Mr G

Title: Differentiation- Rates of Change and Stationary Points

Rate of Change
The concept of rate of change is based on the chain rule.
Recall the chain rule:
ⅆ𝒚 ⅆ𝒚 ⅆ𝒖
= ×
ⅆ𝒙 ⅆ𝒖 ⅆ𝒙

Questions: (Page 420)

#13
4𝜋
1. A spherical ball of ice is melting uniformly at a constant rate of 𝑐𝑚3 𝑠 −1. At what
3
rate is its radius decreasing when its radius is 2cm.

ⅆ𝑉
We must first find 3 derivatives in order to use the chain rule. They gave us ⅆ𝑡
. So now, we are
ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝑉 ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝑉
required to find . And since were given and we are required to find , 𝑤𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒 .
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑟

Hence we have 3 derivatives.

ⅆ𝑉 4𝜋
Given = 𝑐𝑚3 𝑠 −1 Recall the chain rule:
ⅆ𝑡 3

ⅆ𝒚 ⅆ𝒚 ⅆ𝒖
= ×
ⅆ𝒙 ⅆ𝒖 ⅆ𝒙
Required to Find:
ⅆ𝑟
=? ⅆ𝑟
ⅆ𝑡 So, we know that if we want to find ⅆ𝑡 we
ⅆ𝑉 ⅆ𝑉
need and . The chain rule for this
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑟
question will therefore be:
But first you need to find:
ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝑉 ⅆ𝑟
ⅆ𝑉 Capital letter ⅆ𝑡
= ⅆ𝑡
× ⅆ𝑉
=? always go on top
ⅆ𝑟

Using equation linking V and r: RECALL:

4𝜋 If an equation is given in the general form
Volume of sphere, V = 𝑐𝑚3
3 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛

ⅆ𝑉
= 4𝜋𝑟 2 The differential of y with respect to x can
ⅆ𝑟
ⅆ𝑦
be written as ⅆ𝑥 = 𝑛𝑎𝑥 𝑛−1

[Multiply by the power then subtract 1

from the power]
Mr G

Recall the chain rule:

ⅆ𝒚 ⅆ𝒚 ⅆ𝒖 NOTE:
= ×
ⅆ𝒙 ⅆ𝒖 ⅆ𝒙 ⅆ𝑉 ⅆ𝑟 1
If ⅆ𝑟 = 4𝜋𝑟 2 then ⅆ𝑉 = 4𝜋𝑟2

ⅆ𝑟 4𝜋 1
= ×
ⅆ𝑡 3 4𝜋𝑟 2

ⅆ𝑟 1 Exam tip:
= 2
ⅆ𝑡 3𝑟 Always include the UNITS in
your answer!

When r = 2
ⅆ𝑟 1
=
ⅆ𝑡 3(2)2

ⅆ𝑟 1
=
ⅆ𝑡 12

1
So, the radius is decreasing at a rate of 12 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1

FOR THIS TOPIC, YOU ALL NEED TO KNOW THE FOLLOWING

FORMULAE:
1) Volume of Sphere
2) Volume of Cone
3) Surface Area of Sphere
4) Surface Area of Cone
5) Volume of Cylinder
6) Surface Area of Cylinder
7) Trapezium and all other common shapes
Mr G

#14
2. The radius, r cm, of a circle is increasing in such a way that the rate of increase of the
area of the circle is 𝜋𝑟 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 −1 . Calculate the rate of increase of the radius.

Given:
ⅆ𝐴
= 𝜋𝑟 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡

Required to find:
ⅆ𝑟
=?
ⅆ𝑡

But first you need to find:

ⅆ𝐴
=?
ⅆ𝑟
NOTE:
ⅆ𝐴 ⅆ𝑟 1
Use equation: If = 2𝜋𝑟 then =
ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝐴 2𝜋𝑟

𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
ⅆ𝐴
= 2𝜋𝑟
ⅆ𝑡
EXAM TIP:

Always include the UNITS in your

Recall the chain rule:
answer!
ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝐴 ⅆ𝐴
= ÷
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑟

ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝐴 ⅆ𝑟
= ×
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝐴

ⅆ𝑟 1
= 𝜋𝑟 ×
ⅆ𝑡 2𝜋𝑟

ⅆ𝑟 1 1
= So, the radius is increasing at a rate of 2 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡 2
Mr G

