Q.The volume of a cube is increasing at a rate of 9 cubic centimetres per second. How fast is the surface area increasing when the length of an edge is 10 centimetres?
Concept understanding — Related Rates
Related Rates
The idea: quantities that change together
Many real situations involve two or more quantities that all vary with time, linked by a fixed relationship. Inflate a balloon and its radius and volume both grow; slide a ladder down a wall and the top's height and the foot's distance both change. A related-rates problem gives you the rate at which one quantity is changing and asks for the rate of another, at some instant.
The key insight: if the quantities are tied together by an equation, then their rates are tied together too. We uncover that link by differentiating the equation with respect to time t.
The core mechanism: differentiate with respect to time
Every variable is a function of t, so differentiating brings in the chain rule — each variable's derivative picks up a factor of its own rate. For example, if the volume of a sphere is V=34πr3, then differentiating both sides with respect to t gives
dtdV=4πr2dtdr.
This single equation connects the rate the volume grows, dtdV, to the rate the radius grows, dtdr. Knowing one (and the current r) gives the other.
The standard procedure
Solving a related-rates problem
- Identify the quantities that change with time and the rate you want.
- Write an equation relating those quantities (geometry, a formula, etc.).
- Differentiate both sides with respect to t, treating every variable as a function of t.
- Substitute the known values and the known rate at the given instant.
- Solve for the unknown rate.
Worked example
Air is pumped into a spherical balloon at dtdV=100 cm3/s. How fast is the radius increasing when r=5 cm?
From dtdV=4πr2dtdr, substitute dtdV=100 and r=5:
100=4π(5)2dtdr=100πdtdr⟹dtdr=π1 cm/s.
Substitute the numerical values after differentiating, never before. If you plug r=5 into the volume formula first, r becomes a constant and its rate dtdr vanishes from the equation.
The everyday cases are the sphere/circle (V,A vs. r), the sliding ladder (x2+y2=ℓ2), and the filling cone. In each you differentiate the relation in t and solve for the missing rate.
Related rates problems are a named application within the NCERT Class 12 Application of Derivatives chapter, and classic setups like the growing balloon or the sliding ladder are staples of CBSE board and JEE Main 'rate of change' questions. Students searching 'related rates problems class 12 examples' or 'rate of change of volume and radius' will find this differentiate-then-substitute method is exactly the five-step procedure boards expect to see written out.
Concept: Related Rates — we connect the rate of change of volume to the rate of change of surface area through the edge length.
Let the edge length be x cm. Volume V=x3, surface area S=6x2.
Given dtdV=9 cm³/s. Differentiate V with respect to time:
dtdV=3x2dtdx⇒9=3(10)2dtdx⇒dtdx=3009=0.03 cm/s.
Now differentiate S:
dtdS=12xdtdx=12(10)(0.03)=3.6 cm2/s.
The surface area is increasing at 3.6 cm2/s.
We relate the rates of change of volume and surface area through the edge length. Using dtdV=9 and V=s3, we find dtds, then substitute into dtdA=12sdtds at s=10 to get dtdA=3.6 cm²/s.
This is a classic related rates problem. The key idea: when one quantity (volume) changes at a known rate, and another quantity (surface area) depends on the same variable (edge length), we can connect their rates using the chain rule. We don't need the edge length's rate directly — we find it as a stepping stone.
Let the edge length be s cm, volume V cm³, and surface area A cm². All are functions of time t (seconds).
-
Write the formulas.
Volume of a cube: V=s3
Surface area of a cube (six faces): A=6s2
-
Differentiate both with respect to time t.
Using the chain rule:
dtdV=3s2dtds
dtdA=12sdtds
Notice that dtds appears in both — that's our bridge.
- Use the given rate to find dtds. We know dtdV=9 cm³/s. At the moment of interest, s=10 cm.
9=3(10)2⋅dtds
9=300⋅dtds
dtds=3009=1003=0.03 cm/s
A common mistake is to forget that dtds is not constant — it changes as s changes. We only compute it at the specific instant s=10.
