RELATED RATES

PROBLEMS
 If a particle is moving along a straight line
according to the equation of s motion
f (t ) , since the
velocity may be interpreted as a 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”.
There are many problems in which we are
concerned with the rate of change of two or more
related variables with respect to time, in which 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.
Since the rate of change of x and y with respect to t is
dx dy
given by dt anddt , respectively, we differentiate
both sides of the given equation with respect to t by
applying the chain rule.

When two or more variables, all functions of t, are

related by an equation, the relation between their
rates of change may be obtained by differentiating
the equation with respect to t.
A Strategy for Solving Related Rates Problems (p. 205)
Example 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?
dy
?
ft. dt y 8 ft
1 7 y

x
dx ft
5
dt sec
Let x  distance  ft  of the bottom of the ladder from the wall at any instant
y  distance  ft  of the top of the ladder from the ground at any instant
t  time  sec  since the bottom of the ladder is pulled along the ground
away from the wall
 x 2  y 2  172  Working Equation 
dx dy
2x  2y  0
dt dt
dx dx
 2x x
dy dt  dt

dt 2y y
when y  8  x  172  8 2  15
dy  15 5 ft
  9.375
dt 8 sec
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?

dL
h
L ?
dh ft dt t 8 sec
 10
dt sec

Viewer
60 feet

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
In the figure : L  h   60
2 2 2

L  h2  3600  Working Equation 

 dh  dL  80 10
2h  
dL
  dt  dt  80  3600
2

dt 2 h2  3600
dL 800 800
 dh   
h  dt 6400  3600 10,000
dL
 2  dt 
dL 800 ft
dt h  3600  8
dt 100 sec
dh ft
Since,  10 and t  8sec
dt sec
 ft 
h   10   8sec   80 ft.
 sec 
Example 3
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?
ft
5
sec
Let t  time  sec  the man starts
to cross the bridge
ft s  distance  ft  between the man
10
sec and the boat at any instant
 ft S 2   30   L2
2

5
sec
S  900  L2 but L  125t 2
30’
S  900   125t 2  2

S 10
ft S  900  125t 2  Working Equation 
sec
10t Differenti ate both sides of the WE wrt time t :
30’

dS  125 2t 
5t

L 
dt 2 900  125t 2
dS  125t 
ds 
Find : when t  3 sec dt 900  125t2
dt
when t  3 sec
L2   5t    10t 
2 2 ds 125 3

dt 900  125 3
2

L   5t    10t 
2 2

dS  125 3 25 ft ft
L  125t 2
  or 8.33
dt 45 3 sec sec
Example 4
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
 4
dt sec

R
20ft

x
Let t  time  sec  since the boat starts to approach the wharf
x  distance  ft  of the boat from the wharf at any instant
R  length  ft  of the rope out at any instant
dx
Find when R  25ft When R  25ft
dt
R2  x 2  20 2 dR ft
and  4
dt sec
x 2  R2  400
dx 25  4 
x  R  400 (Working Equation)
2 
dt 252  400
25 4 
x  R  400
2

15
dR dR dx 20 ft
2R R 
dx dt dt
  2 dt 3 sec
dt 2 R  400 2
R  400
Example 5
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? 
10 feet
dV ft 3 5 feet
 15
dt min

r
20 feet

h
 Let t  time  min  sin ce the water flows int o the reservoir
r  radius (ft) of the water surface at any instant
h  height (ft) of the water at any instant

dh
Find when the water is 8 ft. deep
dt
1 1 2
V  Bh    r  h
3 3
 By ratio and proportion
5 r 1
 r  h
20 h 4
1 1    3
2

Thus, V   h  h  V  h  Working Equation

3 4   48
dV   2  dh   2  dh 
 3h    h  
dt 48   dt  16  dt 
dV
16
dh dt 16 15 15 ft ft
   or 1.194
h  8  4  min
2 2
dt h8 ft min
Example 6
Water is flowing into a vertical tank at the rate of 24
ft3/min . If the radius of the tank is 4 feet, how fast is
the surface rising?
4 feet

dV ft 3
 24
dt min

h
Let t  time  min  since the water flows into the tank
h  height  ft  of the water at any instant
 
V  volume ft 3 of the water at any instant
dh
Find when the radius of the tank is 4 ft.
dt
From V  Bh
V    r 2  h   r 2h
But r is constant, r  4 ft
V   4  h  16 h  Working Equation 
2

dV dh
 16
dt dt
dV
dh dt 24 3 ft
  
dt r 4 ft 16 16 2 min
Example 7
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?

