TIME RATES:

If we have a function, 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑡 , where 𝑡 represents time and wish to find

the rate of change with respect to 𝑡, we can calculate the derivative
directly; 𝑑𝑦
= 𝑓′ 𝑡
𝑑𝑡
In the event that 𝑦 is a function of 𝑥 and 𝑥 is itself a function of
𝑑𝑦
time 𝑡, we can determine 𝑑𝑡
from the formula;
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
=
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡
Steps in solving problems with Time Rates:

1. Sketch a figure to illustrate the conditions of the problem. Denote

by proper variables the quantities which vary with time.

2. Write a relation between the variables involved which is true at any

instant of time.
3. Differentiate the expression obtained in step 2 with respect to time.

4. Substitute the known quantities in the expression obtained by

differentiation in step 3. Compute the values of the required quantities

❑ Note:

▪ The rate of change with respect to time of a quantity which increases

is negative +

▪ The rate of change with respect to time of a quantity which decreases

is negative −

Illustrative Problem:

Gas is escaping from a spherical balloon at a rate of 2 𝑓𝑡 3 Τ𝑚𝑖𝑛. How

fast is the surface area shrinking when the radius is 12 𝑓𝑡 .
Solution: 4 3
V = πr
3
Given:
dV 4 dr
dV = π 3 r2
= −2 ft 3 Τmin ; r = 12 ft dt 3 dt
dt
dV 𝑑𝑟
= 4π𝑟 2
Illustrate the problem: dt 𝑑𝑡
dV
𝑑𝑟
= dt 2 → 1
𝑑𝑡 4π𝑟
S = 4πr 2
dS dr
= 4π 2 r
dt dt
dS 𝑑𝑟
= 8π𝑟
dt 𝑑𝑡
d𝑆
𝑑𝑟
= dt →2
𝑑𝑡 8π𝑟
Solving Equations 1 and 2:
dV dS
dt = dt
4πr 2 8πr
dV
dS dt 8πr
=
dt 4πr 2
dV
dS 2
= dt
dt r
dV
When = −2 ft 3 Τmin and r = 12 ft
dt

dS 2 −2 ft 3 Τmin
=
dt 12 ft
dS 1
= − ft 2 Τmin → answer
dt 3
Illustrative Problem:
A rectangular trough 8 feet long, 2 feet across the top and 4 feet deep.
If water flows in at the rate of 2 𝑓𝑡 3 Τ𝑚𝑖𝑛, how fast is the water surface
rising when the water is 1 feet deep.
Given:
dV
= 2 ft 3 Τmin ; h = 1 ft
dt
Solution:

Illustrate the problem:

 V = BL ; where B = area of base and L = length

V= 2 ℎ 8

𝑑𝑉 𝑑ℎ dV
= 16 ; = 2 ft 3 Τmin
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 dt

3Τ
𝑑ℎ
2 ft min = 16
𝑑𝑡
𝑑ℎ 1
= 𝑓𝑡Τmin → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑡 8

Illustrative Problem:

Two ships A and B are sailing away from point O along different routes,
such that angle 𝐴𝑂𝐵 = 60°. Ship A is sailing at the rate of 25 KPH, ship
B at the rate of 30 KPH. How fast is the distance between them changing
when OA=15 km and OB=18 km.
Given:
dx dy
= 25 kph ; = 30 kph ; ∡AOB = 60° ; OA = x = 15 km ; OB = y = 18 km
dt dt
Solution:

Illustrate the problem:

By cosine law:
L2 = x 2 + y 2 − 2xy cos θ ; but θ = 60°
1
L2 = x 2 + y 2 − 2xy cos 60° ; but cos 60° =
2
2 2 2
1
L = x + y − 2xy
2

L2 = x 2 + y 2 − xy →1

dL dx dy dy dx
2L = 2x + 2y − x + y
dt dt dt dt dt

dL dx dy dy dx
2L = 2x + 2y − x − y
dt dt dt dt dt

dL dx dy
2L = 2x − y + 2y − x →2
dt dt dt
In equation 1; 𝑑2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 𝑥𝑦; when x=15 km and y=18 km