- Now find dtdA at s=10. Substitute s=10 and dtds=0.03 into the surface area rate equation:
dtdA=12⋅10⋅0.03
dtdA=120⋅0.03=3.6
So the surface area is increasing at 3.6 cm²/s.
You could also combine the steps: from A=6s2 and V=s3, eliminate s to get A=6V2/3, then differentiate directly. But the step-by-step method is cleaner and less error-prone for exams.
The surface area is increasing at 3.6 cm²/s when the edge is 10 cm.
Method: Chaining Two Related Rates Through a Common Variable
This method solves related-rates problems where the rate you're given and the rate you want both depend on a third, unmentioned variable — here, the cube's edge length — so you first solve for that variable's rate, then use it as a stepping stone.
Steps
Step 1: Introduce the linking variable
Let the edge length be s (a function of time), and write both quantities of interest in terms of it: V=s3 (volume) and S=6s2 (surface area). Neither formula directly relates V and S to each other — they're both functions of the same underlying s.
Step 2: Differentiate both formulas with respect to time
dtdV=3s2dtds,dtdS=12sdtds.
Notice dtds appears in both — this is the bridge between the given rate and the wanted rate.
Step 3: Use the given rate to solve for the linking rate
Substitute the known dtdV and the given instantaneous value of s into the first equation, and solve for dtds.
Step 4: Substitute the linking rate into the second equation
Plug the same instantaneous s and the just-found dtds into dtdS=12sdtds to get the answer.
Step 5: State the answer with correct units and sign
Check whether the surface area is increasing or decreasing (sign of dtdS) and attach the correct area-per-time unit.
Whenever two quantities don't have a direct formula linking them but both depend on a shared third variable, this "solve for the linking rate first, then substitute into the second relation" approach is the standard way through — it generalises beyond cubes to any shape where volume and surface area (or two other quantities) are both functions of one common length.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Assuming dtds is a fixed constant, valid at every edge length
After finding dtds=0.03 cm/s at s=10, a student may reuse that same value at a different edge length without recomputing. Why it's wrong: dtds depends on s through dtdV=3s2dtds (since dtdV is fixed but s2 isn't), so it changes as the cube grows — it is only valid at the specific instant s=10. Correct approach: always recompute dtds from the given dtdV at the exact edge length asked about.
Mistake 2: Trying to relate V and S directly without going through s
A student might attempt dtdS=kdtdV for some guessed constant k, skipping the edge-length variable altogether. Why it's wrong: S and V are related non-linearly (S=6V2/3), so there's no single constant multiplier between their rates — the relationship changes with s, and only differentiating each with respect to time through the shared variable s gives a correct, instant-specific answer. Correct approach: always introduce the shape's defining linear dimension as the linking variable rather than guessing a shortcut between the two given quantities.
Showing the 12 most recent of 17 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.If the rate of increase in the surface area of a cube is 6 sq.cm./sec, then the rate of increase in its volume (in c.c./sec), when the length of its edge is 12 cm, is (A) 6 (B) 12 (C) 18 (D) 9
›Reveal solutionSolution
A related-rates problem: convert the given rate of change of surface area into the rate of change of the edge length, then into the rate of change of volume.
Concept and Intuition
Both surface area and volume of a cube are functions of the single variable a (the edge length), so differentiating each with respect to time and using the chain rule links their rates through da/dt — the one quantity actually changing independently.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Surface area: S=6a2⇒dtdS=12adtda.
- Given dtdS=6: 12adtda=6⇒dtda=2a1.
- Volume: V=a3⇒dtdV=3a2dtda.
- Substitute: dtdV=3a2⋅2a1=23a.
- At a=12: dtdV=23×12=18.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the factor of 6 faces when writing S=6a2 (or using S=a2).
- Plugging a=12 into da/dt before simplifying dV/dt=3a/2 algebraically, risking an arithmetic slip.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — 18.
ANSWER: C
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.The volume of a spherical balloon is increasing at the rate of 30 cc per minute. Find the rate of change of surface area of the balloon, when its radius is 6 cm. (A) 5 cm2.min−1 (B) 30 cm2.min−1 (C) 10 cm2.min−1 (D) 20 cm2.min−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
A standard related-rates chain: volume rate → radius rate → surface-area rate. The answer is 10 cm2/min.
