Time Rates

If a quantity x is a function of time t, the time rate of change of x is given by dx/dt.

When two or more quantities, all functions of t, are related by an equation, the relation
between their rates of change may be obtained by differentiating both sides of the
equation with respect to t.

Basic Time Rates

 Velocity, v=ds/dt, where s is the distance.
 Acceleration, a=dv/dt =d2s/dt2, where v is velocity and s is the distance.
 Discharge, Q=dV/dt, where V is the volume at any time.
 Angular Speed, ω=dθ/dt , where θ is the angle at any time.

Steps in Solving Time Rates Problem

1. Identify what are changing and what are fixed.
2. Assign variables to those that are changing and appropriate value (constant) to those
that are fixed.
3. Create an equation relating all the variables and constants in Step 2.
4. Differentiate the equation with respect to time.

EXAMPLES
1. Water is flowing into a vertical cylindrical tank at the rate of 24ft3/min. If
the radius of the tank is 4ft, how fast is the surface rising?
2. A rectangular trough is 10ft long and 3ft wide. Find how fast the surface rises, if
water flows in at the rate of 12ft3/min.

3. A ladder 20ft long leans against a vertical wall. If the top slides downward at the
rate of 2ft/sec, find how fast the lower end is moving when it is 16ft from the wall

4. A kite is 40ft high with 50ft cord out. If the kite moves horizontally at 5 miles per
hour directly away from the boy flying it, how fast is the cord being paid out?

5. A boy on a bike rides north 5 mi, then turns east. If he rides 10 mi/hr, at what rate
does his distance to the starting point S changing 2 hour after he left that point?