P: price of bond
D: Macaulay duration
Dm: modified duration
r: yield
Ci: i'th coupon
In case of continuously compounded yield, [from the definition of duration]
<1> (dP/dr)*(1/P)= -D
then, for a small change in yield,
<2> dP/P= -D*dr+O((dr)^2),
where the second term on RHS takes in account in convexity.
However, the above relation is not valid anymore in the case of yearly compounded yield.
Here, we can simply prove that the Dm fits into<1> and <2>:
define Dm=D/(1+r/n),
assume the simplest case, which n=1,
P=sum[Ci/((1+r)^i)],
where i is the number of years after the starting date Ci is paid.
By the definition of duration,
D=(1/P)*sum{[Ci/((1+r)^i)]*i},
then, take the derivative of D w.r.t. r and multiply by (1+r)/P, gives
(dP/dr)*[(1+r)/P]= -D,
or,
<1'> (dP/dr)*(1/P)= -Dm,
and hence,
<2'> dP/P= -Dm*dr+O((dr)^2,
which are valid for yearly compounded yield.