Calculus 1 : Functions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #2975 : Calculus

The radius of the base of a cone is increasing at a rate of . If the current radius is  and its height is , what is the rate of growth of its volume?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The volume of a cone is given by the formula:

To relate rate of changes over time, derive each side of the equation with respect to time:

Since height isn't changing, , which leaves:

Example Question #1952 : Functions

A bar of length  is resting against a wall, the ground end  from the base of the wall. If the end resting on the ground is moved forward at a rate of , how fast does the end resting on the wall rise? The plane of the ground is perpendicular to the wall.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The bar resting against the wall forms a right triangle, its length serving as the hypotenuse. This can be used to find the height of the end resting on the wall via the Pythagorean Theorem:

The rates of change can also be related using the Pythagorean Theorem:

Since the length of the bar isn't changing, 

Note that the negative value is used because the end on the ground is closing the distance to the wall.

Example Question #61 : How To Find Rate Of Change

A circle is stretching into an ellipse, its horizontal radius expanding at a rate of . If the circle has an area of , what is the rate of growth?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The area of a circle is given by the formula:

This can be used to find the original radii:

Now, the area of an ellipse in terms of its vertical and horizontal radii is:

To relate rates of change, derive each side with respect to time:

Since the vertical radius does not change, let's designate it as ;

Example Question #61 : How To Find Rate Of Change

The shorter leg of a right triangle is growing at a rate of . If the shorter leg has a length of  and the hypotenuse has a length of , what is the rate of growth of the angle across from the shorter leg? The hypotenuse is growing, but the longer leg is not. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The hypotenuse and the shorter leg can be related in terms of the angle across from the leg:

This angle can be found as:

Now, rates of change can be related by deriving each side of the original equation with respect to time:

However, we do not know what  is. We can find this by using the Pythagorean theorem and once again deriving:

Since we're told the longer side does not change in length, , leaving

Now, let's return to this previous derivative using our known values and solve for :

Example Question #1955 : Functions

The circumference of a circle is increasing at a rate of . If the circle has an area of , what is the rate of growth of the area?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by finding the radius of the circle:

Now, rates of change can be related by taking the time derivative of both sides of an equation:

However, the rate of change of the radius, , is still unknown. It can be found by relating it to the circumference's rate of change:

Going back to our earlier equation, we can solve for the rate of change of the area:

Example Question #2981 : Calculus

The radius of a cylinder is given by the function , while the height at any time is given by the function . What is the rate of growth of the cylinder at time  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The volume of a cylinder is given by the equation:

From this, the rate of change can be found by taking the derivative with respect to time:

It may be worth noting that at time  the cylinder actually begins to shrink.

Example Question #2982 : Calculus

If , what is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The given function consists of a function, , inside another function, , such that .

Thus we can use the Chain Rule to find .

The Chain Rule says that if  

,

then 

.

Recall (or look up) that the derivative of sine is cosine, so , and use the Power Rule to get .

Combining the three functions , and , we have .

Note: The Power Rule says that for a function 

.

Example Question #2983 : Calculus

What is the rate of change of the function  when ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The rate of change of the function  at  is the value of the derivative 

 at .

Use the Power Rule to find that 

.

The rate of change at  is 

Note: The Power Rule says that for a function 

.

Example Question #2984 : Calculus

What is  if ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since  is a quotient of two functions  and , we can use the Quotient Rule, which says that for a function

 and  by the Chain Rule.

Applying the Quotient Rule, 

.

Example Question #2985 : Calculus

What is the rate of change of  when ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are looking for .

The Chain Rule says that for 

.

Applying the Chain Rule, 

.

So,

.

 

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