6 feet

ft 3
12
min

x
3 feet

h
e et
1 0f
Let t  time  min  since the water flows into the trough
h  height  ft  of the water at any instant
x  horizontal width  ft  of the water at the triangular
end at any instant
 
V  volume ft 3 of the water at any instant

dh
Find when the water is 6 inches deep.
dt
From V  Bh
1 
V   x h 10  5xh
2 
x 6
By ratio and proportion ,   x  2h
h 3
Thus, V  5xh  5 2h h  10h 2  Working Equation 
dV dh
 20h
dt dt
dV
dh 12 ft
 dt   1.2
dt h6 in 20h   1ft  min
20 6in 
  12in 
Example 8
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
3pm

B
2pm
L

dy mi
 40
80 miles

dt hr

dx mi
 50
dt hr 3pm
A 12pm
2pm D
x
 dL
Find when t  1hr.
dt
dx dy
Since  50 mph and  40 mph
dt dt
A B   40  2  80 miles
From the figure : L  x   80  y 
2 2 2

L  x   80  y   Working Equation 
2 2

dx dy
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
 dx dy
x  (80  y)
dL
 dt 2 dt
dt x  (80  y)2

dL (50)(50))  ((80  40)(40)


dt (50)2  (80  40)2
dL 2,500  4 ,800

dt 2,500  14 ,400
dL 7,300 7,300
 
dt 16,900 130

dL mi
 56.15
dt hr
Example 9
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?
10’



45’ 

ft
 3.4 5’
sec

x
 d
Find when x  30 ft.
dt
10
    
In the figure :  tan   2 x
     x  2000
x2
Usin g :      10x
 2
tan   tan      x  2000
tan   tan   10x  
tan     tan 1  2  Working Equation 
1  tan  tan   x  2000 
50 40
but , tan   and tan  
x x
50 40

tan   x x
 50  40 
1    
 x  x 
  10x 
  tan  2 1
  Working Equation 
 x  2000 
dx dx
(x 2  2000)(10)  10x(2x)
d 1 dt dt
 2 
dt  10x 
1  2
 x 2  2000 2
 x  2000 
dx
d
 10x 2
 20,000  20x 2  d  11,000   3.4 
 dt 
dt x 2
 2000  100x 2
2
dt 8,500,000
dx
d
 20,000  10x  2
d rad
 dt  0.0044
dt  x  2000  100x dt sec
2 2 2

d  20,000  10  30     3.4 
2


dt   30  2  2000   100  30  2
2
Example 10
A picture 40 cm high is placed on a wall with its
base 30 cm above the level of the eye of an observer.
If the observer is approaching the wall at the rate of 40
cm/sec, how fast is the measure of the angle
subtended at the observer’s eye by the picture
changing when the observer is 1 m from the wall?

   2  1
40 cm x 1 x
  cot 1
 cot
70 30
1 dx 1 dx
2  
d

30 cm  70 dt  30 dt
dt x2 x2
1 1 2 1 2
70 30
x
d dx / dt  4900  dx / dt  900 
  2 
  
dt 70  4900  x  30  900  x 2 
dx
substitute  40cm/sec and x  1m  100cm
dt
d  40  4900   40  900 
    
dt 70  4900  10000  30  900  10000 

d  700   300 
4 4 
dt  14900   10900 

d 28 12
   0.07782...
dt 149 109

d
 0.078 rad. / sec .
dt
 Example 11
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?
From the figure   2  1
x 1 x
cot 2   2  cot
10’ 18 18
x x
cot 1   1  cot 1
8 8
2 x x

  cot 1  cot 1
13’ 18 8
1 d 1 1 1 1
x        
 x   18  x   8 
2 2
dx
5’ 1  1  
 18  8 
 1  1 
 
d
  18 2   8 0 9 64  x 2   4 324  x 2 
2
dx   
x   
x
1   1   9 64   9x 2  4 324   4x 2
 18   8 
1 1 5x 2  1296  576
 18  8 
2 2
18  2  8 2  2 5x 2  720
x2  18  1  x 8 
1 2
18 82 x 2  144  x  12
18 8 x  12
 2 2
18  x 8  x
2 2

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.
EXERCISE A:
1. What number exceeds its square by the maximum amount?
2. The sum of two numbers is “K”. find the minimum value of
the sum of their squares.
3. A rectangular field of given area is to be fenced off along the
bank of a river. If no fence is needed along the river, what are the
dimensions of the rectangle that will require the least amount of
fencing?
4. A Norman window consists of a rectangle surmounted by a
semicircle. What shape gives the most light for a given perimeter?
5. A cylindrical glass jar has a plastic top. If the plastic is half as
expensive as the glass per unit area, find the most economical
proportions for the glass.
6. Find the proportions of the circular cone of maximum volume
inscribed in a sphere.
7. A wall 8 feet high and 24.5 feet from a house. Find the shortest
ladder which will reach from the ground to the house when
leaning over the wall
EXERCISE B:
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. Find the equations of the normal line and tangent lines
to the graph of the equation y  sec 1  2x  1 at the
point  1 , 1   .
2 3 
4. 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?
5. 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.