Related Rates Project

Problem:
There are three people (points A, B, C) standing in a triangle. Two of the people (A, B) are standing 75
inches apart from each other and will stay stationary. The other person (C) is 112.5 inches and will move
away at a rate of 41.8 inches per second. We will need to find the rate at which the area is increasing,
along with the rate at which the distance is increasing from person A to person C.

Solution:
Givens: Finds:
y = 75 dA/dt = ?
dx/dt = 41.8 dz/dt = ?

We will be able to find dz/dt and dA/dt by knowing the values of x, y, dy/dt, and dx/dt. We will use
Pythagoreans Theorem to find dz/dt. First, well need to find the value of z.
x
2
+ y
2
= z
2

112.5
2
+ 75
2
= z
2

12656.25 + 5625 = 18281.25 = z
2

z = 135.2082

Next we will find the derivative of the original equation.
2x(dx/dt) + 2y(dy/dt) = 2z(dz/dt)

Then we can plug in what we know to the derivative and then solve for dz/dt.
2(112.5)(41.8) + 2(75)(0) = 2(135.2082)(dz/dt)
9405 + 0 = 270.4164(dz/dt)
dz/dt = 9405/270.4164
dz/dt = 34.7797

To find dA/dt, we will find b in terms of h first.
A = ()bh or ()yx

b (y) = 75 inches
h (x) = 112.5 inches
dh/dt = 41.8 inches/sec
112.5b = 75h
b = 75h/112.5
b = h

Next, plug in the value of b in terms of h into the equation for area, then derive the final equation to find
dA/dt.
A = (h)(h)
A = ( h
2
)
A = h
2

dA/dt = h (dh/dt)
dA/dt = (112.5)(41.8)
dA/dt = 3,135 inches
2
/ second