}}\approx \pm \,.0333$ The error in the measurement of a side of the cube is approximately ±.0333 in.
The radius of a sphere is measured to be 5 mm. If this measurement is correct to within .05 mm, a) Estimate the propagated error in the surface area of the sphere. b) Estimate the propagated error in the volume of the sphere. c) Estimate the percent error of the volume of the sphere.	We have $ r=5$, and $ dr=.05$ (remember that the error is the “$ dx$” part of the equation). We want the both the error in the surface area ($ dA$) and the error in the volume ($ dV$). a) Relate surface area and radius, and differentiate with respect to $ r$: $ \displaystyle A=4\pi {{r}^{2}};\,\,\,\frac{{dA}}{{dr}}=8\pi r;\,\,\,dA=\left( {8\pi r} \right)dr$ We want $ dA$ (error in the surface area): $ \displaystyle dA=\left( {8\pi r} \right)dr;\,\,\,\,\,dA=\left( {8\pi \cdot 5} \right).05\approx \pm \,\,6.283$ The error in the measurement of the surface area of the sphere is approximately ±6.283 mm². b) Relate volume and radius, and differentiate with respect to $ r$: $ \displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi {{r}^{3}};\,\,\,\,\,\frac{{dV}}{{dr}}=4\pi {{r}^{2}};\,\,\,\,\,dV=\left( {4\pi {{r}^{2}}} \right)dr$ We want $ dV$ (error in the volume): $ \displaystyle dV=\left( {4\pi {{r}^{2}}} \right)dr;\,\,\,dV=\left( {4\pi \cdot {{5}^{2}}} \right).05\approx \pm \,15.708$ The error in the measurement of the volume of the sphere is approximately ±15.708 mm³. c) To get percent error: $ \displaystyle \begin{align}\text{Percent Error}&=\frac{{\text{ Error}}}{{\text{Volume}}}\cdot 100=\frac{{dV}}{V}\cdot 100\\&\approx \frac{{15.708}}{{\frac{4}{3}\pi {{r}^{3}}}}\approx \frac{{15.708}}{{\frac{4}{3}\pi {{{\left( 5 \right)}}^{3}}}}\approx .03\cdot 100\approx 3\end{align}$ The percent error in the measurement of the volume of the sphere is approximately 3%.

Error Propagation Problem

Solution

The volume of a cube is 125 in³.

If the volume measurement is known to be correct to within 2.5 in³, estimate the error in the measurement of a side of the cube.

Write down what we know, what we need, and how we relate the variables. We have $ V=125$, and $ dV=2.5$ (remember that the error is the “$ dx$” part of the equation). We want the error in the side of the cube, so we want $ ds$.

Relate the variables and differentiate with respect to $ s$:

$ \displaystyle V={{s}^{3}};\,\,\,\,\,\frac{{dV}}{{ds}}=3{{s}^{2}};\,\,\,\,\,dV=3{{s}^{2}}ds$

Substitute and solve for $ ds$. Note that since the volume ($ V$) is 125, a side ($ s$) is $ \sqrt[3]{{125}}=5$:

$ \displaystyle dV=3{{s}^{2}}ds;\,\,\,\,2.5=3{{\left( 5 \right)}^{2}}ds;\,\,\,\,ds=\frac{{2.5}}{{3{{{\left( 5 \right)}}^{2}}}}=\pm \frac{1}{{30}}\approx \pm \,.0333$

The error in the measurement of a side of the cube is approximately ±.0333 in.

The radius of a sphere is measured to be 5 mm. If this measurement is correct to within .05 mm,

a) Estimate the propagated error in the surface area of the sphere.

b) Estimate the propagated error in the volume of the sphere.

c) Estimate the percent error of the volume of the sphere.

