Derivative of a cylinder's volume

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the differentiation of a cylinder's volume and surface area, specifically addressing the application of the product rule in calculus. Participants are examining the relationship between the volume formula, V = πr²h, and the surface area formula, A = 2πrh + 2πr².

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the application of the product rule and the meaning of the variables involved, particularly the use of "x" in the differentiation process. There is confusion regarding the relevance of surface area in the context of the volume differentiation problem.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the differentiation process and highlighted the need to clarify which variables are being differentiated. Others have pointed out that the original poster's approach may not be relevant to the problem at hand, suggesting a focus on the volume formula instead.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of a related rates problem involving water flowing into a cylinder, which introduces additional variables and context that may affect the discussion. Participants are also noting the potential oversight of time as a variable in the differentiation process.

NP04
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Homework Statement
why does the derivative of a cylinder's volume (its surface area) = 2πrh+2πr^2
Relevant Equations
Power rule: [d/dx]x^n = nx^(n-1)
Product Rule: y' = ab' + ba'

Volume of a cylinder = (πr^2)h
Surface Area of a cylinder = 2πrh+2πr^2
Using product rule, we have:
[d/dx] (πr^2)(h)
= (πr^2)(1 ) + (2πr)(h)

Why is the two there? V = 2 πrh+2πr^2
The derivative of h is 1, not 2.
Please help!
 
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NP04 said:
Homework Statement: why does the derivative of a cylinder's volume (its surface area) = 2πrh+2πr^2
Homework Equations: Power rule: [d/dx]x^n = nx^(n-1)
Product Rule: y' = ab' + ba'

Volume of a cylinder = (πr^2)h
Surface Area of a cylinder = 2πrh+2πr^2

Using product rule, we have:
[d/dx] (πr^2)(h)
= (πr^2)(1 ) + (2πr)(h)

Why is the two there? V = 2 πrh+2πr^2
The derivative of h is 1, not 2.
Please help!

What is ##x## here?
 
PeroK said:
What is ##x## here?

If you are referencing the "a" term, that is πr^2.
 
NP04 said:
If you are referencing the "a" term, that is πr^2.

No. I mean here:

NP04 said:
Using product rule, we have:
[d/dx] (πr^2)(h)
= (πr^2)(1 ) + (2πr)(h)
 
PeroK said:
No. I mean here:

I think I understand what you mean. The x should be a v, right?
 
NP04 said:
I think I understand what you mean. The x should be a v, right?

I'm not sure what it should be. ##r## or ##h## are the obvious candidates, but that doesn't give you what you're looking for.

Where did you get this problem?
 
Deriving the surface area is only the first step.

Here is the full problem (related rates):
Water flows at 8 cubic feet per minute into a cylinder with radius 4 feet. How fast is the water level rising when the water is 2 feet high? Answer should be expressed in terms of feet per minute.
 
NP04 said:
Deriving the surface area is only the first step.

Here is the full problem (related rates):
Water flows at 8 cubic feet per minute into a cylinder with radius 4 feet. How fast is the water level rising when the water is 2 feet high. Answer should be expressed in terms of feet per minute.

That's what you should have posted. What you were doing is not relevant.

Here's what I would do first, to get a grip on the problem:

Assume the water is 2 feet high at some time. A minute later 8 cubic feet of water have been added. How high is the water then?
 
Your problem has nothing to do with surface area. I would start with the formula for the volume of the cylinder: ##V = \pi r^2 h = 16\pi h##. Remember ##r=4## is a constant. Also note that there is an unwritten variable, time ##t## which is frequently not explicitly written in the equation, as in this case. Both ##V## and ##h## depend on ##t##. I would start by differentiating this equation with respect to ##t## and go from there.
 
  • #10
NP04 said:
Using product rule, we have:
[d/dx] (πr^2)(h)
= (πr^2)(1 ) + (2πr)(h)
This makes no sense. You are differentiating with respect to x, an expression that doesn't involve x. The total derivative (a term you might not have seen yet) of a function of two or more variables involves partial derivatives.

In any case, as has already been mentioned, surface area is irrelevant in this problem. Although that it's true that the derivative of the volume of a sphere is the surface area, this relationship does not hold for a cylinder.
 
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  • #11
One basic problem is that the volume of a cylinder, V= \pi r^2h, depends upon two variables, r and h. Which one do you want to differentiate with respect to? (You tried to sweep that under the rug by writing "d/dx"!). You could be talking about the two partial derivatives, or the "total differential", dv= 2\pi rh dr+ \pi r^2 dh, or perhaps, h and r are both functions of some single variable, t, that you didn't mention. As stated, your problem makes no sense!
 

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