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178 STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

General Procedure for Solving Related Rate Problems

STRATEGY 1. Read the problem and, if appropriate, draw a diagram.
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2. Represent the given information and the unknowns by mathematical symbols.

3. Write an equation involving the rate of change to be determined. (If the equation
contains more than one variable, it may be necessary to reduce the equation to one
variable.)
4. Differentiate each term of the equation with respect to time.
5. Substitute all known values and known rates of change into the resulting equation.
6. Solve the resulting equation for the desired rate of change.
7. Write the answer and indicate the units of measure.

Common Related Rate Problems

Example 1
When the area of a square is increasing twice as fast as its diagonals, what is the length of a
side of the square?
z2
Let z represent the diagonal of the square. The area of a square is A = .
  2
dA dz 1 dz
= 2z =z
dt dt 2 dt
dA dz dz dz
Since =2 ,2 =z ⇒ z = 2.
dt dt dt dt

 z = 2, then s + s = z
2 2 2
Let s be a side of the square. Since the diagonal
⇒ 2s = 4 ⇒ s = 4 ⇒ s = 2 or s = 2.
2 2 2

Example 2
Find the surface area of a sphere at the instant when the rate of increase of the volume of
the sphere is nine times the rate of increase of the radius.
4
Volume of a sphere: V = πr 3 ; Surface area of a sphere: S = 4πr 2 .
3
4 dV dr
V = πr 3 ; = 4r 2 .
3 dt dt
dV dr dr dr
Since = 9 , you have 9 = 4πr 2 or 9 = 4πr 2 .
dt dt dt dt
Since S = 4πr 2 , the surface area is S = 9 square units.
9 3 1
Note: At 9 = 4πr 2 , you could solve for r and obtain r 2 = or r = √ . You could then
4π 2 π
3 1
substitute r = √ into the formula for surface area S = 4πr 2 and obtain 9. These steps
2 π
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are of course correct but not necessary.

Example 3
The height of a right circular cone is always three times the radius. Find the volume of the
cone at the instant when the rate of increase of the volume is twelve times the rate of increase
of the radius.

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Applications of Derivatives 179

Let r, h be the radius and height of the cone, respectively.

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1 1
Since h = 3r , the volume of the cone V = πr 2 h = πr 2 (3r ) = πr 3 .
3 3
dV dr
V = πr 3 ; = 3πr 2 .
dt dt
dV dr dr dr 2
When = 12 , 12 = 3πr 2 ⇒ 4 = πr 2 ⇒ r = √ .
dt dt dt dt π
 3  
2 8 8
Thus, V = πr 3 = π √ =π √ =√ .
π π π π

TIP • Go with your first instinct if you are unsure. Usually that is the correct one.

Inverted Cone (Water Tank) Problem

A water tank is in the shape of an inverted cone. The height of the cone is 10 meters, and
the diameter of the base is 8 meters as shown in Figure 9.1-1. Water is being pumped into
the tank at the rate of 2 m3 /min. How fast is the water level rising when the water is 5 meters
deep? (See Figure 9.1-1.)

8m

10 m
5m

Figure 9.1-1

Solution:
Step 1: Define the variables. Let V be the volume of water in the tank; h be the height of
the water level at t minutes; r be the radius of the surface of the water at t minutes;
and t be the time in minutes.
dV 3
Step 2: Given: = 2 m /min. Height = 10 m, diameter = 8 m.
dt
dh
Find: at h = 5.
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dt
1
Step 3: Set up an equation: V = πr 2 h.
3
4 r 2h
Using similar triangles, you have = ⇒ 4h = 10r ; or r = .
10 h 5
(See Figure 9.1-2.)

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180 STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

4
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r
10

Figure 9.1-2
Thus, you can reduce the equation to one variable:
 2
1 2h 4
V= π h = π h 3.
3 5 75
Step 4: Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to t.
dV 4 dh 4 dh
= π (3)h 2 = π h2
d t 75 d t 25 dt
Step 5: Substitute known values.
 
4 dh dh 1 25
2 = π h2 ; = m/min
25 dt dt π h2
2
  
dh d h  25 1
Evaluating at h = 5;  = m/min
dt d t h=5 2 π (5)2

1
= m/min.
2π
1
Step 6: Thus, the water level is rising at m/min when the water is 5 m high.
2π

Shadow Problem
A light on the ground 100 feet from a building is shining at a 6-foot-tall man walking away
from the light and toward the building at the rate of 4 ft/sec. How fast is his shadow on the
building becoming shorter when he is 40 feet from the building? (See Figure 9.1-3.)
Building
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Light
6 ft

100 ft

Figure 9.1-3

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Applications of Derivatives 181

Solution:
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Step 1: Let s be the height of the man’s shadow; x be the distance between the man and the
light; and t be the time in seconds.
dx
Step 2: Given: = 4 ft/sec; the man is 6 ft tall; distance between light and building is
dt
ds
100 ft. Find at x = 60.
dt
Step 3: (See Figure 9.1-4.) Writing an equation using similar triangles, you have:

6 x 600
= ;s = = 600x −1
s 100 x

s
6
x
100

Figure 9.1-4

Step 4: Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to t.

ds d x −600 d x −600 −2400

= (−1)(600)x −2 = 2 = 2 (4) = ft/sec
dt dt x dt x x2

ds
Step 5: Evaluate at x = 60.
dt
Note that when the man is 40 ft from the building, x (distance from the light) is
60 ft.

d s  −2400 2
 = ft/sec = − ft/sec
d t x =60 (60) 2 3

2
Step 6: The height of the man’s shadow on the building is changing at − ft/sec.
3

TIP • Indicate units of measure, e.g., the velocity is 5 m/sec or the volume is 25 in3 .
applicable copyright law.

