Implicit Differentiation of Cylinder NOT given radius?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves implicit differentiation related to a cylindrical volume of water forming a pond. The scenario describes a situation where water is bubbling up at a constant rate, and the depth of the pond is given, but the radius is not specified. The goal is to determine how quickly the surface area of the pond is increasing.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between volume and surface area for a cylinder, questioning the necessity of knowing the radius to find the rate of change of surface area. Some suggest using the volume equation to express radius in terms of other variables.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem and discussing how to relate the variables involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the equations needed, and there is acknowledgment of the confusion surrounding the surface area equation.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted uncertainty regarding the radius and its role in the calculations, as well as a correction of the surface area formula initially presented by the original poster.

banfill_89
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Implicit Differentiation of Cylinder NOT given radius?

Homework Statement



Question: Digging in his backyard, Dennis accidentally breaks a pipe attached to his water sprinkling system. water bubbles up at a rate of 1 cm^3/s, forming a circular pond of depth 0.5cm in his yard. How quickly is the surface area of the pond covering his lawn?

Given: dV/dT= 1
depth= 0.5cm

RTF: dSA/Dt

Homework Equations



V= pi&r^2&h
SA= 2pi&r&h + 2pi&r^2

The Attempt at a Solution



i attempted a lot of things...i just always end up with the same problem: i don't know what r is or i can't find a way to relate r to anything.
 
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you don't actually need r at all.

[tex]V=Sh[/tex] this is the formula for calculating the volume of a cylindrical shape right? S- surface area, h- depth.
Use this info to find [tex]\frac{dS}{dt}[/tex] using the info you were given.
 
Welcome to PF!

banfill_89 said:

Homework Equations



V= pi&r^2&h
SA= 2pi&r&h + 2pi&r^2

Hi banfill_89! Welcome to PF! :smile:

First, you've missed out one relevant equation … what is V in terms of t?

And your SA equation is wrong … you're asked how fast the lawn is being covered. so you don't need the sides of the cylinder. And it's πr^2, not 2πr^2.
i attempted a lot of things...i just always end up with the same problem: i don't know what r is or i can't find a way to relate r to anything.

You have two equations for r … so you solve for r in the V equation (that is, you put "r =" on the left), and then you substitute that value of r into the SA equation.

You now have an SA equation with t but no r! :smile:
 
thanks

agh thanks a lot guys. i was heading in that direction too but my surface area equation was screwing me up. thanks for puttin me in the right direction
 

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