Use chain rule to find rate of area increase

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the rate at which the area of a circular ripple increases over time after a stone is dropped into a pond. The ripple expands outward at a constant speed, and the task requires the application of the chain rule in calculus to relate the area of the circle to its radius and the rate of change of the radius.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the area of a circle and its radius, using the formula A = πr². There is an exploration of how to apply the chain rule to find the rate of change of area with respect to time. Some participants express confusion about the derivation of the radius in terms of time and velocity, while others clarify the relationship between radius, velocity, and time.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on the application of calculus concepts. There are multiple interpretations being explored regarding the relationships between variables, and some participants are clarifying their understanding of the derivatives involved. A few have expressed confusion, but others are attempting to clarify these concepts.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information available for discussion. There is also a focus on formatting mathematical expressions correctly in the forum, which has led to additional questions about notation.

EricPowell
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Homework Statement


32) A stone dropped into a pond at time t=0 seconds causes a circular ripple that ravels out from the point of impact at 5 metres per second. At what rate (in square metres per second) is the area within the circle increasing when t=10?

Homework Equations


I need to use the chain rule dy/dx = dy/du x du/dx


The Attempt at a Solution


The area of a circle is A=∏r2
Differentiating this formula will tell me the rate at which the area increases for a specific radius
dA/dr=2∏r

The rate at which the radius increases is 5 metres per second, so I think that would be expressed as
dr/dt=5m/s

I need to find the rate of change of the area of the circle at 10 seconds. Using this chain rule, I think this would be found with
dA/dt=dA/dr x dr/dt
where dA/dt is the derivative of area as a function of time. So multiplying these derivatives gives me
dA/dt=dA/dr x dr/dt
=(2∏r)(5m/s)
=(50∏rm)/s
The radius at 10 seconds by multiplying 5m/s x 10s =50m. So I substitute 50m in for r.
=(50∏(50m)m)/s
=(2500∏m2)/2

I'm struggling a bit in my calculus class and I'm a bit unsure about all of this. Am I going in the right direction with my solution attempt above?

Also I noticed on these forums that people are entering equations and formulas in "fancy text", if I may call it that. What I mean is making math stuff look like what one would see in a textbook, as opposed to using unicode characters like I did above. How can I do that?
 
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## A = \pi r^2 ## and ## r = vt ##, so $$ \frac {dA} {dt} = \frac {dA} {dr} \frac {dr} {dt} = 2 \pi r v = 2 \pi v^2 t $$

You did well till this point. But you made a mistake in arithmetic then.

To see how to write in the "fancy text" (which is properly called LaTeX), hit the Quote button on my message.
 
How did you get ##r=vt##?
 
I got that exactly the same way you got "The radius at 10 seconds by multiplying 5m/s x 10s =50m. So I substitute 50m in for r." I just used letters instead of numbers.
 
Ah of course. ##v## for velocity and ##t## for time.

I'm still a bit confused about what you did after though. What does ##dr / dt## equal?
 
$$ \frac {dr} {dt} = \frac {d(vt)} {dt} = ? $$
 
I am so confused by all of this T_T

Okay so...if I am understanding this right ##dr/dt## is the rate at which the radius changes with time. If the radius is changing at ##5m/s##, does that mean that ##dr/dt=r/t##?
 
Wait I think I get it.
##\frac {dr}{dt}= \frac {5m}{s}= \frac {r}{t}= \frac {vt}{t}= v##
 
EricPowell said:
Wait I think I get it.
##\frac {dr}{dt}= \frac {5m}{s}= \frac {r}{t}= \frac {vt}{t}= v##
Why are my fractions so tiny?
 
  • #10
If you agree that ## r = vt ##, then you obtain the derivative by just following the rules.

If you do not know what ## r ## really is, you need to make some assumption. The assumption in this problem is that the wave propagation speed is constant, which brings you back to ## r = vt ##.
 
  • #11
## foo ## makes inline expressions (small). $$ bar $$ makes "display" expressions (big).
 
  • #12
$$\frac {dA}{dr}=2πr$$
$$\frac {dr}{dt}=v$$
$$\frac {dA}{dt}=2πr×v$$
$$=2πvt×v$$
$$=2π \frac {5m}{s}×10s× \frac {5m}{s}$$
$$=2π×50m× \frac {5m}{s}$$
$$= \frac{1570.796m^2}{s}$$

Is this correct?
Oh I messed something up there with my formatting.
Ok fixed my formatting.
 
Last edited:
  • #13
##π∏## Just testing different pi symbols
$$π∏$$
 
  • #14
Your answer is correct. Good job!
 
  • #15
Thank you so much for helping me Voko :)
 
  • #16
One more thing. You can have multiline math text in the display mode:
$$
line \ 1
\\
line \ 2
\\
etc.
$$
 

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