RATES OF CHANGE

If 3 variables are involved,

y=f(x) and x=f(t),
then
dy  dy X dx
dt dx dt
 Example 1
Given w  4x2  3x . If x increase at
the rate of 0.5 unit s-1, find the rate of
change of w when x=2.
Solution 1
dw  dw  dx
dt dx dt
 (8x  3)  0.5
 (8(2)  3)  0.5
 6.5Unit s-1
 Example 2

The radius of a circle increase at a rate of

0.4 cms-1.Find the rate of increase in area
when the radius is 6 cm.
Solution 2
dA  dA  dr
dt dr dt

A πr 2  (2πr)  0.4
 (2π(6))  0.4
 4.8π cm2s-1
 Example 3
The volume, V, of a spherical balloon is
decreasing at a rate of 25 cm3s-1 when its
radius is 6 cm. Find the rate of change of its
radius, r, at that instant.
Solution 3
dV  dV  dr
dt dr dt
4 3  25  (4 π r 2 )  dr
V πr dt
 25  ( 4π (62 )) dr
3 dr 25
dt
 
dt 144π cms
-1
 SMALL CHANGES
δx  0.01
X= 5 cm

X=5 cm

δx  0.01
 SMALL CHANGES
If y=f(x), δx =small change in x and
δy =corresponding small change in y,
then

δy dy

δx dx
dy
δy   δx
dx
 Example 1
Given that y  x3 , find the approximate
change in y if x increases from 4 to
4.02
Solution 1
dy
δy   δx
dx
 3x 2  (4.02  4)
 3(42 )  0.02
 0.96
 Example 2

y  x 4
Given that , find the approximate
change in y if x decreases from 2 to 1.98
Solution 2
dy
δy   δx
dx
 4x 3  (1.98  2)
3
 4(2 )  0.02
 0.64
 Example 3
Find the approximate increase in the
volume of a sphere when its radius
increases from 5 cm to 5.01 cm.
Solution 3
δV  dV  δr
4 3 dr
V πr  4πr 2 (5.01 5)
 
3  4π(52 )  0.01
 π cm 3
 APPROXIMATE VALUES

The approximate value of y is

given by:

y new = y initial + δy
 Example 1
Given y  64 . Find the approximate value
x 3
of 64
(3.96) 3
Solution 1
Y new = y initial + δy
64  dy 
 3   δx
x  dx
 

64  192 
 3   4  (3.96  4)
4  4 
 1 0.03
 1.03
 Example 2

The radius of a circle is r cm.Find

π the
approximate change in the area of the
circle when the radius decreases from
8cm to 7.98 cm.(Leave π in your
answer). Hence, find the approximate
area when r =7.98 cm.
Solution 2