LESSON 10: Related Rates

TIME FRAME: 2 hours lecture

LEARNING OUTCOME: At the end of the lesson, the learner shall be able to solve situa-
tional problems involving related rates.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1. Process of solving related rates problems

2. Word problems

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 TOPIC 10.1: Solutions to Problems Involving Related Rates

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON

(A) INTRODUCTION

This section culminates the chapter on derivatives. The discussion on related rates con-
cerns quantities which change (increase/decrease) with time, and which are related by an
equation. Differentiating this equation with respect to time gives an equation of relation-
ship between the rates of change of the quantities involved. Therefore, if we know the
rates of change of all but one quantity, we are able to solve this using the aforementioned
relationship between the rates of change.

As motivation, imagine a water droplet falling into a still pond, producing ripples that
propagate away from the center. Ideally, the ripples are concentric circles which increase
in radius (and also in area) as time goes on. Thus, the radius and area of a single ripple
are changing at rates that are related to each other. This means that if we know how fast
the radius is changing, we should be able to determine how fast the area is changing at any
point in time, and vice versa.

We first need to recall that aside from being the slope of the tangent line to a function at
a point, the derivative is also interpreted as a rate of change. The sign of the derivative
indicates whether the function is increasing or decreasing.

3
Suppose the graph of a differentiable function is
increasing. This means that as x increases, the
2
y-value also increases. Hence, its graph would
typically start from the bottom left and increase 1
to the top right of the frame. Refer to the figure
on the right.
0 1 2 3
Observe that the tangent line to the graph at any point slants to the right and therefore, has
a positive slope. This, in fact, describes increasing differentiable functions: A differentiable
function is increasing on an interval if its derivative is positive on that interval.

2
Similarly, a differentiable function is decreasing
on an interval if and only if its derivative is neg- 1
ative on that interval.

0 1 2 3

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 Remark
Let x be a differentiable function which represents a quantity that changes with
time t, then
dx
• is the rate of change of x with respect to t;
dt
dx
• is positive if and only if x increases with time; and
dt
dx
• is negative if and only if x decreases with time.
dt
dx unit of measurement of x
The unit of measurement of is .
dt unit of measurement of t

(B) LESSON PROPER

A related rates problem concerns the relationship among the rates of change of several
variables with respect to time, given that each variable is also dependent on the others. In
particular, if y is dependent on x, then the rate of change of y with respect to t is dependent
dy dx
on the rate of change of x with respect to t, that is, is dependent on .
dt dt
To be systematic in our solutions, we present the following steps:

Suggestions in solving problems involving related rates:

1. If possible, provide an illustration for the problem that is valid for any time t.
2. Identify those quantities that change with respect to time, and represent them with
variables. (Avoid assigning variables to quantities which are constant, that is, which do
not change with respect to time. Label them right away with the values provided in the
problem.)
3. Write down any numerical facts known about the variables. Interpret each rate of
change as the derivative of a variable with respect to time. Remember that if a quantity
decreases over time, then its rate of change is negative.
4. Identify which rate of change is being asked, and under what particular conditions this
rate is being computed.
5. Write an equation showing the relationship of all the variables by an equation that is
valid for any time t.
6. Differentiate the equation in (5) implicitly with respect to t.
7. Substitute into the equation, obtained in (6), all values that are valid at the particular
time of interest. Sometimes, some quantities still need to be solved by substituting the
particular conditions written in (4) to the equation in (6). Then, solve for what is being
asked in the problem.

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

EXAMPLE 1: A water droplet falls onto a still pond and creates concentric circular ripples
that propagate away from the center. Assuming that the area of a ripple is increasing at
the rate of 2⇡ cm2 /s, find the rate at which the radius is increasing at the instant when
the radius is 10 cm.

Solution. We solve this step-by-step using the above guidelines.

(1) Illustration

(2) Let r and A be the radius and area, respectively, of a circular ripple at any time t.
dA
(3) The given rate of change is = 2⇡.
dt
dr
(4) We are asked to find at the instant when r = 10.
dt
(5) The relationship between A and r is given by the formula for the area of a circle:

A = ⇡r2 .

