Analyze correctly and solve properly application problems

concerning the derivatives to include writing equation of

tangent/normal line, curve tracing ( including all types of algebraic
curves and cusps), optimization problems, rate of change and
related-rates problems (time-rate problems).
APPLICATIONS of the DERIVATIVES
LESSON 4:
RELATED RATES and TIME RATES PROBLEMS
OBJECTIVE:
At the end of the lesson, the student would
be able to illustrate and solve related rate
problems including time rate problems.
Recall: The Derivative of a function
When the concept of the derivative was introduced in the earlier discussion, it was
defined as follows:

DEFINITION:
The derivative of y  f (x) at point P on the curve is equal to the slope of the tangent
line at P; thus the derivative of the function y  f (x) with respect to x at any x in its
domain is defined as:
dy y f ( x  x)  f ( x)
 lim  lim
dx x0 x x0 x
provided the limit exists.
In the given figure, we note that the line connecting points P and Q is a secant line of the curve
Δ𝑦
with slope 𝑚 = , which gives the average change of y per unit change in x. However, as Q gets
Δ𝑥

closer and closer to P , ∆𝑥 decreases and approaches zero.

y

P ( x1 , f ( x1 )) Q( x 2 , f ( x 2 ))

secant line

y y  f (x)

x  x 2  x1
x 2  x1  x
 Δy
The closer Q gets to P, the smaller ∆x becomes (approaching 0) and the ratio , which gives the
Δx

average change of y per unit change in x , would define the instantaneous change in y per unit
change in x ; that is
∆𝑦
lim = instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x.
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

P ( x1 , f ( x1 )) Q( x 2 , f ( x 2 ))

secant line

y y  f (x)

x  x 2  x1
x 2  x1  x
The derivative of a function y = f(x) is the instantaneous rate of change of y
with respect to x.

P ( x1 , f ( x1 )) Q( x 2 , f ( x 2 ))

secant line

y y  f (x)

x  x 2  x1
x 2  x1  x
 A function may be single-variable, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) ,or multi-variable, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑧, … ). Regardless of the

function being single-variable or multi-variable, at times, there is a need to investigate how the function would
change in relation to changes in its independent variable/variables or how fast the dependent variable would
change at the particular instant the independent variable or variables assume a particular value ( instantaneous
rate of change of the dependent variable with respect to its independent variables; general related-rate
problems).
Also, there are many functions in which the concern is on knowing how fast the variables ( both
dependent and independent variables) are changing with respect to time (time-rate problems). It is not
necessary to express each of these variables directly as function of time. For example, we are given an equation
involving the variables x and y, and that both x and y are functions of the third variable t, where t denotes time.
 Both sides of the equation can be differentiated with respect to time t , applying implicit
𝑑𝑥
differentiation and the chain rule, obtaining the rate of change of x and y with respect to t given by and
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦
, respectively. When two or more variables, all functions of time, t, are related by an equation, the
𝑑𝑡
relation between their rates of change may be obtained by differentiating the equation with respect to time,
t.
A common example of a time-rate problem is given by a particle moving along a straight line
s = f (t)
according to the equation of motion , where s is the position ( distance) function of the particle
express as function of time, t. How fast the position of the particle is changing over time defines the velocity
of the particle; it is the rate of change of distance with respect to time, thus we have shown that the velocity
of the particle at time “t” is the derivative of “s” with respect to “t”.
How fast the velocity is changing over time is the derivative of the velocity with respect to time or is
the second derivative of the distance with respect to time.
 Suggested Steps in Solving Related Rate Problems
To solve application problems on related rates or time-rate, the following steps are suggested:
1. Draw an appropriate figure illustrating the problem.
2. Identity the quantities that are changing in value, assigning a variable name to each, and the quantities
that remain constant in the problem.
3. Identify the rates of change that are given and the rate of change that is to be determined in the problem.
Interpret each as a derivative. Label the figure accordingly.
4. Set-up the function/ relation that associates the variable whose rate of change is to be determined with
the variables whose rates of change are given ( working equation).
5. Differentiate the function with respect to a required variable ( time, t, for time-rate problems).
6. Substitute all known values then solve for what is asked for.
EXAMPLE 1
1. A 17 ft ladder is leaning against a wall. If the bottom of the ladder is pulled along the ground away from
the wall at the constant rate of 5 ft/sec, how fast will the top of the ladder be moving down the wall when
it is 8 ft above the ground?