We have $ r=5$, and $ dr=.05$ (remember that the error is the “$ dx$” part of the equation). We want the both the error in the surface area ($ dA$) and the error in the volume ($ dV$).

a) Relate surface area and radius, and differentiate with respect to $ r$:

$ \displaystyle A=4\pi {{r}^{2}};\,\,\,\frac{{dA}}{{dr}}=8\pi r;\,\,\,dA=\left( {8\pi r} \right)dr$

We want $ dA$ (error in the surface area):

$ \displaystyle dA=\left( {8\pi r} \right)dr;\,\,\,\,\,dA=\left( {8\pi \cdot 5} \right).05\approx \pm \,\,6.283$

The error in the measurement of the surface area of the sphere is approximately ±6.283 mm².

b) Relate volume and radius, and differentiate with respect to $ r$:

$ \displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi {{r}^{3}};\,\,\,\,\,\frac{{dV}}{{dr}}=4\pi {{r}^{2}};\,\,\,\,\,dV=\left( {4\pi {{r}^{2}}} \right)dr$

We want $ dV$ (error in the volume):

$ \displaystyle dV=\left( {4\pi {{r}^{2}}} \right)dr;\,\,\,dV=\left( {4\pi \cdot {{5}^{2}}} \right).05\approx \pm \,15.708$

The error in the measurement of the volume of the sphere is approximately ±15.708 mm³.

c) To get percent error:

$ \displaystyle \begin{align}\text{Percent Error}&=\frac{{\text{ Error}}}{{\text{Volume}}}\cdot 100=\frac{{dV}}{V}\cdot 100\\&\approx \frac{{15.708}}{{\frac{4}{3}\pi {{r}^{3}}}}\approx \frac{{15.708}}{{\frac{4}{3}\pi {{{\left( 5 \right)}}^{3}}}}\approx .03\cdot 100\approx 3\end{align}$

The percent error in the measurement of the volume of the sphere is approximately 3%.

Here are a few more that are a bit more difficult; for the first below, we need to use the Differential Product Rule:

Divide this by the total area to get the percent area: .

