# Approximation and error in functions of multiple variables - help needed

1. Oct 11, 2009

### Vampire

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A baseball player is playing approximately 310 feet from a TV camera that is behind home plate. A batter hits a fly ball that goes to a wall 400 feet from the camera.
(a) The Camera turns 12 degrees to follow the play. Approximate the number of feet the fielder has to make the catch.
(b) If the position of the fielder could be in error by as much as 5 feet, and the maximum error in measuring the rotation of the camera is 1 degree, approximate the maximum possible error in your answer from part (a).

Verbatim.

2. Relevant equations
The law of cosines.
c2 = a2 + b2 - 2abcos($$\theta$$)
Linear approximation at (a,b,c):
L(x,y,z) = f(a,b,c) + fx(x,y,z)(x-a) + fy(x,y,z)(y-b) + fz(x,y,z)(z-c)

3. The attempt at a solution

I used the law of cosines to set up a function of 3 variables, and I left one variable constant.

c = f(a,b,$$\theta$$) = the distance that the fielder moves.
a = the initial distance of the fielder from the camera.
b = the position of the ball after the play. This was constant at 400.
$$\theta$$ = the angle the camera moves in radians.

f(a,b,$$\theta$$) = ( a2 + 4002 - 800*a*cos($$\theta$$) )1/2

After that I used a linear approximation to approximate the distance the player must move (since the problem instructs me to do so). I got an answer nowhere near the exact value I calculated.

I do not know how to find the maximum possible error in (b).

I have the feeling that I did not set this problem up correctly to begin with. Did I?

EDIT: I got this feeling due to the fact that f(a,b,c) = 0 in my setup

fa = ( a - 400cos($$\theta$$) ) / ( a2 +4002 -a*800cos($$\theta$$) )1/2
f$$\theta$$ = ( 400asin($$\theta$$) ) / ( a2 +4002 -a*800cos($$\theta$$) )1/2

Last edited: Oct 12, 2009
2. Oct 12, 2009

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
I would NOT interpret "approximate the number of feet" as meaning to use a linear approximation. You will be approximating by simply calculating f(a,b,$\theta$) since the value of cos(12) that your calculator gives you is only approximate.

For (b) you can use the approximation $df= f_a da+ f_b db+ f_\theta d\theta$, with da= db= 5 and $d\theta= 1$ degree (so you will need to convert this to radians).

3. Oct 12, 2009

### Vampire

Thank you. That clears things up.