Autumn Bate

Signature Assignment  
Related Rates

Problem:​ ​Two small planes are flying together in formation. At a certain point, they split up
with one plane proceeding at a rate of 130 mph at a bearing of 22​◦​. The second plane proceeds
at speed of 96 mph at a bearing of 87◦​ .​ Find the rate of change of the distance between the two
planes 15 minutes after they break formation.
Recall that generally in air navigation, bearing is given as a nonnegative angle less than 360
degrees measured in a clockwise direction from a ray pointing due north.

Red Plane
Bearing: 22°
dx
dt
= 130 mph

Purple Plane
Bearing: 87°
dx
dt
= 96 mph

Let x be the distance the red plane

15min ( 60min
1hr
) = ​0.25hr

( )
x = 0.25hr 130miles = 32.5miles
1hr

( )
y = 0.25hr 96miles = 24miles
1hr
The next step is to find an equation that uses the calculated values to find the value of z, the
distance between the red and purple plane after 15min. x, y, and z form the following triangle:

The angle of this triangle can be calculated by subtracting the bearings of the two planes

𝞱 = 87°-22° = 65°
This gives a triangle with known values for two sides and an angle in the form SAS allowing us
to use the law of cosine to calculate the length of our unknown side z. Law of cosines states that

z 2 = x2 + y 2 − 2xycos(θ)
If we plug in our known values for x, y and 𝞱 we get the following value for z

z 2 = 32.52 + 242 − 2(32.5)(24)cos(65°)

In order to find the rate of change of z we must take the derivative of the law of cosines equation
where cos(65 ° ) is a constant

d 2 d 2
dt [z ] = dt [x + y 2 − 2xycos(65°)]

2z dz
dt = 2x
dx
dt +2y
dy
dt (
- 2cos(65°) x dx
dt + y dt
dy
)
 dz
Solving for dt
dy dy
dz 2x dx
dt +2y dt − 2cos(65°)(x dx
dt +y dt )
dt = 2z

We can then plug in our known rates and values into this equation

dz 2(32.5)(130)+2(24)(96) − 2cos(65°)((32.5)(96)+(24)(130))
dt = 2(31.19)
dz 8450 + 4608 − (0.8452)(3120 + 3120)
dt = 62.38
dz 13058−5274.048
dt = 62.38
dz
dt = 124.8mph

Therefore the rate of change of the distance between the red and purple plane 15 minutes after
breaking formation is 124.8mph.

Reflection
The strategies that I applied when solving this related rates problem were those outlined
in the textbook. I assigned symbols to all the variables and drew a figure. I stated the information
that was given in terms of variables and assigned a variable to the rate that was to be determined.
I found an equation that related all the variables. I used the chain and power rule to differentiate
both sides of the equation and solved for the rate to be determined. Lastly, I substituted all
known values into the equation and solved for the unknown rate. One major problem that I
encountered in completing this assignment was finding the derivative of the law of cosines
equation. I was attempting to find the derivative of the xycos( θ ) ​using the product rule which
was impossible as the product rule only constitutes for two equations and xycos( θ ) had three. In
order to troubleshoot this problem I watched multiple examples of related rates problems on
youtube and discovered that cos(65 ° ) was a constant. I feel that I gained new patience, problem
solving skills and computer skills from this assignment as I have never had to put so many
equations into a digital document.
` A real world example of related rates that is significant to my future career in chemical
engineering is understanding the rate of production when using different amounts of chemicals to
make a product such as soap and how that rate will change over time depending on the amounts
used. This determined rate can help streamline the production process, cutting down costs and
increasing production.