Angle of Elevation Problem

A camera on the ground 200 meters away from a hot air balloon (also on the ground) records
the balloon rising into the sky at a constant rate of 10 m/sec. How fast is the camera’s angle
of elevation changing when the balloon is 150 m in the air? (See Figure 9.1-5.)

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182 STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

Balloon
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y
x
Camera

200 m

Figure 9.1-5

Step 1: Let x be the distance between the balloon and the ground; θ be the camera’s angle
of elevation; and t be the time in seconds.
dx
Step 2: Given: = 10 m/sec; distance between camera and the point on the ground
dt
x
where the balloon took off is 200 m, tan θ = .
200
dθ
Step 3: Find at x = 150 m.
dt
Step 4: Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to t.
 
2 dθ 1 dx dθ 1 1 1
sec θ = ; = 2
(10) = 2
.
d t 200 d t d t 200 sec θ 20 sec θ
y
Step 5: sec θ = and at x = 150.
200

Using the Pythagorean Theorem: y 2 = x 2 + (200)2

y 2 = (150)2 + (200)2
y = ±250.
250 5
Since y > 0, then y = 250. Thus, sec θ = = .
200 4

d θ  1 1
Evaluating  = =  2 radian/sec
d t x =150 20 sec2 θ 5
20
4
1 1 1 4
=  2 =   = 125 = radian/sec
5 25 125
20 20
4 16 4
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or .032 radian/sec
= 1.833 deg/sec.
Step 6: The camera’s angle of elevation changes at approximately 1.833 deg/sec when the
balloon is 150 m in the air.

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Applications of Derivatives 183

9.2 Applied Maximum and Minimum Problems

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Main Concepts: General Procedure for Solving Applied Maximum and Minimum
Problems, Distance Problem, Area and Volume Problems, Business
Problems

General Procedure for Solving Applied Maximum

STRATEGY and Minimum Problems
Steps:
1. Read the problem carefully and if appropriate, draw a diagram.
2. Determine what is given and what is to be found, and represent these quantities by
mathematical symbols.
3. Write an equation that is a function of the variable representing the quantity to be
maximized or minimized.
4. If the equation involves other variables, reduce the equation to a single variable that
represents the quantity to be maximized or minimized.
5. Determine the appropriate interval for the equation (i.e., the appropriate domain for
the function) based on the information given in the problem.
6. Differentiate to obtain the first derivative and to find critical numbers.
7. Apply the First Derivative Test or the Second Derivative Test by finding the second
derivative.
8. Check the function values at the endpoints of the interval.
9. Write the answer(s) to the problem and, if given, indicate the units of measure.

Distance Problem
Find the shortest distance between the point A (19, 0) and the parabola y = x 2 − 2x + 1.
Solution:
Step 1: Draw a diagram. (See Figure 9.2-1.)
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Figure 9.2-1

Step 2: Let P (x , y ) be the point on the parabola and let Z represent the distance between
points P (x , y ) and A(19, 0).

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184 STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

Step 3: Using the distance formula,

 
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2 2 2 2
Z = (x − 19) + (y − 0) = (x − 19) + (x 2 − 2x + 1 − 0)
  2 
2 2 2 4
= (x − 19) + (x − 1) = (x − 19) + (x − 1) .

(Special case: In distance problems, the distance and the square of the distance
have the same maximum and minimum points.) Thus, to simplify computations,
2 4
let L = Z 2 = (x − 19) + (x − 1) . The domain of L is (−∞, ∞).

dL 3
Step 4: Differentiate: = 2(x − 19)(1) + 4(x − 1) (1)
dx
= 2x − 38 + 4x 3 − 12x 2 + 12x − 4 = 4x 3 − 12x 2 + 14x − 42
= 2(2x 3 − 6x 2 + 7x − 21).
dL
is defined for all real numbers.
dx
dL
Set = 0; 2x 3 − 6x 2 + 7x − 21 = 0. The factors of 21 are ±1, ±3, ±7,
dx
and ± 21.
Using Synthetic Division, 2x 3 − 6x 2 + 7x − 21 = (x − 3)(2x 2 + 7) = 0 ⇒ x = 3.
Thus, the only critical number is x = 3.
(Note: Step 4 could have been done using a graphing calculator.)
Step 5: Apply the First Derivative Test.
L′ – 0 +

[
0 3
L decr. incr.
rel. min.