(6) We now differentiate implicitly with respect to time. (Be mindful that all quantities
here depend on time, so we should always apply Chain Rule.)

dA dr
= ⇡(2r) .
dt dt
dA
(7) Substituting = 2⇡ and r = 10 gives
dt
dr
2⇡ = ⇡ · 2(10)
dt
dr 1
=) = .
dt 10
1
(8) Conclusion: The radius of a circular ripple is increasing at the rate of cm/s. .
10
EXAMPLE 2: A ladder 10 meters long is leaning against a wall. If the bottom of the
ladder is being pushed 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?

Solution. We first illustrate the problem.

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 wall
Let x be the distance between the bottom of the ladder and
ladder the wall. Let y be the distance between the top of the ladder
y
10 and the ground (as shown). Note that the length of the ladder
push
is not represented by a variable as it is constant.
x
dx
We are given that = 2. (Observe that this rate is negative since the quantity x
dt
decreases with time.)
dy
We want to find at the instant when x = 6.
dt
Observe that the wall, the ground and the ladder determine a right triangle. Hence, the
relationship between x and y is given by the the Pythagorean Theorem:

x2 + y 2 = 100. (2.15)

Differentiating both sides with respect to time t gives

dx dy
2x + 2y = 0. (2.16)
dt dt

Before we proceed to the next step, we ask ourselves if we already have everything we need.
So, dx/dt is given, dy/dt is the quantity required, x is given, BUT, we still do not have y.

This is easy to solve by substituting the given condition x = 6 into the equation in (2.15).
So,
p p
62 + y 2 = 100 =) y = 100 36 = 64 = 8.

Finally, we substitute all the given values into equation (2.16):

dy dy 24 3
2(6)( 2) + 2(8) =0 =) = = .
dt dt 16 2

Thus, the distance between the top of the ladder and the ground is increasing at the rate
of 1.5 m/s. Equivalently, we can also say that the top of the ladder is moving at the rate
of 1.5 m/s. .

EXAMPLE 3: An automobile traveling at the rate of 20 m/s is approaching an intersec-

tion. When the automobile is 100 meters from the intersection, a truck traveling at the
rate of 40 m/s crosses the intersection. The automobile and the truck are on perpendicular
roads. How fast is the distance between the truck and the automobile changing two seconds
after the truck leaves the intersection?

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 Solution. Let us assume that the automobile is travelling west while the truck is travelling
south as illustrated below.

Let x denote the distance of the automobile from the x automobile

intersection, y denote the distance of the truck from y
the intersection, and z denote the distance between z
the truck and the automobile. truck

dx
Then we have = 20 (the negative rate is due to the fact that x decreases with time)
dt
dy dz
and = 40. We want to find when t = 2.
dt dt
The equation relating x, y and z is given by the Pythagorean Theorem. We have

x2 + y 2 = z 2 . (2.17)

Differentiating both sides with respect to t,

d h 2 i d h 2i
x + y2 = z
dt dt
dx dy dz
=) 2x + 2y = 2z
dt dt dt
dx dy dz
=) x +y = z .
dt dt dt
Before substituting the given values, we still need to find the values of x, y and z when
t = 2. This is found by the distance-rate-time relationship:

distance = rate ⇥ time.

For the automobile, after 2 seconds, it has travelled a distance equal to (rate)(time) =
20(2) = 40 from the 100 ft mark. Therefore, x = 100 40 = 60. On the other hand, for the
truck, it has travelled y = (rate)(time) = 40(2) = 80. The value of z is found from (2.17):
p p p
z = x2 + y 2 = 602 + 802 = 102 (36 + 64) = 100.

Finally,
dz dz
=)
40( 20) + 80(40) = 100 = 20.
dt dt
Thus, the distance between the automobile and the truck is increasing at the rate of 20
meters per second. .