Error Propagation Problem	Solution
The measurement of the base and altitude of a triangle are 20 cm and 30 cm, respectively. The possible error in each measurement is .3 cm. a) Estimate the possible propagated error in computing the area of the triangle. b) Approximate the percent error in computing this area.	This one’s a little trickier since we have two variables with error; here’s what we have: $ b=20,\,h=30,\,db=.3,\,dh=.3$ (remember that the error is the “$ dx$” part of the equation). We want the error in the area of the triangle ($ dA$), so we have to relate the two perpendicular sides of the triangle to the area: $ \displaystyle A=\frac{1}{2}bh$. Use the differential product rule, $ d\left[ {uv} \right]=u\,dv+v\,du$: $ \require {cancel} \displaystyle A=\frac{1}{2}bh;\,\,\,\frac{{dA}}{{dx}}=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot \frac{{dh}}{{dx}}+h\cdot \frac{{db}}{{dx}}} \right);\,\,dA=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot \frac{{dh}}{{\cancel{{dx}}}}+h\cdot \frac{{db}}{{\cancel{{dx}}}}} \right)\cancel{{dx}}$, so $ \displaystyle dA=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot dh+h\cdot db} \right)$ Substitute and solve for $ dA$: $ \displaystyle dA=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot dh+h\cdot db} \right)=\frac{1}{2}\left( {20\times .3+30\times .3} \right)=7.5$ a) The error in the measurement of the area of the triangle is ±7.5 cm². b) The percent error in the area is $ \displaystyle \frac{{\text{error in area}}}{{\text{total area}}}\cdot 100=\frac{{dA}}{A}\cdot 100=\frac{{7.5}}{{\frac{1}{2}\cdot 20\cdot 30}}\times 100=2.5\%$.
The measurement of the circumference of a certain circle is 81 centimeters, with a possible error of 1.1 centimeter. Approximate the percent error in computing the area of this circle.	This one’s a bit tricky since we have to relate the circumference and area of the circle by it’s radius, even though the radius isn’t mentioned. Here’s what we know: $ C=2\pi r=81;\,\,\,dC=1.1$. From this, we can get $ \displaystyle r=\frac{{81}}{{2\pi }}\approx 12.8915$. Differentiate to get a value for $ dr$: $ \displaystyle C=2\pi r;\,\,\frac{{dC}}{{dr}}=2\pi ;\,\,dC=2\pi dr;\,\,1.1=2\pi dr;\,\,dr=\frac{{1.1}}{{2\pi }}\approx .1751$. Now use the area formula to get $ dA$ so we can eventually get the percent error of the area: $ \displaystyle A=\pi {{r}^{2}};\,\,\,\frac{{dA}}{{dr}}=2\pi r;\,\,dA=\left( {2\pi } \right)rdr=\,\,\left( {\cancel{{2\pi }}} \right)\left( {\frac{{81}}{{\cancel{{2\pi }}}}} \right)\left( {\frac{{1.1}}{{2\pi }}} \right)\,\approx 14.1807$. Divide this by the total area to get the percent area: $ \displaystyle \text{Percent}\,\text{Area}=\frac{{dA}}{A}\times 100\approx \frac{{14.1807}}{{\pi {{r}^{2}}}}\times 100\approx \frac{{14.1807}}{{\pi {{{\left( {12.8915} \right)}}^{2}}}}\times 100\approx 2.716\%$.
How much variation $ dr$ in the radius of a coin can be tolerated if the volume of the coin is to be within $ \displaystyle \frac{1}{{1000}}$ of their ideal volume?	It’s difficult to know how to start this problem, but start out by relating radius with volume by using the volume of a cylindrical equation. We want $ dr$, and have $ dV$ ($ \displaystyle \frac{1}{{1000}}$); use this equation and differentiate: $ \displaystyle V=\pi {{r}^{2}}h;\,\,\,\,\,\,\frac{{dV}}{{dr}}=2\pi rh;\,\,\,\,\,\,dV=2\pi rh\,dr$ Since we know the volume of the coin is to be within $ \displaystyle \frac{1}{{1000}}$ of its total volume, interpret $ dV$ to be this error, so $ \displaystyle \left\| {dV} \right\|\le .001V$. Solve for $ dr$: $ \displaystyle \left\| {dV} \right\|=\left\| {2\pi rh\,dr} \right\|\le .001V,\,\,\text{or}\,\,\left\| {2\pi rh\,dr} \right\|\le .001\left( {\pi {{r}^{2}}h} \right)$. Therefore, $ \displaystyle \,\left\| {dr} \right\|\le \frac{{.001\left( {\cancel{\pi }{{r}^{{\cancel{2}}}}\cancel{h}} \right)}}{{2\cancel{\pi }\cancel{r}h}}$, or $ \displaystyle \,\left\| {dr} \right\|\le .0005r$. The variation of the radius should not exceed .05% of the ideal radius. Tricky!

Error Propagation Problem

Solution

The measurement of the base and altitude of a triangle are 20 cm and 30 cm, respectively. The possible error in each measurement is .3 cm.

a) Estimate the possible propagated error in computing the area of the triangle.

b) Approximate the percent error in computing this area.

This one’s a little trickier since we have two variables with error; here’s what we have: $ b=20,\,h=30,\,db=.3,\,dh=.3$ (remember that the error is the “$ dx$” part of the equation). We want the error in the area of the triangle ($ dA$), so we have to relate the two perpendicular sides of the triangle to the area: $ \displaystyle A=\frac{1}{2}bh$.

