Related Rates#
How to Solve a Related Rates Problem
Here are a few guidelines to follow when solving a related rates problem.
Assign a variable to each quantity that changes and state the known and unknown rates of change with respect to time
.Find an equation relating the variables. Don’t forget about business models.
Differentiate both sides of the equation implicitly with respect to
. Treat all variables as functions of .Replace the variables and their derivatives by the numerical data given. Watch out for words like “increasing” or “decreasing”, “rising” or “falling”, “away” or “towards”, etc. to determine if a derivative is positive or negative.
Solve the equation for the unknown rate of change.
Example 1#
Related rates problem
Given
Step 1: Assign variables and state the known and unknown rates of change.
Step 2: Find an equation which relates the variables.
Step 3: Differentiate both sides of the equation implicitly with respect to .
Step 4: Find the value of .
Since
Step 5: Plug values and derivatives into the equation found in Step 3.
Plug the known values of the variables and their derivatives (
Therefore
Example 2#
Related rates problem: demand vs. revenue
A company is decreasing the production of energy drinks at a rate of 100 cases per day. All cases produced can be sold. The daily demand function is given by
where
Step 1: Assign variables and state the known and unknown rates of change.
Step 2: Find an equation which relates the variables.
Step 3: Differentiate both sides of the equation implicitly with respect to .
Step 4: Plug values and derivatives into the equation found in Step 3.
Plug the known values of the variables and their derivatives (
Therefore revenue is decreasing at $4700 per day when the level of production is 300 cases per day and decreasing at 100 cases per day.
Example 3#
Related rates problem: price vs. demand
The weekly demand function is given by
where
Step 1: Assign variables and state the known and unknown rates of change.
Step 2: Find an equation which relates the variables.
Step 3: Differentiate both sides of the equation implicitly with respect to .
Step 4: Find the value of .
Since
Step 5: Plug values and derivatives into the equation found in Step 3.
Plug the known values of the variables and their derivatives (
Therefore
and since
Example 4#
Related rates problem: price vs. supply
The wholesale price
If 20,000 styluses are available at the beginning of a week, and the price is falling at 4 cents per week, at what rate is the supply falling?
Step 1: Assign variables and state the known and unknown rates of change.
Step 2: Find an equation which relates the variables.
Step 3: Differentiate both sides of the equation implicitly with respect to .
Step 4: Find the value of .
Since
Step 5: Plug values and derivatives into the equation found in Step 3.
Plug the known values of the variables and their derivatives (
Therefore
and since