Republic of the Philippines

Surigao del Sur State University

Bislig Campus
Maharlika, Bislig City
CALCULUS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING III
Module Number 1 (Review Module)

In Calculus I and Calculus II, you are expected to do all the derivation and integration process in
order to solve for a specific problem. As you are now in Calculus III, it is expected that you already
know the fundamental concepts of differential and integral calculus. And because of this,
throughout this course, all differential and integral process (from derivation to integration of
definite equations) will not be discussed in detail anymore. As such, the use of calculator
technology will be introduced. It is not compulsory to buy a scientific calculator, but you are
encouraged to have one.
APPLICATION OF DERIVATIVES
Related Rates
For quantities that are changing over time, the rates at which these quantities change are given by
derivatives. If two related quantities are changing over time, the rates at which the quantities
change are related. For example, if a balloon is being filled with air, both the radius and the volume
of the balloon are increasing.

If we consider the balloon example, the rate of change in the volume V, is related to the rate of
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑟
change in the radius r. In this case, and are related rates because V is related to r.
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Example 1. A spherical balloon is being filled with air at the constant rate of 2 cm3/sec. How
fast is the radius increasing when the radius is 3 cm?
Solution:
The volume of a sphere of radius r is given by:
4 3
𝑉= 𝜋𝑟
3
Since the balloon is being filled with air, both the volume and radius are functions of time, thus
deriving both sides of the equation with respect to time gives:
𝑑𝑉 4 𝑑𝑟
= 𝜋(3𝑟 2 )( )
𝑑𝑡 3 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉 𝑐𝑚3
The balloon is being filled with air at the constant rate of 2 cm 3/sec, so =2 .
𝑑𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐
When the radius 𝑟 = 3𝑐𝑚,

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 𝑐𝑚3 4 𝑑𝑟
2 = 𝜋[3(3𝑐𝑚)2 ]
𝑠𝑒𝑐 3 𝑑𝑡
𝑐𝑚3
𝑑𝑟 2 𝑠𝑒𝑐 1 𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚
= = = 0.018
𝑑𝑡 4 𝜋[3(3𝑐𝑚)2 ] 18𝜋 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐
3

Problem-Solving Strategy: Solving a Related-Rates Problem

1. Assign symbols to all variables involved in the problem. Draw a figure if applicable.
2. State, in the terms of the variables, the information that is given and the rate to be
determined.
3. Find an equation relating the variables introduced in step 1.
4. Differentiate both sides of the equation found in step 3 with respect to the independent
variable. This new equation will relate the derivatives.
5. Substitute all known values into the equation from step 4, then solve for the unknown
rate of change.
Example 2. An airplane is flying overhead at a constant elevation of 4000 ft. A man is viewing
the plane from a position 3000 ft from the base of a radio tower. The airplane is flying
horizontally away from the man. If the plane if flying at the rate of 600 ft/sec, at what rate is
the distance between the man and the plane increasing when the plane passes over the radio
tower?
Solution:
Step 1. Draw a picture, introducing variables to represent the different quantities involved.

As shown, x denotes the distance between the man and the position on the ground directly below
the airplane. The variable s denotes the distance between the man and the plane. Note that both x
and s are function of time. There is no need to introduce a variable for the height of the plane,
because as stated, it remains constant at 4000 ft. Since an object’s height above the ground is
measured as the shortest distance between the object and the ground, the line segment of length
4000 ft is perpendicular to the line segment of length x feet, creating a right triangle.
Step 2. Since x denotes the horizontal distance between the man and the point on the ground below
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑓𝑡
the plane, represents the speed of the plane, which is given as 600 ft/sec ( 𝑑𝑡 = 600 sec). Since
𝑑𝑡
the problem asks to find the rate of change in the distance between the man and the plane when
𝑑𝑠
the plane is directly above the radio tower, 𝑥 = 3000𝑓𝑡 and the problem asks for .
𝑑𝑡

Step 3. Based on the figure, and as stated in step 1, the diagram created a right triangle. The best
way to relate quantities in a right triangle is by the use of Pythagorean theorem.
𝑥 2 + 40002 = 𝑠 2

