Master the Chain Rule with These Easy Steps - Check Your Work for Accuracy!

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on applying the chain rule to calculate dw/ds for the function w = -xy - 5yz + 3xz, with given substitutions for x, y, and z. The user outlines their calculation steps but arrives at an incorrect result of 375.01, which differs from another participant's answer of -7.9982294. They express frustration over not being able to identify the error despite multiple checks. The user emphasizes their approach of substituting values for x, y, and z directly to simplify the process. The thread highlights the importance of accuracy in applying the chain rule and verifying calculations.
Whatupdoc
Messages
99
Reaction score
0
chain rule agian - check my work please

w = -xy-5yz+3xz, x = st, y = exp(st), z = t^2

dw/ds(5,-2) = ________________________

here's what i did:

dw/ds = dw/dx*dx/ds + dw/dy*dy/ds + dw/dz*dz/ds
dw/ds = (3z-y)*(t) + (-x-5z)(exp(st)*t) + (3x-5y)(0)

plug in x,y and z...

dw/ds = (3(t^2)-(exp(st)))*(t) + (-(st)-5(t^2))(exp(st)*t) + (3(st)-5(exp(st)))(0)

now plug in s=5 and t=-2...

dw/ds = (3(5^2)-(exp(5*-2)))*(5) + (-(5*-2)-5(5^2))(exp(5*-2)*-2) + (3(5*-2)-5(exp(5*-2)))(0) = 375.01 which is incorrect. i checked my work three times and i can't find the problem, which means I am doing something wrong
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I got -8+39e^{-10} = -7.9982294..., which differs from your result. Is that correct?

I substituted s and t into x, y, and z, so that I didn't have to do the extra step of writing everything out in terms of s and t.

Carl
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top