#15
𝜋
3. A sector of a circle of radius r cm has an angle of 6 radians. Given that r is increasing
at a constant rate of 5 cm s-1, when r =6 , calculate the rate of increase of:
(a) The area of the sector
(b) The perimeter of the sector

(a) Area of the sector:

Given:
ⅆ𝑟
= 5𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡

Required to find:
ⅆ𝐴
=?
ⅆ𝑡

But first you need to find:

ⅆ𝐴
=?
ⅆ𝑟 If 𝜃 is measured in degrees, the
𝜃
formula would be 360 × 𝜋𝑟 2 , but
Use equation: since 𝜃 is being measured in
radians, we will use the formula
1
Area of sector, A = 2 𝑟 2 𝜃 for finding the area of a sector in
1
1 𝜋 radians, which is 2 𝑟 2 𝜃.
A = 2 𝑟 2 (6 )

𝜋
A = 12 𝑟 2

ⅆ𝐴 𝜋
= 𝑟
ⅆ𝑟 6

Recall the chain rule:

ⅆ𝐴 ⅆ𝐴 ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝑟
No flipping had to take place here since we already had ⅆ𝑡
= ×
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝑡

ⅆ𝐴 𝜋
= 𝑟×5
ⅆ𝑡 6
Mr G

ⅆ𝐴 5𝜋
= 𝑟
ⅆ𝑡 6

When r = 6
EXAM TIP:
ⅆ𝐴 5𝜋
= (6) Always include the
ⅆ𝑡 6
UNITS in your answer!

ⅆ𝐴
= 5𝜋 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡

b) Perimeter of the sector:

Given:
ⅆ𝑟
= 5𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡

Required to find:
ⅆ𝑃
=?
ⅆ𝑡

But first you need to find:

ⅆ𝑃
=? r
ⅆ𝑟 r𝜃

Use equation: r
Perimeter of a sector, P = 2r + r𝜃
ⅆ𝑃 𝜃 is like a number. So if we differentiated 2x,
= 2+ 𝜃 we would get 2, so, if we differentiated 𝑟𝜃,
ⅆ𝑟
we would get 𝜃

ⅆ𝑃 ⅆ𝑃 ⅆ𝑟
= ×
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝑡
Mr G

ⅆ𝑃
= (2 + 𝜃) × 5
ⅆ𝑡

ⅆ𝑃
= 10 + 5𝜃
ⅆ𝑡
EXAM TIP:

𝜋 Always include the

Since 𝜃 = 6 , UNITS in your answer!
ⅆ𝑃 5𝜋
= 10 +
ⅆ𝑡 6

OR

ⅆ𝑃 60 + 5𝜋
= 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡 6
Mr G

#17
4. The water from a leaking tap drips into a fishbowl such that the depth, h cm, of the
water in the bowl at the time t seconds is given by:

ℎ = √1 + 3𝑡
a. Calculate the depth of the water in the bowl when,
(i) t=0
(ii) t=5

ⅆℎ
b. Find the rate of change of h, , when t = 8
ⅆ𝑡

a) The depth of the water in the bowl,

(i) When t = 0

ℎ = √1 + 3𝑡

ℎ = √1 + 3(0)

ℎ = √1
ℎ=1

(ii) When t = 5 Assume the positive values since the

height of the water cannot be negative

ℎ = √1 + 3𝑡

ℎ = √1 + 3(5)

ℎ = √16
ℎ=4

ⅆℎ
b) , when t = 8,
ⅆ𝑡

ℎ = √1 + 3𝑡
1
ℎ = (1 + 3𝑡)2 Do not differentiate the regular way. So don’t do this:
1
1
(1 + 3𝑡)2−1 . We HAVE to use the CHAIN RULE!
2
Mr G

Using the chain rule:

1
Let u = 1 + 3t Let h = 𝑢2

1
ⅆ𝑢 ⅆℎ 1
=3 = 2 𝑢 −2
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑢

Recall the chain rule:

ⅆℎ ⅆℎ ⅆ𝑢
= ×
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑢 ⅆ𝑡

ⅆℎ 1 −1
= 𝑢 2×3
ⅆ𝑡 2

Since u = 1 + 3t

ⅆℎ 3 1
= (1 + 3𝑡)−2
ⅆ𝑡 2

When t = 8

ⅆℎ 3 1
−
= (1 + 3(8)) 2
ⅆ𝑡 2

ⅆℎ 3 1
= (25)−2
ⅆ𝑡 2

ⅆℎ 3 1
= ×
ⅆ𝑡 2 √25

ⅆℎ 3
=
ⅆ𝑡 10
Mr G

ADDITIONAL QUESTION:
1. The length of the side of a square is increasing at a rate of 4 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1 . Find the rate of increase
of the area when the length of the side is 5cm.