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Note that no variable was used to represent 4000. As stated in step 1 (and in the problem), 4000 is
constant all throughout the flight. Representing it with a variable would complicate the solution
process.
Step 4. Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to time.
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑠
2𝑥 + 0 = 2𝑠
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Step 5. Substitute all the values and solve for the missing rate of change. The speed of the plane,
𝑑𝑥 𝑓𝑡
= 600 𝑠𝑒𝑐, and 𝑥 = 3000𝑓𝑡. As observed, there is one value short, which is the value for s.
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑠
However, since the problem is asking to find when 𝑥 = 3000𝑓𝑡, Pythagorean theorem can be
𝑑𝑡
used to determine the distance s when 𝑥 = 3000𝑓𝑡 and the height is 4000 ft.
𝑥 2 + 40002 = 𝑠 2
30002 + 40002 = 𝑠 2
𝑠 = 5000𝑓𝑡
Therefore,
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑠
2𝑥 + 0 = 2𝑠
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑓𝑡 𝑑𝑠
2(3000𝑓𝑡)(600 ) + 0 = 2(5000𝑓𝑡)
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑑𝑡
𝑓𝑡
𝑑𝑠 2(3000𝑓𝑡)(600 𝑠𝑒𝑐 ) 𝑓𝑡
= = 360
𝑑𝑡 2(5000𝑓𝑡) 𝑠𝑒𝑐
Example 3. Water is draining from the bottom of a cone-shaped funnel at the rate of 0.03
ft3/sec. The height of the funnel is 2 ft and the radius at the top of the funnel is 1 ft. At what
𝟏
rate is the height of the water in the funnel changing when the height of the water is 𝟐 ft?

Solution:
Step 1. Draw a picture introducing the variables.

Let h denote the height of the water in the funnel (at any point), r denote the radius of the water at
its surface, and V denote the volume of the water.

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 𝑑ℎ 1
Step 2. The problems requires to solve for when ℎ = 2 ft. Since the volume is decreasing as
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉 𝑓𝑡 3
stated that water is draining, = −0.03 .
𝑑𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐

Step 3. Since the given problem involves a cone, the only equation that relates V, r and h is the
equation for the volume of a cone which is given by:
1 2
𝑉= 𝜋𝑟 ℎ
3
Directly proceeding to step 4 with this equation will cause complications, considering of the three
variables existing. In order to simplify the process, it is imperative to find another equation that
will eliminate one of the variables. Considering that the problem is asking for the rate of change
in height, the variable h can’t possibly be eliminated. Thus, there is a need to find an equation
relating r and h, eliminating r in the process.
As seen from the figure, there is a set of similar triangles existing. Using the concept of similar
triangles, the ratio of the sides in the two triangles is the same. Therefore,
𝑟 1 ℎ 2
= 𝑜𝑟 =
ℎ 2 𝑟 1

Either way, the equation will give:

ℎ
𝑟=
2
Using this, the equation for the volume of a cone can be simplified to:
1 2
𝑉= 𝜋𝑟 ℎ
3
1 ℎ
𝑉 = 𝜋( )2 ℎ
3 2
1 ℎ2
𝑉 = 𝜋( )ℎ
3 4
1 𝜋ℎ3
𝑉= 𝜋ℎ3 =
12 12
Step 4. Differentiating both sides of the equation with respect to time gives,
𝑑𝑉 3𝜋ℎ2 𝑑ℎ
=
𝑑𝑡 12 𝑑𝑡
𝑑ℎ 1 𝑑𝑉
Step 5. Solving for when ℎ = 2 𝑓𝑡, the water is leaving at the rate of 0.03 ft3/sec, thus =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
−0.03 𝑓𝑡 3 /sec. Substituting all the given:
1
3𝜋(2 𝑓𝑡)2 𝑑ℎ
3
−0.03 𝑓𝑡 /sec =
12 𝑑𝑡
𝑑ℎ −0.03 𝑓𝑡 3 /sec 𝑓𝑡
= 2 = −0.153
𝑑𝑡 1 𝑠𝑒𝑐
3𝜋 ( 𝑓𝑡)
2
12

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APPLICATIONS OF INTEGRATION

Arc Length Formulas

𝐿 = ∫ 𝑑𝑠

where,

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑠 = √1 + (𝑑𝑥)2 𝑑𝑥 if 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 ), 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏

𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑠 = √1 + (𝑑𝑦)2 𝑑𝑦 if 𝑥 = ℎ(𝑦), 𝑐 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑑

Note the difference in the derivative under the square root. You should not be confused with this,
because with one, we differentiate with respect to 𝑥 and with the other, we differentiate with
respect to 𝑦. One way to keep the two straight is to notice that the differential in the “denominator”
of the derivative will match up with the differential in the integral.
Also note that no limits were put in the integral as the limits will depend upon the 𝑑𝑠 that we’re
using. Using the first 𝑑𝑠 will require 𝑥 limits of integration and using the second 𝑑𝑠 will require 𝑦
limits of integration.
𝝅
Example 1. Determine the length of 𝒚 = 𝒍𝒏(𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒙) between 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟒.

