Connected rates of change question

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves the rates of change of the surface area and volume of a cube, specifically examining how the volume changes as the surface area expands at a constant rate. The original poster seeks to show a relationship between the rate of change of volume and the volume itself.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss deriving differential equations from the relationships between volume and surface area, with attempts to express volume in terms of surface area. Questions arise about combining these equations and the correct application of differentiation.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on how to relate the rates of change of volume and surface area. There is ongoing exploration of the correct expressions and derivatives, with multiple interpretations being considered. The discussion reflects a collaborative effort to clarify the relationships involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential misunderstandings regarding the constants involved in the equations, particularly the factor of 6 in the surface area formula. There is also mention of the need to express variables correctly to derive the desired relationship.

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Homework Statement


At time t seconds the surface area of a cube is A cm² and the volume is V cm³. The surface area of the cube is expanding at a constant rate 2 cm²/s
Show that
[tex]\frac{dV}{dt} = \frac{1}{2}V^{\frac{1}{3}}[/tex]


Homework Equations


This is a rates of change question and therefore I will need to dervie differential equations from the information presented.
I can say V = x³
A = 6x²
Where x is the length of a side

The Attempt at a Solution



[tex]\frac{dA}{dT} = A + 2[/tex]
[tex]\frac{dA}{dT} = x^{2} + 2[/tex]

Am I going in the right direction?

Thanks :)
 
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thomas49th said:

Homework Statement


At time t seconds the surface area of a cube is A cm² and the volume is V cm³. The surface area of the cube is expanding at a constant rate 2 cm²/s
Show that
[tex]\frac{dV}{dt} = \frac{1}{2}V^{\frac{1}{3}}[/tex]


Homework Equations


This is a rates of change question and therefore I will need to dervie differential equations from the information presented.
I can say V = x³
A = 6x²
Where x is the length of a side

The Attempt at a Solution



[tex]\frac{dA}{dT} = A + 2[/tex]
[tex]\frac{dA}{dT} = x^{2} + 2[/tex]

Am I going in the right direction?

Thanks :)
No.

The rate of change of A being constantly two means
[tex]\frac{dA}{dt}=2[/tex].
You wrote down a formula for V(x) and for A(x). Combine these two to get a formula V(A) for the volume in terms of the area. Then ther ate of change for the volume would be
[tex]\frac{dV}{dt}=\frac{dV}{dA}\frac{dA}{dt}=2\frac{dV}{dA}[/tex].
Then in this expression, express the area A again in terms of the volume V, and you will be done.
 
ahh cool. how do i got about combining these formulae? Should I use x as the parameter (like in parametrics)

Thanks :)
 
Yes you know A(x). Make x the subject to get x(A). Plug it into V(x) and viola you have V(A).
 
x = sqrt(a)
v = a^{3/2}

however when i diff that [tex]\frac{dV}{dA} = \frac{3}{2} V^{1}{2}[/tex]

that is not the correct answer

Where am I messing up?

Thanks :)
 
You are asked to show that [tex]\frac{dV}{dt} = \frac{1}{2} V^\frac{1}{3}[/tex]
You stopped with [tex]\frac{dV}{dA}[/tex]

How can you get [tex]\frac{dV}{dt}[/tex] from [tex]\frac{dV}{dA}[/tex]?
 
multiply by dA/dt which is 2?
which gives me 3V ^ {3/2}

that isn't the right answer though?

Thanks :)
 
A=6x2, you missed that 6, didn't you?:smile:

Moreover, your final exponent of V is wrong. You have [itex]V\sim A^{3/2}[/itex], so
[tex]\frac{dV}{dA}\sim A^{1/2}\sim V^{1/3}[/tex]

You should be able to get the factos right.
 
right I am getting this:
yeh i missed a = 6x²

dv/da = 3/2 * 6 & A ^(1/2)
= 9A^(1/2)

now multiply this by da/dt giving us 18A^(1/2)

now remeber a = 6 x 3root(V) ^ 2
= 6V^{2/3}
and a is to the power of a half

so

6^(1/2) x 6V^(1/3)
now I am almost there but I can't get the 1/2 at the front of V

interestingly 6^2 = 36 and 18/36 is 1/2 so I am guessing it's somthing round there?

Thanks :)
 
  • #10
thomas49th said:
right I am getting this:
yeh i missed a = 6x²

dv/da = 3/2 * 6 & A ^(1/2)
= 9A^(1/2)
No, what are you doing there. A=6x2, so
[tex] x=\left(\frac{A}{6}\right)^{1/2}[/tex]
Plug this into V=x3, and you get
[tex] V=\left(\frac{A}{6}\right)^{3/2}[/tex]
Differentiating gives
[tex] \frac{dV}{dA}=\frac{3}{2}\frac{1}{6}\left(\frac{A}{6}\right)^{1/2}[/tex]
Together with dA/dt=2, this means
[tex] \frac{dV}{dt}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{A}{6}\right)^{1/2}[/tex]
Now,
[tex] \left(\frac{A}{6}\right)^{1/2}=x=V^{1/3}[/tex]
which is the correct result
 

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