The function R(R1,R2) is defined implictly by
R(R1,R2)1=R11+R21(∗)
In particular
R(2,8)1=21+81=85⟹R(2,8)=58
We wish to use the linear approximation
R(R1,R2)≈R(2,8)+∂R1∂R(2,8)(R1−2)+∂R2∂R(2,8)(R2−8)
To do so, we need the partial derivatives ∂R1∂R(2,8)
and ∂R2∂R(2,8). To find them, we differentiate (∗) with respect to
R1 and R2:
−R(R1,R2)21∂R1∂R(R1,R2)−R(R1,R2)21∂R2∂R(R1,R2)=−R121=−R221
Setting R1=2 and R2=8 gives
−(8/5)21∂R1∂R(2,8)−(8/5)21∂R2∂R(2,8)=−41=−641⟹⟹∂R1∂R(2,8)∂R2∂R(2,8)=2516=251
So the specified change in R is
R(1.9,8.1)−R(2,8)≈2516(−0.1)+251(0.1)=−25015=−0.06