Solution: Refer to the accompanying figure, at any time, t Fig.

let: x – the distance of the foot/ bottom end of the dy
?
ladder from wall (ft) dt y 8 ft
y
y - the distance of the upper end of the ladder from
x
the floor ( ft)
dx ft
Since the bottom end of the ladder is being pulled away from the 5
dt sec
wall, its distance from the wall is increasing over time and is
changing at the rate of 5 ft/sec ( dx/dt).
 As the bottom end of the ladder is being pulled away from the
Fig.
wall, the upper end slides down. This implies that the distance
dy
?
y is decreasing over time. To determine how fast the upper dt y 8 ft
y
end is sliding down, work with the given equation and
determine dy/dt. x
dx ft
x 2  y 2  17 2 Working Equation  dt
5
sec
Use implicit differentiation to differentiate with respect to time :
dx dy
2x  2y 0
dt dt when y  8  x  172  8 2  15
dx dx dy  155 ft
 2x x   9.375
dy dt  dt dt 8 sec

dt 2y y
Note:
• Values which changes as time changes are denoted by variable. The rate is positive if the variable increases
as time increases and is negative if the variable decreases as time increases.
 Example 2
A balloon leaving the ground 60 feet from an observer, rises vertically at the
rate 10 ft/sec . How fast is the balloon receding from the observer after 8 seconds?

Given:
Let h  height ft  of the balloon from the ground at any instant
L  distance ft  of the balloon from the observer at any instant
t  time sec  since the balloon starts to rise from the ground dL
?
h L dt t 8 sec
In the figure :
dh ft
L2  h 2  602  10
dt sec
L  h 2  3600 Working Equation  Viewer
 dh  60 feet
2h 
dL  dt  dL 8010
 dh ft 
dt 2 h2  3600 Since,  10 and t  8sec dt 80  3600
2

dt sec
 dh  dL

800

800
h   ft 
h   10  8sec  80 ft. 6400  3600
 2 
dL dt dt 10,000
 sec 
dt h  3600 dL 800
 8
ft
dt 100 sec
 Example3
A man on a wharf of 20 feet above the water pulls in a rope, to which a boat is attached, at the rate
of 4 ft/sec. At what rate is the boat approaching the wharf when there is 25 feet of rope out?
dR ft
Let t  time sec  since the boat starts to approach the wharf  4
dt sec
x  distance  ft  of the boat from the wharf at any instant
R  length  ft  of the rope out at any instant R
20ft
dx
Find when R  25ft
dt
R 2  x 2  202 When R  25ft
x
x 2  R 2  400 dR ft
and  4
x  R 2  400 (Working Equation) dt sec
dx 25 4 

x R 2  400 dt 252  400
dR dR 254 
2R R 
dx dt dt 15
  dx 20 ft
dt 2 R  400
2
R 2  400 
dt 3 sec
 Example 4
Water is flowing into a conical reservoir 20 feet deep and 10 feet across the top, at the rate of 15
ft3/min . Find how fast the surface is rising when the water is 8 feet deep?

Let t  time min  sin ce the water flows int o the reservoir 10 feet
dV ft 3 5 feet
r  radius (ft) of the water surface at any instant  15
dt min
h  height (ft) of the water at any instant
r
dh
Find when the water is 8 ft. deep

20 feet
dt
V  Bh    r 2  h
1 1
3 3  h

By ratio and proportion

 1 2 dV   2  dh   2  dh 
5 r 1 
1   h   h  3h    h  
 r  h Thus , V
3 4   dt 48   dt  16  dt 
20 h 4  
 dV
V h 3  Working Equation  dh
16
1615 15 ft ft
48  dt   or 1.194
h2 8  4  min
2
dt h8 ft min
 Example 5
A triangular trough is 10 feet long, 6 feet across the top, and 3 feet deep. If water flows in at the
rate of 12 ft3/min, find how fast the surface is rising when the water is 6 inches deep?

Let t  time min  since the water flows into the trough 6 feet
h  height  ft  of the water at any instant
x  horizontal width  ft  of the water at the triangular 12
ft 3
end at any instant min

 
V  volume ft 3 of the water at any instant

3 feet
x
dh
Find when the water is 6 inches deep. h
dt
From V  Bh dV dh
1   20h
V   x h 10  5xh dt dt
2  dV
x 6
By ratio and proportion ,   x  2h dh 12 ft
h 3  dt   1.2
Thus, V  5xh  52hh  10h 2 Working Equation
dt h6 in 20h   1ft  min
206in 
  12in 
 Example 6
A train, starting at noon, travels at 40 mph going north. Another train, starting from the same
point at 2:00 pm travels east at 50 mph . Find how fast the two trains are separating at 3:00 pm.
C 3p
dL
Find when t  1hr. m
dt
y
dx dy
Since  50 mph and  40 mph
dt dt B 2p
m
A B  402  80 miles L
dy mi
From the figure : L  x  80  y 
2  40

miles
2 2
dt hr

80
L  x 2  80  y  Working Equation
2 dx mi
 50 3p
12p dt hr
A 2p
m m
dx dy m x D
2x  2(80  y)
dL
 dt 2 dt
dt 2 x  (80  y) 2
 x  50mph1hr   50 miles
After 1 hr  
y  40mph1hr   40 miles
C 3p
m