The next example is peculiar in the sense that in the (main) equation relating all variables,
some variables may be related to each other by an equation independent from the main
one. In this case, it is best to minimize the number of variables of the main equation by
incorporating the other equation into the main equation.

185
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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office. First Edition, 2017.
 For instance, consider the area of a rectangle problem. We know that A = `w (main
equation). If we also know that ` = 2w, then our main equation equation can now be
rewritten as
A = (2w)w = 2w2 .

The need to write one variable in terms of another will be apparent when only one of them
has a given rate of change.

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

Solution. We first illustrate the problem.

6
Let V be the volume of the water inside the cone at any
time t. Let h, r be the height and radius, respectively, of
the cone formed by the volume of water at any time t. r 12
dV dh
We are given = 8 and we wish to find when h = 4.
dt dt h

Now, the relationship between the three defined variables is given by the volume of the
cone:
⇡
V = r2 h.
3
Observe that the rate of change of r is neither given nor asked. This prompts us to find
a relationship between r and h. From the illustration, we see that by the proportionality
relations in similar triangles, we obtain
r 6
=
h 12
h
or r = . Thus,
2
✓ ◆2
⇡ ⇡ h ⇡
V = r2 h = h = h3 .
3 3 2 12
Differentiating both sides with respect to t,
d d ⇣ ⇡ 3⌘
(V ) = h
dt dt 12
dV ⇡ 2 dh
=) = h .
dt 4 dt
Thus, after substituting all given values, we obtain
⇡ 2 dh dh 32 2
8= (4) =) = = .
4 dt dt 16⇡ ⇡

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 2
Finally, we conclude that the water level inside the cone is rising at the rate of me-
⇡
ters/minute. .

(C) EXERCISES

1. Starting from the same point, Reden starts walking eastward at 60 cm/s while Neil
starts running towards the south at 80 cm/s. How fast is the distance between Reden
and Neil increasing after 2 seconds?

2. A woman standing on a cliff is watching a motor boat through a telescope as the boat
approaches the shoreline directly below her. If the telescope is 25 meters above the water
level and if the boat is approaching the cliff at 20 m/s, at what rate is the acute angle
made by the telescope with the vertical changing when the boat is 250 meters from the
shore?

3. A balloon, in the shape of a right circular cylinder, is being inflated in such a way that
the radius and height are both increasing at the rate of 3 cm/s and 8 cm/s, respectively.
What is the rate of change of its total surface area when its radius and height are 60 cm
and 140 cm, respectively?

4. If two resistors with resistance R1 and R2 are connected in parallel, the total resistance
1 1 1
R in ohms is given by = + . If R1 and R2 are increasing at 0.4 ohms/s and
R R1 R2
0.25 ohms/s, respectively, how fast is R changing when R1 = 600 ohms and R2 = 400
ohms?

5. A baseball diamond has the shape of a square with sides 90 ft long. A player 60 ft from
second base is running towards third base at a speed of 28 ft/min. At what rate is the
player’s distance from the home plate changing?

6. Shan, who is 2 meters tall, is approaching a post that holds a lamp 6 meters above the
ground. If he is walking at a speed of 1.5 m/s, how fast is the end of his shadow moving
(with respect to the lamp post) when he is 6 meters away from the base of the lamp
post?

?7. Water is being poured at the rate of 2⇡ m3 /min. into an inverted conical tank that is
12-meter deep with a radius of 6 meters at the top. If the water level is rising at the
rate of 61 m/min and there is a leak at the bottom of the tank, how fast is the water
leaking when the water is 6-meter deep?

(D) ENRICHMENT

1. A ladder 20-meter long is leaning against an embankment inclined 60 with the horizon-
tal. If the bottom of the ladder is being moved horizontally towards the embankment
at 1 m/s, how fast is the top of the ladder moving when the bottom is 4 meters from
the embankment?

