RELATED RATES
By: Louielito U. Ferrolino, ECE
RELATED RATES
• An application of differentials
• Involves finding a rate at which a quantity changes by
relating that quantity to other quantities whose rates of
change are known
• With respect to time
Illustration
Solving Related Rates - DEDS
1. Draw: Illustrate the problem and assign symbols to all variables
involved in the problem including the rates of change, if applicable.
2. Equation: Find an equation relating the variables introduced in
step 1.
3. Differentiate: Differentiate the formulated equation with respect
to time
4. Substitute and Solve: Substitute all known values into the
equation, then solve for the unknown rate of change
EXAMPLE
• Two ships sail at the same time at the same point. Ship A
is going north at a speed of 4km/h. Ship B is going west
at a speed of 3km/h. How fast is the distance between
Ship A and Ship B changing after 3 hours?
First Step: Draw
Two ships sail at the
same time at the 𝒅 𝑪
=? ? ?
same point. Ship A is 𝒅𝒕
going north at a
speed of 4km/h. Ship C 𝒅 𝑨
B is going west at a
speed of 3km/h. How A 𝒅𝒕
=𝟒 𝒌𝒎/ 𝒉
fast is the distance
between Ship A and
B
Ship B changing
after 3 hours? 𝒅 𝑩
=𝟑 𝒌𝒎 /𝒉
𝒅𝒕
Second Step: Equation
Two ships sail at the •• GIVEN:
same time at the
same point. Ship A is dA / dt = 4km/h
going north at a
dB / dt = 3km/h
speed of 4km/h. Ship
B is going west at a t = 3hrs
speed of 3km/h. How
fast is the distance
• REQUIRED:
between Ship A and dC / dt = ?
Ship B changing
after 3 hours? The equation relating all the variables is the
Pythagorean Theorem where,
Third Step: Differentiate
Two ships sail at the 𝑑 𝑥𝑛 =𝑛 ∙ 𝑥 𝑛 − 1
•
same time at the 𝑑𝑥
same point. Ship A is
going north at a
speed of 4km/h. Ship
B is going west at a
speed of 3km/h. How
fast is the distance
between Ship A and
Ship B changing
after 3 hours?
Fourth Step: Substitute and
Solve
Two ships sail at the
same time at the
•
same point. Ship A is dA / dt = 4km/h
going north at a
speed of 4km/h. Ship dB / dt = 3km/h
B is going west at a
speed of 3km/h. How Distance A at t = 3 hrs = 4kmh x 3
fast is the distance hrs = 12km
between Ship A and
Ship B changing Distance B at t = 3hrs = 3km x 3 hrs
after 3 hours?
= 9km
Fourth Step: Substitute and
Solve
Two ships sail at the •• How about distance “C”?
same time at the
same point. Ship A is Distance A = 12km
going north at a Distance B = 9km
speed of 4km/h. Ship
B is going west at a
speed of 3km/h. How Pythagorean theorem:
fast is the distance
between Ship A and
Ship B changing
after 3 hours?
Fourth Step: Substitute and
Solve
• Substituting, 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝐵 𝑑𝐶
𝐴 +𝐵 =𝐶
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Distance A = 12km 𝑘𝑚 𝑘𝑚 𝑑𝐶
12 km(4 )+9 km (3 )=15 𝑘𝑚
Distance B = 9km h h 𝑑𝑡
Distance C = 15 km 𝑘𝑚2 𝑘𝑚2 𝑑𝐶
dA / dt = 4km/h 48 +27 =15 𝑘𝑚
h h 𝑑𝑡
dB / dt = 3km/h
2
75 𝑘𝑚 𝑑𝐶
=
h(15 𝑘𝑚) 𝑑𝑡
𝒅𝑪
=𝟓 𝐤𝐦 / 𝐡
𝒅𝒕
EXAMPLE 2
• A ladder 13 meters long rests on horizontal ground and
leans against a vertical wall. The foot of the ladder is
pulled away from the wall at the rate of 0.6 m/sec. How
fast is the top sliding down the wall when the foot of the
ladder is 5 m from the wall?
First Step: Draw
A ladder 13 meters
long rests on
horizontal ground and 𝒅 𝒛
𝒅 𝒚 =𝟎
leans against a vertical =? ? ? 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒕
y z=13m
wall. The foot of the
ladder is pulled away
from the wall at the
rate of 0.6 m/sec. How
fast is the top sliding
down the wall when
the foot of the ladder is
5 m from the wall?
x 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟎 .𝟔 𝒎 / 𝒔
𝒅𝒕
Second Step: Equation
A ladder 13 meters •• GIVEN:
long rests on
horizontal ground and x = 5m
leans against a vertical z = 13m (length of the ladder)
wall. The foot of the dx / dt = 0.6m/s
ladder is pulled away
from the wall at the dz / dt = 0
rate of 0.6 m/sec. How
fast is the top sliding • REQUIRED:
down the wall when
the foot of the ladder is dy / dt = ?
5 m from the wall? The equation relating all the variables is the Pythagorean
Theorem where,
Third Step: Differentiate
A ladder 13 meters 𝑑 𝑥𝑛 =𝑛 ∙ 𝑥 𝑛 − 1
long rests on • 𝑑𝑥
horizontal ground and
leans against a vertical
wall. The foot of the
ladder is pulled away
from the wall at the
rate of 0.6 m/sec. How
fast is the top sliding
down the wall when
the foot of the ladder is
5 m from the wall?
Fourth Step: Solution
A ladder 13 meters
long rests on •
horizontal ground and
leans against a vertical
x = 5m
wall. The foot of the z = 13m (length of the ladder)
ladder is pulled away
from the wall at the dx / dt = 0.6m/s
rate of 0.6 m/sec. How
fast is the top sliding dz / dt = 0
down the wall when
the foot of the ladder is
5 m from the wall?
Fourth Step: Solution
A ladder 13 meters •• How
about distance “y”?
long rests on
horizontal ground and Distance x = 5m
leans against a vertical Distance z = 13m
wall. The foot of the
ladder is pulled away Pythagorean theorem:
from the wall at the
rate of 0.6 m/sec. How
fast is the top sliding
down the wall when
the foot of the ladder is
5 m from the wall?
Fourth Step Solution
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧
• Substituting, 𝑥 +𝑦 =𝑧
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑚 𝑑𝑦
x = 5m 5 m(0.6 )+12 m =13 𝑚(0)
y= 12m 𝑠 𝑑𝑡
z = 13m (length of the ladder)
𝑚
2
𝑑𝑦
dx / dt = 0.6m/s 3 +12 𝑚 =0
𝑠 𝑑𝑡
dz / dt = 0
𝑑𝑦 3 𝑚2
=− =−0.25 𝑚/ 𝑠
𝑑𝑡 12𝑚 ∙ 𝑠
QUESTION TIME
Important Reminders
• Identify which quantities in the problem change and do
not change with time.
• Find the appropriate equation that relates the various
quantities in the problem.
• Remember the DEDS acronym as it may help solving .
THANK YOU!!