S
S
From the time you see
rate, dt goes in the
denominator.
ⅆ𝑠
= 4 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡
ⅆ𝐴 We need to differentiate Area with respect Therefore, we will have:
= ?
ⅆ𝑡 to time. ⅆ𝑠 Side (s) with
ⅆ𝑡 respect to
Since A = s2 (Area of square = S x S = s2 ) time (t)

ⅆ𝐴
= 2𝑠
ⅆ𝑠

RECALL THE CHAIN RULE:

ⅆ𝑨 ⅆ𝑨 ⅆ𝒔
= ×
ⅆ𝒕 ⅆ𝒔 ⅆ𝒕

ⅆ𝐴
= 8𝑠
ⅆ𝑡

When s = 5cm, then

ⅆ𝐴
= 8(5)
ⅆ𝑡

ⅆ𝐴
= 40 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 −1
ⅆ𝑡
Mr G

[ Taken from 2015- Paper 2]:

4
1. A spherical balloon of volume V= 3 𝜋𝑟 3 is being filled with air at the rate of 200 𝑐𝑚3 𝑠 −1.
Calculate in terms of 𝜋, the rate at which the radius is increasing when the radius of the
balloon is 10 cm.

4
V = 3 𝜋𝑟 3

4
When we differentiate, we would get: 3 ( ) 𝜋𝑟 3−1
3

ⅆ𝑣
= 4𝜋𝑟 2
ⅆ𝑟

ⅆ𝑣
From the question, ⅆ𝑡 = 200

RECALL THE CHAIN RULE: Because we had dv as the denominator.

ⅆ𝒓 ⅆ𝒗 ⅆ𝒓
= ×
ⅆ𝒕 ⅆ𝒕 ⅆ𝒗

ⅆ𝑟 ⅆ𝑣 ⅆ𝑣
= ÷
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑟

ⅆ𝑟
ⅆ𝑡
= 200 ÷ 4𝜋𝑟 2

ⅆ𝑟 200
=
ⅆ𝑡 4𝜋𝑟 2

ⅆ𝑟 50
=
ⅆ𝑡 𝜋𝑟 2

ⅆ𝑟 50
=
ⅆ𝑡 𝜋(10)2

ⅆ𝑟 50
=
ⅆ𝑡 100𝜋

ⅆ𝑟 1
=
ⅆ𝑡 2𝜋
𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1
Mr G

Stationary Points

A stationary point on a curve is a point where the gradient is zero. In other words, it is the
ⅆ𝑦
point where ⅆ𝑥 = 0.

QUESTIONS: Singular

#3 page 427
1. Given the function f(x) = 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 15, find the stationary point of the function.
f(x) = 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 15
𝑓 1 (𝑥) = 6𝑥 − 4 NB: Stationary point (s)
indicate coordinates.

But at stationary points 𝑓 1 (𝑥) = 0

6x – 4 = 0
4
𝑥=
6
2
𝑥=
3
2 2
At the stationary point, 𝑥 = 3 , so, to find the corresponding y-coordinate, substitute 𝑥 = 3
into f(x).

2 2 2 2
𝑓 ( ) = 3 ( ) − 4 ( ) − 15
3 3 3

2 −49
𝑓( ) =
3 3

2 −49
Therefore, the stationary point is (3 , )
3
Mr G
Plural
#11 (a)
2. Find the coordinates of the stationary points on the curve y = 𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 + 5
y = 𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 + 5

ⅆ𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 − 12
ⅆ𝑥

ⅆ𝑦
= 3(𝑥 2 − 4)
ⅆ𝑥

ⅆ𝑦
= 3(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
ⅆ𝑥

ⅆ𝑦
At stationary points, ⅆ𝑥 = 0

3(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) = 0
Either
𝑥 = 2 𝑂𝑅 𝑥 = −2

Substitute x = 2 into y = 𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 + 5

y = (2)3 − 12(2) + 5
y = 8 − 24 + 5
y = -11

Substitute x = −2 into y = 𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 + 5

y = (−2)3 − 12(−2) + 5
y = −8 + 24 + 5
y = 21

Therefore, the stationary points are (2, −11) 𝑎𝑛ⅆ (−2, 21)