Step 6: Since x = 3 is the only relative minimum point in the interval, it is the absolute
minimum.
 
2 2 2 2
Step 7: At x = 3, Z = (3 − 19) + (3 − 2(3) + 1) = (−16) + (4)
2
    
= 272 = 16 17 = 4 17. Thus, the shortest distance is 4 17.

TIP • Simplify numeric or algebraic expressions only if the question asks you to do so.

Area and Volume Problems

Example Area Problem
applicable copyright law.

1
The graph of y = − x + 2 encloses a region with the x -axis and y -axis in the first quadrant.
2
A rectangle in the enclosed region has a vertex at the origin and the opposite vertex on the
1
graph of y = − x + 2. Find the dimensions of the rectangle so that its area is a maximum.
2

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Applications of Derivatives 185

Solution:
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Step 1: Draw a diagram. (See Figure 9.2-2.)

1
y=– x+2
2

P(x, y)
y

x
0 x

Figure 9.2-2

1
Step 2: Let P (x , y ) be the vertex of the rectangle on the graph of y = − x + 2.
2
Step 3: Thus, the area of the rectangle is:
 
1 1
A = x y or A = x − x + 2 = − x 2 + 2x .
2 2

The domain of A is [0, 4].

Step 4: Differentiate:

dA
= −x + 2.
dx

dA
Step 5: is defined for all real numbers.
dx
dA
Set = 0 ⇒ −x + 2 = 0; x = 2.
dx
A(x ) has one critical number x = 2.

Step 6: Apply the Second Derivative Test:

d 2A
= −1 ⇒ A(x ) has a relative maximum point at x = 2; A(2) = 2.
dx2
Since x = 2 is the only relative maximum, it is the absolute maximum. (Note that
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at the endpoints: A(0) = 0 and A(4) = 0.)

1
Step 7: At x = 2, y = − (2) + 2 = 1.
2
Therefore, the length of the rectangle is 2, and its width is 1.

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186 STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

Example Volume Problem (with calculator)

If an open box is to be made using a square sheet of tin, 20 inches by 20 inches, by cutting
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a square from each corner and folding the sides up, find the length of a side of the square
being cut so that the box will have a maximum volume.
Solution:
Step 1: Draw a diagram. (See Figure 9.2-3.)

20 – 2x

x x

x x

20 – 2x 20

x x

x x

20

x
–2

x
20

20 – 2x
Figure 9.2-3

Step 2: Let x be the length of a side of the square to be cut from each corner.

Step 3: The volume of the box is V (x ) = x (20 − 2x )(20 − 2x ).

The domain of V is [0, 10].

Step 4: Differentiate V (x ).
Enter d (x ∗ (20 − 2x ) ∗ (20 − 2x ), x ) and we have 4(x − 10)(3x − 10).

Step 5: V  (x ) is defined for all real numbers.

applicable copyright law.

Set V  (x ) = 0 by entering: [Solve] (4(x − 10)(3x − 10) = 0, x ), and obtain x = 10

10 10
or x = . The critical numbers of V (x ) are x = 10 and x = . V (10) = 0 and
3 3
 
10 10
V = 592.59. Since V (10) = 0, you need to test only x = .
3 3

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Applications of Derivatives 187

10
Step 6: Apply the Second Derivative Test. Enter d (x ∗ (20 − 2x ) ∗ (20 − 2x ), x , 2)|x =
  3
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10
and obtain −80. Thus, V is a relative maximum. Since it is the only relative
3
maximum on the interval, it is the absolute maximum. (Note at the other endpoint
x = 0, V (0) = 0.)
10
Step 7: Therefore, the length of a side of the square to be cut is x = .
3

TIP • The formula for the average value of a function f from x = a to x = b is

b
1
f (x )d x .
b−a a

Business Problems
Summary of Formulas

1. P = R − C : Profit = Revenue − Cost

2. R = x p: Revenue = (Units Sold)(Price Per Unit)
C Total Cost
3. C = : Average Cost =
x Units produced/Sold
dR
4. : Marginal Revenue ≈ Revenue from selling one more unit
dx
dP
5. : Marginal Profit ≈ Profit from selling one more unit
dx
dC
6. : Marginal Cost ≈ Cost of producing one more unit
dx

Example 1
Given the cost function C (x ) = 100 + 8x + 0.1x 2 , (a) find the marginal cost when x = 50;
and (b) find the marginal profit at x = 50, if the price per unit is $20.

Solution:
(a) Marginal cost is C  (x ). Enter d (100 + 8x + 0.1x 2 , x )|x = 50 and obtain $18.
(b) Marginal profit is P  (x )
P = R −C
P = 20x − (100 + 8x + 0.1x 2 ). Enter d (20x − (100 + 8x + 0.1x ∧ 2, x )|x = 50 and
obtain 2.
applicable copyright law.

TIP • Carry all decimal places and round only at the final answer. Round to 3 decimal places
unless the question indicates otherwise.

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