L2 = 15 2
+ 18 2
− 15 18

L= 15 2 + 18 2 − 15 18

L = 16.70 𝑘𝑚
dx d𝑦
Substitute; L = 16.70 𝑘𝑚 ; = 25 kph ; = 30 kph ; x = 15 ; y = 18 in equation 2
dt dt
dL dx dy
2L = 2x − y + 2y − x →2
dt dt dt
dL
2 16.70 = 2 15 − 18 25 + 2 18 − 15 30
dt
dL
2 16.70 = 30 − 18 25 + 36 − 15 30
dt

dL
= 27.84 𝑘𝑚Τℎ𝑟 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
dt
Illustrative Problem:
The top of a 25 feet ladder leaning against a vertical wall is slipping
down the wall at the rate of 1 𝑓𝑡Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐. How fast is the bottom of the
ladder is slipping along the ground when the bottom of the ladder is 7
feet away from the base of the wall.
Given:
𝑑𝑦
= −1 𝑓𝑡Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐 ; 𝑥 = 7 𝑓𝑡
𝑑𝑡
Solution:
Illustrate the problem:
By Pythagorean Theorem:
252 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 →1
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
2x + 2𝑦 =0
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
x +𝑦 =0
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
x = −𝑦
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
=− →2
𝑑𝑡 𝑥 𝑑𝑡
In equation 1, when x = 7 ft

252 = 7 2 + 𝑦2

𝑦 = 24 𝑓𝑡
 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Substitute; = −1𝑓𝑡Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐 ; x = 7 ft and y = 24 ft in equation 2 =− →2
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑥 𝑑𝑡
dx 24
=− −1
dt 7
dx
= 3.43 𝑓𝑡Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
dt
Illustrative Problem:
A small funnel in the shape of a cone being emptied of water at the
rate of 12 cubic centimeter per second. The height of the funnel is 20
centimeters and the radius at the top is 4 centimeters. How fast is the
water level dropping when the level stands 5 centimeters above the
vertex of the cone.
Given:
𝑑𝑉
= −12𝑐𝑚3 Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑑𝑡
ℎ = 5 cm
Solution:
Illustrate the problem: Substitute equation 2 in 1:

1 ℎ 2
𝑉= 𝜋 5 ℎ
3

1
𝑉= 𝜋ℎ3
75
𝑑𝑉 1 2
𝑑ℎ
= 𝜋 3 ℎ
𝑑𝑡 75 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉 1 2
𝑑ℎ
= 𝜋ℎ
𝑑𝑡 25 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
1 𝑑ℎ 25 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑉
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ →1 = ; a𝑡 ℎ = 5 𝑐𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑑𝑡
= −12
3 𝑑𝑡 𝜋ℎ2
By Ratio and Proportion:
𝑑ℎ 25 −12
𝑟 4 ℎ = 2
= −3.82 𝑐𝑚Τsec → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
= ; 𝑟= →2 𝑑𝑡 𝜋 5
ℎ 20 5
Illustrative Problem:

A particle moves along the curve 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 4. At a certain moment,

when x=2, the particles x-coordinates is increasing at the rate of 0.5
unit per second. How fast is its y-coordinates changing at that moment.

Given:

𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 4

𝑑𝑥
= 0.5 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑑𝑡

x = 2 unit
Solution:
Illustrate the problem: 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 4

𝑑𝑦 2
𝑑𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
= 2 3𝑥 𝑥 − 3 2𝑥
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 6𝑥 − 6𝑥
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥
𝐴𝑡 𝑥 = 2 ; = 0.5
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦 2
=6 2 0.5 − 6 2 0.5
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦
= 6 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠 Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑡
Problem Set:
1. Ship A is sailing due south at 16 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠Τℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟, and ship B, 32 miles
south of A, is sailing due east at 12 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠Τℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟, determine how fast are
they approaching or separating at the end of 1 hour?
2. A man 5 feet tall walks at the rate of 4 feet per second directly
away from a street light that is 20 feet above the street, determine how
fast is the tip of his shadow moving?
3. If a point moves along the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥, at what point is the y-
coordinate changing twice as fast as the x-coordinate?
4. A light is at the top of a pole 24 meters high. A ball is dropped at
the same height from a point 6 meters from the light. Assuming that the
ball falls according to 𝑠 = 16𝑡 2 , how fast is the shadow of the ball
moving along the ground 1 second later?
5. Two parallel sides of a rectangle are being lengthened at the rate of
2 inches per second, while the other two sides are shortened in such a
way that figure remains a rectangle with constant area of 50 square
inches. What is the rate of change of the perimeter P when the length of
the increasing side is 5 inches?