Concept and Intuition
Both V and S of a sphere depend only on r, so their rates of change are linked through dr/dt via the chain rule. First use the given dV/dt to find dr/dt at the specified radius, then plug that into dS/dt.
Step-by-Step Solution
- V=34πr3⇒dtdV=4πr2dtdr.
- Given dtdV=30 cc/min and r=6 cm: 30=4π(6)2dtdr=144πdtdr.
- dtdr=144π30=24π5 cm/min.
- S=4πr2⇒dtdS=8πrdtdr.
- At r=6: dtdS=8π(6)(24π5)=24π48π⋅5=24π240π=10 cm²/min.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to relate S and V directly without going through r as the common variable.
- Arithmetic slip in simplifying 24π240π.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — 10 cm2.min−1.
ANSWER: C
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQQ.If the surface area of a spherical bubble is increasing at the rate of 4 sq.cm/sec, then the rate of change in its volume (in cubic cm/sec) when its radius is 8 cms is (A) 8 (B) 12 (C) 15 (D) 16
›Reveal solutionSolution
A related-rates problem: given dtdS, find dtdV by eliminating dtdr through the common variable r. Answer: 16 cubic cm/sec.
Concept and Intuition
Both surface area S and volume V of a sphere depend on the single variable r (radius), which itself changes with time. The strategy in any related-rates problem is: express both quantities in terms of the shared variable, differentiate each with respect to time using the chain rule, and then eliminate the unknown rate (dtdr here) between the two equations.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Surface area: S=4πr2. Differentiating w.r.t. t: dtdS=8πrdtdr.
- We're given dtdS=4, so 8πrdtdr=4⇒dtdr=8πr4=2πr1.
- Volume: V=34πr3. Differentiating w.r.t. t: dtdV=4πr2dtdr.
- Substitute dtdr from step 2:
dtdV=4πr2⋅2πr1=2r.
- At r=8: dtdV=2(8)=16 cubic cm/sec.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the chain rule factor dtdr when differentiating S and V with respect to time (treating r as if it were the independent variable directly).
- Arithmetic slip in simplifying 4πr2⋅2πr1 (the π and one power of r cancel, leaving 2r).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — 16.
ANSWER: D
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.If the vertical angle of a cone is 60∘ and the rate of change of its total surface area is 23 cm2/sec, then the rate of change of its volume (in cm3/sec) when its radius is 5 cm, is (A) 15 (B) 10 (C) 5 (D) 9
›Reveal solutionSolution
A related-rates problem: using the 60° vertical angle to fix h and slant height l in terms of r, then chaining dtdS→dtdr→dtdV gives 5 cm3/sec.
Concept and Intuition
When a cone's vertical (apex) angle is fixed, its shape stays similar as it grows — radius and height stay in a fixed ratio determined by the semi-vertical angle. This lets us express both surface area and volume purely in terms of r, so a single related-rates chain (through dr/dt) connects the given rate of surface-area change to the unknown rate of volume change.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Vertical angle =60°, so semi-vertical angle α=30°. In the cone's cross-section, tanα=r/h, so r=htan30°=h/3, i.e. h=r3.
- Slant height: l=r2+h2=r2+3r2=4r2=2r.
- Total surface area: S=πr2+πrl=πr2+πr(2r)=3πr2.
- Differentiate: dtdS=6πrdtdr.
- Given dtdS=23 and r=5: 23=6π(5)dtdr=30πdtdr, so dtdr=30π23=15π3.
- Volume: V=31πr2h=31πr2(r3)=3πr3.
- Differentiate: dtdV=33πr2dtdr=3πr2dtdr.
- Substitute r=5, dtdr=15π3: dtdV=3π(25)⋅15π3=153×25=1575=5.
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong trig ratio for the semi-vertical angle (mixing up r/h with h/r).
- Forgetting that total surface area includes both the base (πr2) and the lateral surface (πrl), not just the lateral part.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — 5.
