Procedure for Solving Related Rate Problems

The General Situation

Step 1. Draw a figure and assign variables to the quantities that vary. Be careful not to
label a quantity with a number unless it never changes in the problem.
Step 2. Find a formula (equation) that relates the variables. Eliminate unnecessary
variables.
Step 3. Differentiate the equations. You will usually differentiate implicitly with respect
to time.

The Specific Situation

Step 4. Substitute specific numerical values and solve algebraically for any required rate.
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Problem#1 A rope is fastened to the ground at a distance of 8 meters from a vertical

wall. A monkey climbs the wall holding onto the loose end of the rope. If the monkey
holds the rope taut and climbs at the rate of 4m/sec, at what rate is the length of the rope
increasing when the monkey is 6 meters up the wall?

Problem#2 Ship “Victoria” is 15 km east of Nanaimo and moving west at 20km/h; ship
“Nostalgia” is 60 km south of Nanaimo and moving north at 15 km/h.
a. Are they approaching or separating after one hour and at what rate?
b. When are they nearest one another?

Problem #3 Water is running into a conical reservoir 20m high with a base radius of 10m
at the rate of 9 m³ /min. How fast is the water level rising when it is 6 m deep?

Problem #4 A spherical iron ball 10cm in radius is coated with a layer of ice of uniform
thickness. If the ice melts at a rate of 50 cm³/min, how fast is the thickness of ice
decreasing when the ice is 5 cm thick?

Problem #5 An airplane, flying at 450km/h at a constant altitude of 5km, is approaching

a camera mounted on the ground. Let θ the angle at which the camera is pointed. When
θ=π/3, how fast does the camera have to rotate in order to keep the plane in view?

Problem #6 A revolving beam 3 km from a straight shore line makes 8rpm. Find the
velocity of beam of light along the shore when it makes an angle of 45˚ with the shore
line.