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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Approximation - Error Problem, 4

Category: Differential Calculus, Solid Geometry

"Published in Newark, California, USA"

Find the approximate formula for the volume of a thin right circular cylindrical shell if r, h, and t denote respectively the radius, length, and thickness.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to draw the figure as follows

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life

We know that the volume of a right circular cylinder is given by the formula


Take the differential on both sides of the equation, we have



Since the right circular cylinder has a uniform thickness which is t, then it follows that


The above equation becomes



Therefore, the volume of a thin right circular cylindrical shell is