MA4112

Advanced Mathematics III

Name: Date:

Tutorial 1.4 Applications of differentiation

1. (GCE O level Additional Maths Nov 89)

The perimeter of a rectangle has a constant value of 40 cm. One side, of length x
cm, is increasing at a rate of 0.5 cm s1 . Find the rate at which the area is increasing
at the instant when x = 3.

Solution. We have A = x(20 x). Thus,

  
dA  dx 
= (20 2x)
dt x=3 dt x=3
= (20 6) 0.5
= 7 cm2 s1 .

1
2. (GCE O level Additional Maths Nov 93)

A spherical balloon is released from rest and expands as it rises. After rising for t
seconds its radius is r cm, and its surface area is A cm2 , where A = 4r2 .

The initial radius of the balloon is 16 cm. Given that the rate of increase of the
radius is constant and has the value of 0.8 cm s1 , find the rate of increase of A
when t = 5.

Solution. Since the initial radius of the balloon is 16 cm, and the rate of increase of
the radius is constant and has the value of 0.8 cm s1 , we have

r = 0.8t + 16

and hence

A = 4r2 = 4(0.8t + 16)2 .

Therefore,
 
dA  
= 6.4(0.8t + 16)
dt t=5

t=5
2 1
= 128 cm s .

2
3. (GCE O level Additional Maths June 99)
5
Two variables, x and y, are related by the equation y = x + x2
.
dy
(i) Obtain an expression for dx and hence find, in terms of p, the approximate
change in y as x increases from 4 to 4 + p, where p is small.
Given that y is increasing at a rate of 2.7 units per minute when x = 4, find
(ii) the rate of change of x at this instant.
dy 10
Solution. (i) = 1 3 . Hence an approximate change in y is given by
dx x

dy  27
p  = p.
dx x=4 32

dy dy 
5 dx 10 dx

(ii) We have y = x + x2
implies dt
= dt
x3 dt
. Since dt 
= 2.7 units per minute,
x=4
we conclude that
 
dx  5 dx 
2.7 = .
dt x=4 32 dt x=4

Hence the required rate of change is 3.2 units per minute.

3
4. (GCE A level Maths C June 87 (modified))

O and A are fixed points 1000 m apart on horizontal ground. The point B is
vertically above A, and represents a balloon which is ascending at a steady rate of
2 ms1 . The balloon is being observed from a moving point P on the line OA. At
time t = 0, the balloon is at A and the observe is at O. The observation point P
moves towards A with steady speed 6 ms1 . At time t, the angle AP B is radians.
d
Express in terms of t.
dt

Solution. At time t, we have OP = 6t and AB = 2t. Hence

 
1 AB
= tan
AP
 
1 2t
= tan
1000 6t
 
1 t
= tan
500 3t

and so
  
d d 1 t
= tan
dt dt 500 3t
 
1 d t
=
2
1+ t dt 500 3t
5003t
1 (500 3t) 1 t dtd (500 3t)
=
2
1+ t (500 3t)2
5003t
1
= .
t2 + (500 3t)2