This is one of the series of post in calculator techniques in solving problems.

You may
also be interested in my previous posts: Calculator technique for progression
problems and Calculator technique for clock problems; both in Algebra.

Flow Rate Problem

Water is poured into a conical tank at the rate of 2.15 cubic meters per minute. The
tank is 8 meters in diameter across the top and 10 meters high. How fast the water
level rising when the water stands 3.5 meters deep.

Traditional Solution

rh=410
r=25h
Volume of water inside the tank

V=13r2h
V=13(25h)2h
V=475h3
Differentiate both sides with respect to time

dVdt=425h2dhdt
2.15=425h2dhdt
When h = 3.5 m

2.15=425(3.52)dhdt
dhdt=0.3492m/min

answer

Solution by Calculator

ShowClick here to show or hide the concept behind this technique

MODE 3:STAT 3:_+cX2

X
0
10
5

Y
0
42
22

AC 2.15 3.5y-caret = 0.3492

answer

To input the 3.5y-caret above, do

3.5 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 6:y-caret

What we just did was actually v = Q / A which is the

equivalent of

dhdt=dV/dtA for this problem.

Problem
Water is being poured into a hemispherical bowl of radius 6 inches at the rate of x cubic
inches per second. Find x if the water level is rising at 0.1273 inch per second when it is
2 inches deep?

Traditional Solution
Volume of water inside the bowl

V=13h2(3rh)
V=13h2[3(6)h]
V=13(18h2h3)
Differentiate both sides with respect to time

dVdt=13(36h3h2)dhdt
When h = 2 inches, dh/dt = 0.1273 inch/sec

dVdt=13[36(2)3(22)](0.1273)
x=7.9985in3/sec

answer

Calculator Technique
MODE 3:STAT 3:_+cX2

X
0
6
12

Y
0
62
0

AC 0.1273 2y-caret = 7.9985

answer

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