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 2. A boat is pulled in by means of a winch on the dock 4 meters above the deck of the
boat. The winch pulls in rope at the rate of 1 m/s. Determine the speed of the boat
when there is 3 meters of rope out.
3. A ladder, inclined at 60 with the horizontal is leaning against a vertical wall. The foot
of the ladder is 3 m away from the foot of the wall. A boy climbs the ladder such that his
distance z m with respect to the foot of the ladder is given by z = 6t, where t is the time
in seconds. Find the rate at which his vertical distance from the ground changes with
respect to t. Find the rate at which his distance from the foot of the wall is changing
with respect to t when he is 3 m away from the foot of the ladder.
p
?4. A particle is moving along the curve y = x. As the particle passes through the point
(4,2), its x-coordinate changes at a rate of 3 cm/s. How fast is the distance of the
particle from the origin changing at this instant?

ANSWERS TO STARRED EXERCISES

(C) 7. Let V , h and r be the volume, height and radius respectively, of the water collected
in the cone at any point t. Then V = Vin Vout . Moreover, it is given that
dVin dh 1
= +2⇡, and =+ .
dt dt 6
1
Now, the formula for the volume of a cone is V = ⇡r2 h. We wish to express V in
3
terms of a single variable only. Since we have dh/dt in the given, it is better to express
r in terms of h.
Using similar triangles and the fact that the height and radius of the conical container
are 12 and 6 respectively, we have
r 6 h
= which means r= .
h 12 2
✓ ◆2
1 h ⇡h3
Substituting this expression r, we get V = ⇡h = . Differentiating with
3 2 12
respect to t (don’t forget to apply Chain Rule) gives

dV ⇡ dh ⇡h2 dh
= (3h2 ) = .
dt 12 dt 4 dt
Hence, at the instant when h = 6,

dV ⇡(6)2 1 3⇡
= · = .
dt 4 6 2
dV dVin dVout
Finally, = . This implies that
dt dt dt
dVout dVin dV 3⇡ ⇡ m3
= = 2⇡ = .
dt dt dt 2 2 min

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 (D) 4. Let h, x and y denote the distance from the origin, x-coordinate and y-coordinate
p
respectively, of a point P on the curve y = x at any time t. We are given that
dx dh
= +3 and we want to find at the instant when x = 4 and y = 2.
dt dt
Using the distance formula,
h = x2 + y 2 .
p
Since the curve has equation y = x, the formula above simplifies to

h = x2 + x.

Differentiating with respect to t gives

dh dx
= (2x + 1) .
dt dt
dx dh
Substituting x = 4 and = 3 gives = 9(3) = 27 cm/s.
dt dt

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 CHAPTER 2 EXAM

I. Write TRUE if the statement is true, otherwise, write FALSE.

(a) The sixth derivative of y = sin x is itself.

(b) The linear function y = mx + b, where m 6= 0, has no maximum value on any open
interval.
(c) If the function f is continuous at the real number x = a, then f is differentiable at
the real number x = a.
(d) If f (c) is an extremum, then f 0 (c) does not exist.
(e) A differentiable function f (x) is decreasing on (a, b) whenever f 0 (x) > 0 for all x 2
(a, b).
1
II. Use the definition of derivative to find f 0 (x) if f (x) = .
x
dy
III. Find of the following functions. (Do not simplify.)
dx
1
cos x 3. y = esin x
1. y = 3
p x
1 +
2. y = tan(x2 1) 4. y = ln(2x + 1)

IV. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve x2 + 5xy + y 2 + 3 = 0 at the point
(1, 1).

V. An open box is to be made from a 8 inches by 18 inches piece of cardboard by cutting

squares of equal size from the four corners and bending up the sides. How long should the
sides of the squares be to obtain a box with the largest volume?

VI. If f (x) = x4 + x3 + x2 + x 1, then find f (n) (x) for all n 2 N.

VII. A ladder 8 meters long is leaning against a wall. If the bottom of the ladder is being pulled
horizontally away from the wall at 2 meters per second, how fast is the top of the ladder
moving when the bottom is 3 meters from the wall?

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