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Mathematics 53
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For today

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Related Rates

As the radius increases, the area of the ripple increases.

How fast the area changes depends on how fast radius changes.

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Let x be a quantity that is a function of time t.

dx
= rate of change of x with respect to t
dt

Suppose y is dependent on x.

dy
dx
is dependent on
dt
dt

Problem on related rates

problem involving rates of change of several variables where one variable is
dependent on one or more other variables

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Related Rates

Note:
1

dx
> 0 t > 0 x increases through time
dt

dx
< 0 t > 0 x decreases through time
dt

dx
= 0 t > 0 x remains constant through time
dt

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Suggestions in solving problems involving related rates:

1

Let t denote the elapsed time. If possible, draw a diagram of the problem that is valid for
any time t > 0.

Select variables to represent the quantities that change with respect to time. Label
those quantities whose values do not depend on t with their given constant values.

Write down any numerical facts known about the variables. Interpret each rate of
change as the derivative of a variable with respect to time.

Identify what is being asked.

Write an equation relating the variables that is valid at all time t > 0.

Differentiate the equation in (5) implicitly with respect to t.

Substitute in the equation obtained in (6) all values that are valid at the particular time
of interest. Solve for what is being asked.

Write a conclusion that answers the question of the problem. Do not forget to include
the correct units of measurement.
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Example
A ladder 10 meters long is leaning against a wall. If the bottom of the ladder is
being pulled horizontally towards the wall at 2 m/s, how fast is the top of the ladder
moving when the bottom is 6 meters from the wall?
Let t denote the elapsed time. If possible,
draw a diagram of the problem that is
valid for any time t > 0.
10

Select variables to represent the

quantities that change with respect to

time. Label those quantities whose values
x

do not depend on t with their given

constant values.

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Example
A ladder 10 meters long is leaning against a wall. If the bottom of the ladder is
being pulled horizontally towards the wall at 2 m/s, how fast is the top of the ladder
moving when the bottom is 6 meters from the wall?
Write down any numerical facts known
about the variables. Interpret each rate of
change as the derivative of a variable with
10

respect to time.

dx
= 2 m/s
dt
x

2 m/s

Identify what is being asked.


dy 
=?
dt  x=6

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Write an equation relating the variables

that is valid at all time t > 0.
10

x2 + y2 = 100

Differentiate the equation implicitly with

x

2 m/s

respect to t.

Dt [ x 2 + y 2 ]
dx
dy
2x
+ 2y
dt
dt
dy
dt

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Dt [100]

= 0
=

x dx
y dt

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Substitute in the equation obtained all values that are valid at the particular time of
interest. Solve for what is being asked.

dy
x dx
=
dt
y dt

x2 + y2 = 100
When x = 6:

dx
= 2
dt

36 + y2 = 100 y2 = 64 y = 8 (since y > 0)

dy 

dt x=6

6
3
= (2) =
8
2

Write a conclusion that answers the question of the problem. Do not forget to include
the correct units of measurement.

The top of the ladder is sliding up the wall at a rate of

the ladder is 6 meters from the wall.

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3
m/s when the bottom of
2

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Example
An automobile traveling at a rate of 20 ft/s is approaching an intersection. When
the automobile is 100 ft. from the intersection, a truck traveling at the rate of 40
ft/s crosses the intersection. The automobile and the truck are on roads that are at
right angles to each other. How fast are the truck and the automobile separating 2
seconds after the truck leaves the intersection?
t > 0:

t = 0:
truck

100

auto

auto

truck

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Example
An automobile traveling at a rate of 20 ft/s is approaching an intersection. When
the automobile is 100 ft. from the intersection, a truck traveling at the rate of 40
ft/s crosses the intersection. The automobile and the truck are on roads that are at
right angles to each other. How fast are the truck and the automobile separating 2
seconds after the truck leaves the intersection?
t > 0:

auto

y
z
truck

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

dx
= 20 ft/s
dt
dy
= 40 ft/s
dt 
dz 
=?
dt t=2

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At t = 2:

t > 0:

x = 100 40 = 60

auto

y = 80

z = 602 + 802 = 100

y
z
truck


1
dz 
(60(20) + 80(40))
=

100
dt t=2


dx
dy
dz 
= 20,
= 40,
=?
dt
dt
dt t=2

= 20


 

Dt x 2 + y 2 = Dt z 2
2x

dy
dz
dx
+ 2y
= 2z
dt
dt
dt


dz
1
dx
dy
=
x
+y
dt
z
dt
dt

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2000
100

Therefore, the distance between them is

increasing at a rate of 20 ft/s after 2
seconds.

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Example
Water is pouring into an inverted cone at the rate of 8 cubic feet per minute. If the
height of the cone is 12 feet and the radius of its base is 6 feet, how fast is the
water level rising when the water is 4 feet deep?

V = volume of water in cone

dV
= 8 ft3 /min
dt
r

12


dh 
=?
dt h=4
V=

1 2
r h
3

But we dont know

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dr
.
dt

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r=

V=
r

V=

12

dV
=
dt
dh
=
dt


1
dV
dh 
V = r2 h,
= 8,
=?
3
dt
dt h=4


dh 
=
dt h=4

=
Express r in terms of h. By similar
triangles,

r
6
=
h
12
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h
2
1 h2
h
3 4
h3
12
2 dh
h
4 dt
4 dV
h2 dt
4
(8)
16
2

2
ft/min

when the water is 4 feet deep.

The water level is rising at

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Example
A particle is moving along the curve y =

x. As the particle passes through the

point (4, 2), its x-coordinate increases at the rate of 3 cm/s. How fast is the
distance from the particle to the origin changing at this instant?



dx 
dz 
= 3 cm/s,
=?
dt (4,2)
dt (4,2)

( x, y)

2
1

z
0 1

p
z = ( x 0)2 + ( y 0)2 =
p
x 2 + y2
We dont know

z=

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dy
. But y = x.
dt

x2 + x

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z=

( x, y)

2
1

z
0 1

x2 + x



dx dx
dz
1
2x
=
+
dt
dt
dt
2 x2 + x

dz 
1
(2(4)(3) + 3)
=

dt (4,2)
2 42 + 4
27
=
2 20

27 5
=
20



dx 
dz 
= 3,
=?
dt (4,2)
dt (4,2)

The
distance is increasing at a rate of

27 5
cm/s when the particle is at
20
P(4, 2).

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Exercises

A woman standing on a cliff is watching a motor boat as the boat approaches

the shoreline directly below her. If the womans eyes are 250 feet above the
water level and if the boat is approaching at 30 feet per second, how fast is the
angle of depression of the boat from the womans eyes changing when the
boat is 250 feet from the shore?

Gravel is being dumped from a conveyor belt at a rate of 30 cubic feet per
minute so that it forms a pile in the shape of a cone whose height and base
diameter are always equal. How fast is the height of the pile increasing when
the pile is 10 feet high?

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