Problem 238
Hard Approximation and Higher Derivatives

Calculate the value of the differential of each function

Calculate the value of the differential of each function over the indicated change of the variable. 1° $y = \dfrac{1}{(\tan x+1)^{2}}$, from $x = \dfrac{\pi}{6}$ to $x = \dfrac{61\pi}{360}$; 2° $y = \sin 2\varphi$, from $\varphi = \dfrac{\pi}{6}$ to $\varphi = \dfrac{61\pi}{360}$; 3° $y = \cos^{2}\varphi$, from $\varphi = 60^{\circ}$ to $\varphi = 60^{\circ}30'$.

Explanation of Method

Three short evaluations — and a reminder that angles must be in radians.

Step 1: The common increment

All three parts use the same step. For 1° and 2°: \[\Delta x = \frac{61\pi}{360}-\frac{\pi}{6} = \frac{61\pi-60\pi}{360} = \frac{\pi}{360} \approx 0.0087266.\]

For 3° the step is $30' = \tfrac12{}^{\circ}$, which in radians is

\[ \Delta\varphi = \frac12\cdot\frac{\pi}{180} = \frac{\pi}{360}, \]

the same number. Converting to radians is essential: the derivative formulas for trigonometric functions are valid only in radian measure.

Step 2: Part 1°: the derivative

Write $y = (\tan x+1)^{-2}$ and apply the chain rule, with $(\tan x)' = \sec^{2}x$: $y' = -2\bigl(\tan x+1\bigr)^{-3}\sec^{2}x$.

Step 3: Part 1°: evaluate at $x_{0} = \dfrac{\pi}{6}$

At this point $\tan\dfrac{\pi}{6} = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt3}$ and $\sec^{2}\dfrac{\pi}{6} = \dfrac{4}{3}$. For the cube in the denominator: \[\frac{1}{\sqrt3}+1 = \frac{1+\sqrt3}{\sqrt3}, \qquad \left(\frac{1+\sqrt3}{\sqrt3}\right)^{3} = \frac{\bigl(1+\sqrt3\bigr)^{3}}{3\sqrt3},\]

\[ \bigl(1+\sqrt3\bigr)^{3} = 1+3\sqrt3+9+3\sqrt3 = 10+6\sqrt3. \]

Therefore \[y'\Bigl|_{\pi/6} = -2\cdot\frac{3\sqrt3}{10+6\sqrt3}\cdot\frac43 = -\frac{8\sqrt3}{10+6\sqrt3} = -\frac{4\sqrt3}{5+3\sqrt3}.\]

Step 4: Part 1°: rationalise and finish

Multiplying above and below by $5-3\sqrt3$, the denominator becomes $25-27 = -2$: \[y'\Bigl|_{\pi/6} = -\frac{4\sqrt3\bigl(5-3\sqrt3\bigr)}{-2} = 2\sqrt3\bigl(5-3\sqrt3\bigr) = 10\sqrt3-18 \approx -0.6794919.\]

\[ dy_{1} = \bigl(10\sqrt3-18\bigr)\cdot\frac{\pi}{360} \approx -0.0059297. \]

\[dy_{1} = \dfrac{\bigl(10\sqrt3-18\bigr)\pi}{360} \approx -0.00593\]

Step 5: Part 2°

Here $y' = 2\cos 2\varphi$, and at $\varphi_{0} = \dfrac{\pi}{6}$ the argument is $2\varphi_{0} = \dfrac{\pi}{3}$, where $\cos = \dfrac12$: \[y'\Bigl|_{\pi/6} = 2\cdot\frac12 = 1, \qquad dy_{2} = 1\cdot\frac{\pi}{360}.\]

\[dy_{2} = \dfrac{\pi}{360} \approx 0.00873\]

Step 6: Part 3°

Using $\bigl(\cos^{2}\varphi\bigr)' = -2\cos\varphi\sin\varphi = -\sin 2\varphi$, at $\varphi_{0} = 60^{\circ}$: \[y'\Bigl|_{60^{\circ}} = -\sin 120^{\circ} = -\frac{\sqrt3}{2}, \qquad dy_{3} = -\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\cdot\frac{\pi}{360} = -\frac{\sqrt3\,\pi}{720}.\]

\[dy_{3} = -\dfrac{\sqrt3\,\pi}{720} \approx -0.00756\]

Step 7: Verification

\[1^{\circ}:\ y\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right) \approx 0.4019238,\ y\left(\frac{61\pi}{360}\right) \approx 0.3960296; \quad \Delta y \approx -0.0058942 \text{ vs } dy_{1} \approx -0.0059297 \;\;\checkmark\]

\[2^{\circ}:\ \sin\frac{61\pi}{180}-\sin\frac{\pi}{3} \approx 0.0085943 \text{ vs } dy_{2} \approx 0.0087266 \;\;\checkmark\]

\[3^{\circ}:\ \cos^{2}60.5^{\circ}-\cos^{2}60^{\circ} \approx -0.0075190 \text{ vs } dy_{3} \approx -0.0075575 \;\;\checkmark\]


Result

Final answer:

\[\boxed{\,dy_{1} = \dfrac{\bigl(10\sqrt3-18\bigr)\pi}{360} \approx -0.00593\,}\]

Final answer:

\[\boxed{\,dy_{2} = \dfrac{\pi}{360} \approx 0.00873\,}\]

Final answer:

\[\boxed{\,dy_{3} = -\dfrac{\sqrt3\,\pi}{720} \approx -0.00756\,}\]

Remark

Remark. Parts 2° and 3° look different but are the same computation in disguise: $\cos^{2}\varphi = \tfrac12\bigl(1+\cos 2\varphi\bigr)$, so its derivative is $-\sin2\varphi$, exactly the negative of the derivative of $\tfrac12\sin 2\varphi$. The step $\pi/360$ — half a degree — is small enough that each differential agrees with the true increment to within about $1.6\%$.