ANSWER: C
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.If the volume of a sphere is increasing at the rate of 12 c.c./sec, then the rate (in sq. cm/sec) at which its surface area is increasing, when the diameter of the sphere is 12 cm is (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 6
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a related-rates problem: given how fast volume grows, find how fast surface area grows at a specific radius; the answer is 4 cm2/s.
Concept and Intuition
Both V and S of a sphere depend only on r, so differentiating each with respect to time and eliminating dtdr (found from the volume-rate condition) gives the surface-area rate.
Step-by-Step Solution
- V=34πr3, so dtdV=4πr2dtdr.
- Given dtdV=12 and diameter =12⇒r=6: 12=4π(36)dtdr⇒dtdr=144π12=12π1.
- S=4πr2⇒dtdS=8πrdtdr.
- Substituting r=6, dtdr=12π1: dtdS=8π(6)⋅12π1=12π48π=4.
Common Mistakes
- Using the diameter (12) directly as the radius in the formulas instead of halving it first.
- Forgetting to substitute the specific radius before simplifying, leading to an expression instead of a number.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — 4.
ANSWER: C
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQQ.The volume of a spherical ball is increasing at a rate of 4π cm3.s−1. The rate at which its radius increases, when its volume is 288π cm3, is ______ cm.s−1. (A) 61 (B) 361 (C) 91 (D) 241
›Reveal solutionSolution
Related rates on V=34πr3 give dtdr=r21, and at the given volume r=6, so dtdr=361.
Concept and Intuition
This is a classic related-rates problem: differentiate the volume formula with respect to time using the chain rule, then substitute the known rate and the radius at the instant of interest (found from the given volume).
Step-by-Step Solution
- V=34πr3.
- Differentiate w.r.t. time: dtdV=4πr2dtdr.
- Given dtdV=4π: 4π=4πr2dtdr⇒dtdr=r21.
- Find r when V=288π: 34πr3=288π⇒r3=216⇒r=6.
- dtdr=621=361 cm/s.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to first solve for r from the given volume before substituting into dr/dt.
- Cubing/uncubing errors when solving r3=216 (note 63=216).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B) — 361.
ANSWER: B
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.A spherical iron ball 10 cm in radius is coated with a layer of ice of uniform thickness, which melts at a rate of 50 cm3/min. When the thickness of the ice is 15 cm, the rate at which the thickness of ice decreases is ______ cm/min (A) 6π5 (B) 54π1 (C) 18π1 (D) 36π1
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a related-rates problem: only the outer radius of the ice matters for relating the rate of volume loss to the rate of thickness loss. The answer is 18π1 cm/min.
Concept and Intuition
The iron ball's own radius (10 cm) is fixed and drops out of the derivative — only the total outer radius R=10+x, where x is the ice thickness, matters, since Vice=34πR3−34π(10)3 and the constant term vanishes on differentiating. This reduces the problem to the standard "rate of change of a sphere's volume vs. its radius" relation, dV/dt=4πR2dR/dt.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let x(t) be the ice thickness at time t; outer radius R=10+x.
- Vice=34π(10+x)3−34π(10)3.
- dtdVice=4π(10+x)2dtdx (the constant term differentiates to zero).
- The ice melts (volume decreases) at 50 cm3/min, so dtdVice=−50.
- At the outer radius R=15 cm: 4π(15)2dtdx=−50⇒4π(225)dtdx=−50⇒900πdtdx=−50.
- dtdx=−900π50=−18π1; the thickness decreases at rate 18π1 cm/min.
Common Mistakes
- Using the iron ball's fixed radius (10 cm) instead of the full outer radius in 4πR2.
- Sign confusion between the volume decreasing and the thickness decreasing (both are negative rates, and the magnitude is what's asked).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — 18π1.
ANSWER: C
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-FN1 markMCQQ.The diameter and altitude of a right circular cone, at a certain instant, were found to be 10 cm and 20 cm respectively. If its diameter is increasing at a rate of 2 cm/s, then at what rate must its altitude change, in order to keep its volume constant? (A) 4 cm/s (B) 6 cm/s (C) −4 cm/s (D) −8 cm/s
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests related rates: differentiating the volume of a cone with respect to time and setting the total rate of change to zero to keep volume constant. Answer: −8 cm/s.
