You CAN Ace Calculus

 derivatives chain rule implicit differentiation basics of related rates precalculus: word problems For related rates problems involving similar triangles, it may help you to review how to set up the ratios. You can find a discussion of this on the similar triangles precalculus page.

### 17Calculus Subjects Listed Alphabetically

Single Variable Calculus

 Absolute Convergence Alternating Series Arc Length Area Under Curves Chain Rule Concavity Conics Conics in Polar Form Conditional Convergence Continuity & Discontinuities Convolution, Laplace Transforms Cosine/Sine Integration Critical Points Cylinder-Shell Method - Volume Integrals Definite Integrals Derivatives Differentials Direct Comparison Test Divergence (nth-Term) Test
 Ellipses (Rectangular Conics) Epsilon-Delta Limit Definition Exponential Derivatives Exponential Growth/Decay Finite Limits First Derivative First Derivative Test Formal Limit Definition Fourier Series Geometric Series Graphing Higher Order Derivatives Hyperbolas (Rectangular Conics) Hyperbolic Derivatives
 Implicit Differentiation Improper Integrals Indeterminate Forms Infinite Limits Infinite Series Infinite Series Table Infinite Series Study Techniques Infinite Series, Choosing a Test Infinite Series Exam Preparation Infinite Series Exam A Inflection Points Initial Value Problems, Laplace Transforms Integral Test Integrals Integration by Partial Fractions Integration By Parts Integration By Substitution Intermediate Value Theorem Interval of Convergence Inverse Function Derivatives Inverse Hyperbolic Derivatives Inverse Trig Derivatives
 Laplace Transforms L'Hôpital's Rule Limit Comparison Test Limits Linear Motion Logarithm Derivatives Logarithmic Differentiation Moments, Center of Mass Mean Value Theorem Normal Lines One-Sided Limits Optimization
 p-Series Parabolas (Rectangular Conics) Parabolas (Polar Conics) Parametric Equations Parametric Curves Parametric Surfaces Pinching Theorem Polar Coordinates Plane Regions, Describing Power Rule Power Series Product Rule
 Quotient Rule Radius of Convergence Ratio Test Related Rates Related Rates Areas Related Rates Distances Related Rates Volumes Remainder & Error Bounds Root Test Secant/Tangent Integration Second Derivative Second Derivative Test Shifting Theorems Sine/Cosine Integration Slope and Tangent Lines Square Wave Surface Area
 Tangent/Secant Integration Taylor/Maclaurin Series Telescoping Series Trig Derivatives Trig Integration Trig Limits Trig Substitution Unit Step Function Unit Impulse Function Volume Integrals Washer-Disc Method - Volume Integrals Work

Multi-Variable Calculus

 Acceleration Vector Arc Length (Vector Functions) Arc Length Function Arc Length Parameter Conservative Vector Fields Cross Product Curl Curvature Cylindrical Coordinates
 Directional Derivatives Divergence (Vector Fields) Divergence Theorem Dot Product Double Integrals - Area & Volume Double Integrals - Polar Coordinates Double Integrals - Rectangular Gradients Green's Theorem
 Lagrange Multipliers Line Integrals Partial Derivatives Partial Integrals Path Integrals Potential Functions Principal Unit Normal Vector
 Spherical Coordinates Stokes' Theorem Surface Integrals Tangent Planes Triple Integrals - Cylindrical Triple Integrals - Rectangular Triple Integrals - Spherical
 Unit Tangent Vector Unit Vectors Vector Fields Vectors Vector Functions Vector Functions Equations

Differential Equations

 Boundary Value Problems Bernoulli Equation Cauchy-Euler Equation Chebyshev's Equation Chemical Concentration Classify Differential Equations Differential Equations Euler's Method Exact Equations Existence and Uniqueness Exponential Growth/Decay
 First Order, Linear Fluids, Mixing Fourier Series Inhomogeneous ODE's Integrating Factors, Exact Integrating Factors, Linear Laplace Transforms, Solve Initial Value Problems Linear, First Order Linear, Second Order Linear Systems
 Partial Differential Equations Polynomial Coefficients Population Dynamics Projectile Motion Reduction of Order Resonance
 Second Order, Linear Separation of Variables Slope Fields Stability Substitution Undetermined Coefficients Variation of Parameters Vibration Wronskian

### Search Practice Problems

Do you have a practice problem number but do not know on which page it is found? If so, enter the number below and click 'page' to go to the page on which it is found or click 'practice' to be taken to the practice problem.