dx dy
x  (80  y)
y
dL
 dt 2 dt B 2p
dt x  (80  y)2 m
L

dL (50)(50))  ((80  40)(40) dy

 40
mi


miles
dt hr

80
dt (50)2  (80  40)2 dx mi
 50 3p
12p dt hr
dL 2,500  4 ,800 A 2p
m m
 m x D
dt 2,500  14,400
dL 7,300 7,300 dL mi
   56.15
dt 16,900 130 dt hr
 Example 7
As a man walks across a bridge at the rate of 5 ft/sec , a boat passes directly beneath him at 10
ft/sec. If the bridge is 30 feet above the water, how fast are the man and the boat separating 3
seconds later?
Solution:
Let t  time sec the man starts to cross the bridge s  distance ft  between the man and the boat at any instant

ft
5 ft
sec 5
sec

30’
ft ft
10 10
sec sec
10t

30’
ds
Find : when t  3 sec
dt
 Refer to the figure to set up the ft
5
following relationships: sec
L2  5t   10t 
2 2
Figure:

30’
L  5t   10t 
2 2

ft
L  125t 2 10
sec
S2  30  L2 10t
2

30’
S  900  L2 but L  125t2

S  900   125t2

2

S  900  125t2 Working Equation

when t  3 sec
1253
Differentiate both sides of the WE wrt time t :
ds
dS 1252t  
 dt 900  1253
2

dt 2 900  125t 2
dS 125t  dS 1253 25 ft ft
   or 8.33
dt 900  125t2 dt 45 3 sec sec
 Example 8
A billboard 10 feet high is located on the edge of a building 45 feet tall. A girl 5 feet in height
approaches the building at the rate of 3.4 ft/sec . How fast is the angle subtended at her eye by the
billboard changing when she is 30 feet from the billboard?
d Figure:
Re quired : when x  30 ft.
dt 10’
Solution:
Refer to the accompanying figure:
   
tan   tan     

tan   tan  45’
tan   ( Using appropriate trigonometric identity) 
1  tan  tan 
50 40
but , tan   and tan   ; hence, ft
x x  3.4 5’
50 40 sec

tan   x x
 50  40  x
1    
 x  x 
 10 10’

tan   2 x
x  2000
x2
10x 
 2 
x  2000 45’ 
 10x 
  tan1  2 Working Equation
 x  2000  3.4
ft
5
sec
’
 10x 
  tan1  2  Working Equation
 x  2000 x
dx
dx dx d
20,000  10x  2

(x 2  2000)(10)  10x(2x)  dt
d 1
 2 
dt dt dt x  2000  100x
2 2 2

dt  10x 
1  2
x  2000
2 2

 x  2000  d 20,000  10 30   3.4 

2


dt 302  2000   100 302
2

dx
d
10x 2
 20,000  20x 2  d 11,000 3.4 
 dt   0 .0044
rad
dt x 2
 2000  100x 2
2 dt 8,500,000 sec
 Example 9
A statue 10ft. high is standing on a base 13ft. high. If an observer’s eye is 5ft. above the ground,
how far should he stand from the base in order that the angle between his lines of sight to the top
and bottom of the statue be a maximum? 
1 1 
Required: x such that θ is maximum d  
 18  8 0
2   2
From the figure   2  1 dx  x   x 
Solution: 1   1  
x  18   8 
1 x
cot 2   2  cot 1 1
10’ 18 18
 18  8 
2 2
18  8
x 1 x 2  2  2 
cot 1   1  cot x  18 2
 1  8 
x
8 8 1 
182 82
x x
  cot 1  cot 1 18

8
13’ 18 8 18 2  x 2 8 2  x 2
d 1 1 1 1
5’
x         964  x 2   4324  x 2 
      8
2 2
dx x 18 x
1  1   x 2  144  x  12
Figure  18  8 
Therefore, the observer must be 12 ft from the base of the statue so that his
line of sight from top to bottom of the statue is maximum.
 Problem Set:
1. A sign 3 ft high is placed on a wall with its base 2 ft above the eye level of a woman attempting to read it.
Find how far from the wall the woman should stand to get the “best view” of the sign; that is, so that
the angle subtended at her eye by the sign is maximum.

2. A man on dock is pulling in at the rate of 2ft/sec a rowboat by means of a rope. The man’s hands are 20ft.
above the level of the point where the rope is attached to the boat. How fast is the measure of the angle
of depression of the rope changing when there are 52 ft. of rope out?

3. A picture 5 ft high is placed on a wall with its base 7ft above the level of the eye of an observer is
approaching the wall at the rate of 3ft/sec. How fast is the measure of the angle subtended at her eye
by the picture changing when the observer is 10ft. from the wall?

4. An airplane is flying at a speed of 300mi/hr at an altitude of 4 mi. If an observer is on the ground, find
the time rate of change of the measure of the observer’s angle of elevation of the airplane when the
airplane is over a point on the ground 2 mi. from the observer.
 REFERENCES

Calculus, Early Transcendental Functions, by Larson and Edwards

Calculus, Early Transcendentals, by Anton, Bivens and Davis
University Calculus, Early Transcendentals 2nd ed, by Hass, Weir and Thomas
Differential and Integral Calculus by Love and Rainville