Topic: Linear approximation to estimate a root

3
Question: What is the closest linear approximation of 9?

Answer choices:

41
A
12

23
B
12

7
C
12

25
D
12

505
Solution: D

To solve, we need to find a similar cube root for which we know the
solution. We can use 23 = 8. Then we can turn our given cube root into the
function

3
f (x) = x

For our approximation, we can say that a = 8, and then we can find find
f (a).

3 1
f (a) = a = a3

And f (8) is

3
f (8) = 8

f (8) = 2

Then f′(a) is

1 −2
f′(a) = a 3
3

And so f′(8) is

1 −2
f′(8) = (8) 3
3

1 1
f′(8) = (64)− 3
3

1 −1
f′(8) = (4)
3

506
 1
f′(8) =
12

Now we can create our linear approximation model using f (8) = 2,

f′(8) = 1/12, and a = 8.

L = f (a) + f′(a)(x − a)

1
L =2+ (x − 8)
12

x 8
L =2+ −
12 12

24 x 8
L= + −
12 12 12

16 x
L= +
12 12

16 + x
L=
12
3
Finally we can take the original root 9 where x = 9 in relation to our
3
function f (x) = x and the value we found for L to find the linear
approximation.

16 + 9
L=
12

25
L=
12
3
The linear approximation of 9 is 25/12.

507
Topic: Linear approximation to estimate a root

3
Question: What is the closest linear approximation of 29?

Answer choices:

83
A
27

25
B
27

137
C
27

79
D
27

508
Solution: A

To solve, we need to find a similar cube root for which we know the
solution. We can use 33 = 27. Then we can turn our given cube root into the
function

3
f (x) = x

For our approximation, we can say that a = 27, and then we can find find
f (a).

3 1
f (a) = a = a3

And f (27) is

3
f (27) = 27

f (27) = 3

Then f′(a) is

1 −2
f′(a) = a 3
3

And so f′(27) is

1 2
f′(27) = (27)− 3
3

1 1
f′(27) = (729)− 3
3

1 −1
f′(27) = (9)
3

509
 1
f′(27) =
27

Now we can create our linear approximation model using f (27) = 3,

f′(27) = 1/27, and a = 27.

L = f (a) + f′(a)(x − a)

1
L =3+ (x − 27)
27

x 27
L =3+ −
27 27
x
L =3+ −1
27
x
L =2+
27

54 x
L= +
27 27

54 + x
L=
27
3
Finally we can take the original root 29 where x = 29 in relation to our
3
function f (x) = x and the value we found for L to find the linear
approximation.

54 + 29
L=
27

83
L=
27

510
 3
The linear approximation of 29 is 83/27.

511
Topic: Linear approximation to estimate a root

4
Question: What is the closest linear approximation of 79?

Answer choices:

322
A
54

164
B
54

161
C
54

82
D
54

512
Solution: C

To solve, we need to find a similar cube root for which we know the
solution. We can use 34 = 81. Then we can turn our given cube root into the
function

4
f (x) = x

For our approximation, we can say that a = 81, and then we can find find
f (a).

4 1
f (a) = a = a4

And f (81) is

4
f (81) = 81

f (81) = 3

Then f′(a) is

1 −3
f′(a) = a 4
4

And so f′(81) is

1 3
f′(81) = (81)− 4
4

1 1
f′(81) = (531,441)− 4
4

1
f′(81) = (27)−1
4

513
 1
f′(81) =
108

Now we can create our linear approximation model using f (81) = 3,

f′(81) = 1/108, and a = 81.

L = f (a) + f′(a)(x − a)

1
L =3+ (x − 81)
108

x 81
L =3+ −
108 108

324 x 81
L= + −
108 108 108

324 x 81
L= + −
108 108 108

243 x
L= +
108 108

243 + x
L=
108
4
Finally we can take the original root 79 where x = 79 in relation to our
4
function f (x) = x and the value we found for L to find the linear
approximation.

243 + 79
L=
108

322
L=
108

514
 161
L=
54
4
The linear approximation of 79 is 161/54.

515