Use the differential product rule, $ d\left[ {uv} \right]=u\,dv+v\,du$:

$ \require {cancel} \displaystyle A=\frac{1}{2}bh;\,\,\,\frac{{dA}}{{dx}}=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot \frac{{dh}}{{dx}}+h\cdot \frac{{db}}{{dx}}} \right);\,\,dA=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot \frac{{dh}}{{\cancel{{dx}}}}+h\cdot \frac{{db}}{{\cancel{{dx}}}}} \right)\cancel{{dx}}$, so $ \displaystyle dA=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot dh+h\cdot db} \right)$

Substitute and solve for $ dA$:

$ \displaystyle dA=\frac{1}{2}\left( {b\cdot dh+h\cdot db} \right)=\frac{1}{2}\left( {20\times .3+30\times .3} \right)=7.5$

a) The error in the measurement of the area of the triangle is ±7.5 cm².

b) The percent error in the area is $ \displaystyle \frac{{\text{error in area}}}{{\text{total area}}}\cdot 100=\frac{{dA}}{A}\cdot 100=\frac{{7.5}}{{\frac{1}{2}\cdot 20\cdot 30}}\times 100=2.5\%$.

The measurement of the circumference of a certain circle is 81 centimeters, with a possible error of 1.1 centimeter.

Approximate the percent error in computing the area of this circle.

This one’s a bit tricky since we have to relate the circumference and area of the circle by it’s radius, even though the radius isn’t mentioned. Here’s what we know: $ C=2\pi r=81;\,\,\,dC=1.1$. From this, we can get $ \displaystyle r=\frac{{81}}{{2\pi }}\approx 12.8915$.

Differentiate to get a value for $ dr$: $ \displaystyle C=2\pi r;\,\,\frac{{dC}}{{dr}}=2\pi ;\,\,dC=2\pi dr;\,\,1.1=2\pi dr;\,\,dr=\frac{{1.1}}{{2\pi }}\approx .1751$.

Now use the area formula to get $ dA$ so we can eventually get the percent error of the area: $ \displaystyle A=\pi {{r}^{2}};\,\,\,\frac{{dA}}{{dr}}=2\pi r;\,\,dA=\left( {2\pi } \right)rdr=\,\,\left( {\cancel{{2\pi }}} \right)\left( {\frac{{81}}{{\cancel{{2\pi }}}}} \right)\left( {\frac{{1.1}}{{2\pi }}} \right)\,\approx 14.1807$.

Divide this by the total area to get the percent area: $ \displaystyle \text{Percent}\,\text{Area}=\frac{{dA}}{A}\times 100\approx \frac{{14.1807}}{{\pi {{r}^{2}}}}\times 100\approx \frac{{14.1807}}{{\pi {{{\left( {12.8915} \right)}}^{2}}}}\times 100\approx 2.716\%$.

How much variation $ dr$ in the radius of a coin can be tolerated if the volume of the coin is to be within $ \displaystyle \frac{1}{{1000}}$ of their ideal volume?

It’s difficult to know how to start this problem, but start out by relating radius with volume by using the volume of a cylindrical equation.

We want $ dr$, and have $ dV$ ($ \displaystyle \frac{1}{{1000}}$); use this equation and differentiate:

$ \displaystyle V=\pi {{r}^{2}}h;\,\,\,\,\,\,\frac{{dV}}{{dr}}=2\pi rh;\,\,\,\,\,\,dV=2\pi rh\,dr$

Since we know the volume of the coin is to be within $ \displaystyle \frac{1}{{1000}}$ of its total volume, interpret $ dV$ to be this error, so $ \displaystyle \left| {dV} \right|\le .001V$.

Solve for $ dr$: $ \displaystyle \left| {dV} \right|=\left| {2\pi rh\,dr} \right|\le .001V,\,\,\text{or}\,\,\left| {2\pi rh\,dr} \right|\le .001\left( {\pi {{r}^{2}}h} \right)$.

Therefore, $ \displaystyle \,\left| {dr} \right|\le \frac{{.001\left( {\cancel{\pi }{{r}^{{\cancel{2}}}}\cancel{h}} \right)}}{{2\cancel{\pi }\cancel{r}h}}$, or $ \displaystyle \,\left| {dr} \right|\le .0005r$.

The variation of the radius should not exceed .05% of the ideal radius. Tricky!

Learn these rules and practice, practice, practice!

On to Exponential and Logarithmic Differentiation — you are ready!