This page covers related rates problems specifically involving volumes where the shape of the volume is described by an equation and is involved in the solution. These types of problems involve cylinders (often called right-circular cylinders), cones, spheres and troughs (tanks) with a regular geometric shape.

Overview

When solving these types of problems, you first draw of picture and pick out the type of geometric figure involved. The key here is to write down as many equations as you can think of and then use only the ones that seem to apply. Sometimes, especially with cones, you need to come up with relationships that might not be very intuitive. We will show you some things to watch for. Once you have a figure with all the parts labeled, you can write down the equations involved.

On the main related rates page, we discuss two ways to work these problems based on when you take the derivative, either before combining equations or after. Especially with volume problems, it is often better NOT to combine equations too soon, since the equations can get quite messy very quickly.

What To Do With Constants In Related Rates Problems

What do you do with constants that are given in the problem? First of all, you never want to just go in and plug in all your constants before you take the derivative.

Safe Answer - - Wait and plug in your constants only after you have the derivative. So, you would label all distances with variables, take the derivative with respect to t and then plug in all your given constants. This is what you need to do when you first start learning to work related rates problems. After you have some experience, you can go on to the more experienced technique.

Experienced Answer - - Once you learn the basics of related rates problems, you will have a feel for which constants you can plug in right away and which ones you can't. The difference you need to look for is
- if the variable is NOT changing, then you can substitute the constant in before taking the derivative;
- but, if the variable is changing over time, then you must wait until after you take the derivative before you can substitute the constant into the equation.

At this point, it will just confuse you more if we write down a bunch of theory on how to work these problems. You need to actually see one, then work many in order to see patterns. If you haven't already, read the top section (above the resources section) of the main related rates page. Then, come back here, watch a video or two and try your hand at a few problems.

Cylinders

Problems involving cylinders (also called right-circular cylinders) and cylindrical tanks are usually pretty straightforward. One of the major variations is the orientation of the tank.
- If the tank is on end, then the volume equation is just the area of the circular cross-section times the height of the tank or the depth of the fluid in the tank, i.e. $$V = \pi r^2 h$$.
- The other orientation you may come across is a tank on it's side. In this case, you have to be careful to note if the fluid in the tank is above or below the center line. The equations are different in each case.
Probably, if the problem statement does not say that the tank is on it's side, you can usually assume that it is sitting on end. However, check with your instructor to confirm this.

Conversion Between A-B-C Level (or 1-2-3) and New Numbered Practice Problems

Please note that with this new version of 17calculus, the practice problems have been relabeled but they are MOSTLY in the same order. Here is a list converting the old numbering system to the new.

Related Rates Volumes - Practice Problems Conversion

[1-1118] - [2-1119] - [3-1120] - [4-1143] - [5-1144] - [6-1999]

Please update your notes to this new numbering system. The display of this conversion information is temporary.

GOT IT. THANKS!

Water is draining out of a cylindrical tank at a rate of 5ft3/min. The diameter of the tank is 8ft and the tank is 10ft tall. How fast is the water level falling when the water is 6ft deep?

Problem Statement

Water is draining out of a cylindrical tank at a rate of 5ft3/min. The diameter of the tank is 8ft and the tank is 10ft tall. How fast is the water level falling when the water is 6ft deep?

Solution

### 1118 solution video

video by Krista King Math

Water is being poured into a cylindrical drum at a rate of 0.010m3/sec. If the radius of the drum is 1.2 meters, how fast is the water level rising?

Problem Statement

Water is being poured into a cylindrical drum at a rate of 0.010m3/sec. If the radius of the drum is 1.2 meters, how fast is the water level rising?

$$1/(144\pi)$$ m/sec

Problem Statement

Water is being poured into a cylindrical drum at a rate of 0.010m3/sec. If the radius of the drum is 1.2 meters, how fast is the water level rising?

Solution

### 2248 solution video

video by Michel vanBiezen

$$1/(144\pi)$$ m/sec

Cones

Cone-shaped tanks are very interesting and you will probably run across more than one problem with a tank shaped like a cone. There are several unique things that you need to understand and watch for when you work related rates problems that involve cones.
1. The formula for the volume of a cone with top radius $$r$$ and height $$h$$ is $$V = \pi r^2 h/3$$.