Solution:
In this case, we’ll need to use the first 𝑑𝑠 since the function is in the form 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). Getting the
derivative out of the way, we get:
𝑑𝑦 sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 2
= = tan 𝑥 ( ) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 sec 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Using the formula,
𝑏
𝑑𝑦 2
𝐿 = ∫ √1 + ( ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑎
𝜋
4

𝐿 = ∫ √1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0

Inputting the equation in the scientific calculator, it will give us,

𝐿 = 0.881 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠.
Note: When performing integration in the scientific calculator involving trigonometric functions,
set your calculator to radian mode. The scientific calculator is set to degree mode by default as
shown by the D icon at the top of the screen. To set to radian mode, just click
SHIFT+MODE+4:RAD. The R icon will show at the top of the screen.
𝟑
𝟐
Example 2. Determine the length of 𝒙 = 𝟑 (𝒚 − 𝟏)𝟐 between 𝟏 ≤ 𝒚 ≤ 𝟒.

Solution:
The very common mistake of students when encountering problem with this type, they try to
transform the given ℎ(𝑦) equation to 𝑓(𝑥) form in order to solve the problem. While that can be
done, it will lead to a much messier integral to deal with.

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Working with ℎ(𝑦) forms is just the same as working with 𝑓(𝑥 ) forms. The only difference is the
𝑑𝑠 equation that you will use. In this case, the ℎ(𝑦) form integral will use the second form of the
arc length equation.
Computing for the derivative:
𝑑𝑥 1 𝑑𝑥 2
= (𝑦 − 1)2 ( ) = 𝑦−1
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Using the formula,
𝑑
𝑑𝑥 2
𝐿 = ∫ √1 + ( ) 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
𝑐

𝐿 = ∫ √1 + (𝑦 − 1) 𝑑𝑦
1

Note that there is no trigonometric function involved, so the scientific calculator must be in degree
mode. Considering that the previous problem has set it to radian mode, we must set it to degree
mode. To set to degree mode from radian mode, just click SHIFT+MODE+3:DEG.
Also note that in the calculator, there is no 𝑑𝑦 mode for the integration. What you have to do is
just input it in the calculator, but replace all 𝑥s with 𝑦s. This is what you will input in the calculator:
4

𝐿 = ∫ √1 + (𝑥 − 1) 𝑑𝑥
1

𝐿 = 4.667 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
If you will notice in example 1 and example 2, the 𝑓(𝑥) form will use the 𝑥- limits while the ℎ(𝑦)
form will use the 𝑦-limits. In the next example, we are given the ℎ(𝑦) form but we are given the
𝑥-limits.
𝟏 𝟏
Example 3. Determine the length of 𝒙 = 𝒚𝟐 for 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ . Assume that 𝒚 is positive.
𝟐 𝟐

Solution:
We’ll use the second form equation as the function is in ℎ(𝑦) form. But notice that we were given
the 𝑥-limits instead of the 𝑦-limits, which we need. Because of the assumption that 𝑦 is positive,
all we have to do is plug 𝑥 into the equation.
1 2
0= 𝑦 , 𝑦=0
2
1 1 2
= 𝑦 , 𝑦=1
2 2
Thus our 𝑦-limits are 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1. Now that we already have the limits, we proceed to the
computation of derivative.
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2
=𝑦 ( ) = 𝑦2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Substituting it in the formula will give,

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 1

𝐿 = ∫ √1 + 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
0

𝐿 = 1.148 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
No trigonometric function is involved, so the scientific calculator must be in degree mode.
INSTRUCTOR’S NOTE
There are still a lot of application for integrals that is not found on this module. While it is
necessary that you learn them as soon as possible, this is not part of our course pack. So I
will leave it in your hands to at least learn about them. You can reach me through our group
chat if you want notes about them. This review module is just given even if it is not included
in the course pack or syllabus but to refresh your minds about the two calculus courses you
already have undergone.
ACTIVITY:
Solve for the following problems given below. Show your solutions. Write your answers in a
1 whole sheet of paper. Take a picture of your answers and either email it to me at
[email protected] or dm it to my facebook account, Toper Man.

1. A car is being compacted into a rectangular solid. The volume is decreasing at a rate of 2
m3/sec. The length and width of the compactor are square, but the height is not the same
length as the length and width. If the length and width walls moved toward each other at a
rate of 0.25 m/sec, find the rate at which the height is changing when the length is 2 m and
height is 1.5 m.

3
2. Determine the length of 𝑦 = 7(6 + 𝑥)2 , 189 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 875.

3. Determine the length of 𝑥 = 4(3 + 𝑦)2 , 1 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 4.

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