𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥

= 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 , = 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Example

Given 𝑦 = 4𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 and the value of x changes at the rate of 0.1 unit/s . Find
the rate of change of y when x = 2 units.

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
= ×
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑥
= 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 = 0.1 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑠
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦
=?
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 12𝑥 2 + 2 , 𝑥 = 2 , = 12(2)2 + 2 = 50
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= 50 × 0.1 = 5 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑠
𝑑𝑡

Rates of change usually involve area and volume.

Question 1

3
Two variables x and y are related by the equation 𝑦 = 6𝑥 − . If y is
𝑥
changing at rate 9 units per second, find the rate of change of x
when x = -2.
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 3 3 27
= × , =9, =6+ 2 =6+ =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 4 4

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 9 4
= 𝑑𝑡 = =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑦 27
( ) 3
𝑑𝑥 4

Question 2

The radius, r cm, of a circle is 10cm and it is increasing at the rate

0.5cms-1. At what rate is the area increasing ? [𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 , 𝑦 =
𝜋𝑥 2 ][𝑦 = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 , 𝑥 = 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠]
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= × , = 2𝜋𝑥 = 2(3.142)(10) = 62.84
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= 62.84𝑐𝑚 × 0.5𝑐𝑚/𝑠 = 31.42𝑐𝑚2 /𝑠
𝑑𝑡
Question 3

The volume of sphere decreases at a rate of 5.4π cm3s-1. Find the

rate of change in the radius of the sphere when the radius is 6cm.
4
[𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑦 = 𝜋𝑥 3 ] [𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑥 = 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠]
3

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= × , = 4𝜋𝑥 2 = 4𝜋(6)2 = 144𝜋
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 −5.4𝜋 3
= 𝑑𝑡 = = − @ − 0.0375
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑦 144𝜋 80
𝑑𝑥
Question 4

Given 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 and the value of x changes at a rate 0.6 unit-1.

Find the rate of change in y when x = 3.
[Answer : 13.8]
Question 5

The radius r cm, of a circle is 20cm and it is increasing at the rate

4cms-1. At what rate is the area of the circle increasing?
[Answer : 502.72]
Question 6

The area of a circle is decreasing at the rate of 4cm2s-1. How fast is

the radius decreasing when the area is 16π cm2.

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝑦 = 𝜋𝑥 2 = 16𝜋 , 𝑥 2 = 16, 𝑥 = 4

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= × , = 2𝜋𝑥 = 2(3.142)(4) = 25.136
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 −4
= 𝑑𝑡 = = −0.1591
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑦 25.136
𝑑𝑥