2. There is a unique relationship that you may not think of when you work these problems. The idea is to take a cross-section of the cone down through the center to the tip of the cone. You end up with a triangle, actually two similar triangles.
- The larger triangle is the size of the tank.
- The smaller triangle is the size of the fluid in the tank.
Check the similar triangles precalculus page for a reminder on how to set up ratios of similar triangles.

3. One trick you need to watch for is whether the cone is point up or point down and what the problem is asking for. If the cone is point down, usually the fluid or whatever is filling the tank is in the shape of a cone, so there is nothing unusual going on IF they are asking for the volume of the fluid. However, if the cone is point up, you need to look at the problem carefully and think about what is going on. As time passes, the shape may or may not stay in the form of an exact cone. Here are a couple of examples.
- If you have something like gravel in a pile, this stays in a cone shape as gravel is being added to the pile. Nothing unusual is going on.
- One trick that I have seen on exams is, if something (like a fluid) is being removed from a cone-shape tank when the point is up, there will be some fluid at the bottom and no fluid at the tip (picture on the right). To calculate the volume of the fluid, you need to calculate the volume of the entire cone and subtract the volume of the top cone that is empty. (There are formulas for this volume but what do you do if you don't have the formula on the exam?)

Okay, time for a video. Here is an introduction video for cone problems. The writing is kind of hard to see but I think the discussion will help you get your head around what is going on. I particularly like how he describes the use of the chain rule to calculate the derivative.

### Khan Academy - Introduction to rate-of-change problems [9min-34secs]

Gravel is being dumped from a conveyor belt at a rate of 20ft3/min and its coarseness is such that it forms a pile in the shape of a cone whose base diameter and height are always equal. How fast is the height of the pile increasing when the pile is 10ft high?

Problem Statement

Gravel is being dumped from a conveyor belt at a rate of 20ft3/min and its coarseness is such that it forms a pile in the shape of a cone whose base diameter and height are always equal. How fast is the height of the pile increasing when the pile is 10ft high?

Solution

### 1119 solution video

video by PatrickJMT

A 10cm tall funnel (point down) is being drained with water at a constant rate of 10cc per second. The mouth of the funnel is 12cm in diameter. How fast is the water level dropping when there are 200cc left in the funnel? [ cc = cubic centimeters ]

Problem Statement

A 10cm tall funnel (point down) is being drained with water at a constant rate of 10cc per second. The mouth of the funnel is 12cm in diameter. How fast is the water level dropping when there are 200cc left in the funnel? [ cc = cubic centimeters ]

Solution

### 1120 solution video

video by CalculusSuccess

A funnel is being drained of water at a rate of 0.1ft3/sec. How fast is the water level dropping when there is 4ft of water in the funnel? The full height of the funnel is 9ft and the radius at the top is 3ft.

Problem Statement

A funnel is being drained of water at a rate of 0.1ft3/sec. How fast is the water level dropping when there is 4ft of water in the funnel? The full height of the funnel is 9ft and the radius at the top is 3ft.

$$9/(160\pi) \approx 0.0179$$ ft/sec

Problem Statement

A funnel is being drained of water at a rate of 0.1ft3/sec. How fast is the water level dropping when there is 4ft of water in the funnel? The full height of the funnel is 9ft and the radius at the top is 3ft.

Solution

### 2246 solution video

video by Michel vanBiezen

$$9/(160\pi) \approx 0.0179$$ ft/sec

Spheres

Spheres problems show up in two main types.
1. If you have a sphere, like a balloon that is a complete sphere. In this case, you use the equation of the volume of a sphere with radius $$r$$ as $$V = 4\pi r^3 / 3$$.
2. If you have a spherically shaped tank and it is only partially full of fluid. In this case, you need have to notice if the tank level is above or below the half-way point. The equations are different in each case.

Air is being pumped into a spherical balloon at 10cm3/min. Calculate the rate at which the radius of the balloon is increasing when the diameter is 15cm.

Problem Statement

Air is being pumped into a spherical balloon at 10cm3/min. Calculate the rate at which the radius of the balloon is increasing when the diameter is 15cm.

Solution

### 1143 solution video

video by Krista King Math

A spherical balloon is being filled with air so that the radius is increasing at the rate of 0.5 inches per second. How fast is the volume changing when the radius is 2.5 inches?

Problem Statement

A spherical balloon is being filled with air so that the radius is increasing at the rate of 0.5 inches per second. How fast is the volume changing when the radius is 2.5 inches?

Solution

### 1144 solution video

video by MathTV

Air is being pumped into a spherical balloon so that its volume is increasing by 400 cm3/sec. How fast is the radius increasing when the radius is 100 cm?

Problem Statement

Air is being pumped into a spherical balloon so that its volume is increasing by 400 cm3/sec. How fast is the radius increasing when the radius is 100 cm?

$$dr/dt=1/(100\pi)$$ cm/sec

Problem Statement

Air is being pumped into a spherical balloon so that its volume is increasing by 400 cm3/sec. How fast is the radius increasing when the radius is 100 cm?

Solution

### 1999 solution video

video by Krista King Math

$$dr/dt=1/(100\pi)$$ cm/sec

A spherical balloon is being filled with air so that its volume is increasing at a rate of 3ft3/min. How fast is the radius increasing when the radius equals 1ft?

Problem Statement

A spherical balloon is being filled with air so that its volume is increasing at a rate of 3ft3/min. How fast is the radius increasing when the radius equals 1ft?

$$3/(4\pi)$$ ft/min

Problem Statement

A spherical balloon is being filled with air so that its volume is increasing at a rate of 3ft3/min. How fast is the radius increasing when the radius equals 1ft?

Solution

### 2243 solution video

video by Michel vanBiezen

$$3/(4\pi)$$ ft/min

If we have a sphere whose radius is expanding at a rate of 2cm/sec, how fast is the volume changing when the radius is 10cm?

Problem Statement

If we have a sphere whose radius is expanding at a rate of 2cm/sec, how fast is the volume changing when the radius is 10cm?

$$800\pi$$ cm3/sec

Problem Statement

If we have a sphere whose radius is expanding at a rate of 2cm/sec, how fast is the volume changing when the radius is 10cm?

Solution

### 2249 solution video

video by Michel vanBiezen

$$800\pi$$ cm3/sec

We have a semi-spherical bowl (a sphere cut in half) that we are filling with water at a rate of 1L/sec. The radius, R, of the sphere is 40cm. How fast is the water level rising when the height is R/2?

Problem Statement

We have a semi-spherical bowl (a sphere cut in half) that we are filling with water at a rate of 1L/sec. The radius, R, of the sphere is 40cm. How fast is the water level rising when the height is R/2?

Hint

The volume of water in the bowl is given by the equation $$V_w = \pi R h^2-(\pi/3) h^3$$ where h is the height of the water.
Also, 1L = 1000 cm3.

Problem Statement

We have a semi-spherical bowl (a sphere cut in half) that we are filling with water at a rate of 1L/sec. The radius, R, of the sphere is 40cm. How fast is the water level rising when the height is R/2?

$$5/(6\pi)$$ cm/sec

Problem Statement

We have a semi-spherical bowl (a sphere cut in half) that we are filling with water at a rate of 1L/sec. The radius, R, of the sphere is 40cm. How fast is the water level rising when the height is R/2?

Hint

The volume of water in the bowl is given by the equation $$V_w = \pi R h^2-(\pi/3) h^3$$ where h is the height of the water.
Also, 1L = 1000 cm3.

Solution

### 2252 solution video

video by Michel vanBiezen

$$5/(6\pi)$$ cm/sec

Troughs

These types of problems are troughs (tanks) that have some kind of geometric shape that is the same for the entire length of the trough when you look at the cross-section. The volume equation for these types of tanks is just the area of the cross-section times the length.
Key - It is important to notice that the cross-section of the tank is exactly the same no matter where along the tank you look at the cross-section.
If you have a triangular cross-section, you will end up with similar triangles. See the precalculus similar triangles page for a review on how to set up the ratios for use in related rates problems.

We have a 10 meter long trough that we are filling with water at a rate of 0.3 cubic meters per minute. The bottom of the trough is 30 cm wide, the top of the trough is 80 cm wide and it is 50cm tall. What is the rate at which the water level rises when the depth of the water is 40 cm?

Problem Statement

We have a 10 meter long trough that we are filling with water at a rate of 0.3 cubic meters per minute. The bottom of the trough is 30 cm wide, the top of the trough is 80 cm wide and it is 50cm tall. What is the rate at which the water level rises when the depth of the water is 40 cm?

30/7 cm/min

Problem Statement

We have a 10 meter long trough that we are filling with water at a rate of 0.3 cubic meters per minute. The bottom of the trough is 30 cm wide, the top of the trough is 80 cm wide and it is 50cm tall. What is the rate at which the water level rises when the depth of the water is 40 cm?

Solution

### 2220 solution video

video by Michel vanBiezen