Concept and Intuition
When a quantity built from several changing variables must stay constant, differentiate the formula with respect to time and set the total derivative to zero — this links the individual rates of change together.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Diameter =10 cm ⇒ radius r=5 cm; height h=20 cm.
- Diameter increasing at 2 cm/s ⇒dtd(2r)=2⇒dtdr=1 cm/s.
- Volume: V=31πr2h. Differentiate with respect to t: dtdV=31π(2rhdtdr+r2dtdh).
- For constant volume, dtdV=0⇒2rhdtdr+r2dtdh=0.
- Solve for dtdh: dtdh=−r2hdtdr=−52(20)(1)=−8 cm/s.
- The negative sign means the altitude must decrease at 8 cm/s to compensate for the increasing radius.
Common Mistakes
- Using the rate of change of the diameter directly as dtdr instead of halving it first.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — −8 cm/s.
ANSWER: D
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.If a cylindrical tank of radius 3 m is filled with water at the rate of 23 m3/sec, then the rate of change of its water level in (m/sec) is (A) 3π1 (B) 2π1 (C) π1 (D) 6π1
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests related rates for a cylinder of fixed radius; the water level rises at 6π1 m/s.
Concept and Intuition
Since the radius doesn't change as the tank fills, the volume V=πr2h is a function of h alone (with r a constant), so differentiating with respect to time directly links dV/dt to dh/dt through the constant cross-sectional area πr2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- V=πr2h, with r=3 constant, so V=9πh.
- Differentiate w.r.t. time: dtdV=9πdtdh.
- Given dtdV=23 m3/s: 23=9πdtdh⇒dtdh=18π3=6π1.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting that r is constant and mistakenly differentiating it too (product rule on r2 as if it varied).
- Arithmetic slip simplifying 9π3/2.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — 6π1.
ANSWER: D
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.The surface area of a sphere is 49π sq.cm. If it is increased by 0.016 sq.cm, then the approximate increase in its volume (in c.c.) is (A) 0.07 (B) 0.04 (C) 0.032 (D) 0.028
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using differentials to connect a small change in surface area to the corresponding small change in volume, via the shared variable r, gives an approximate volume increase of 0.028 c.c.
Concept and Intuition
When a small change in one geometric quantity (surface area) causes a small change in another (volume), and both depend on a common variable (r), we can relate their differentials directly: dS=8πrdr and dV=4πr2dr share the same dr, so we solve for dr from the given dS and substitute into the dV formula — this is the standard "approximate change" technique using derivatives.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Surface area of sphere: S=4πr2=49π⇒r2=449⇒r=27=3.5 cm.
- Differentiate S=4πr2: dS=8πrdr.
- Given dS=0.016, and r=3.5: dr=8π(3.5)0.016=28π0.016.
- Volume: V=34πr3. Differentiate: dV=4πr2dr.
- r2=12.25, so dV=4π(12.25)dr=49πdr.
- Substitute dr: dV=49π×28π0.016=2849×0.016.
- 2849=1.75, so dV=1.75×0.016=0.028.
Common Mistakes
- Computing r incorrectly from 4πr2=49π (forgetting to divide by 4π correctly, or taking the wrong square root).
- Forgetting that both dS and dV formulas share the same dr — trying to compute them independently instead of chaining through dr.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — 0.028.
ANSWER: D
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.A point is moving on the curve y=x3−3x2+2x−1 and the y-coordinate of the point is increasing at the rate of 6 units per second. When the point is at (2,−1), the rate of change of x-coordinate of the point is (A) 3 (B) 21 (C) −21 (D) −3
›Reveal solutionSolution
A related-rates problem: knowing dy/dt and the curve's slope at the given point lets us solve directly for dx/dt. The answer is 3.
Concept and Intuition
For a point moving along y=f(x), the rates of change of x and y with respect to time are linked through the chain rule dtdy=f′(x)dtdx — the curve's local slope is exactly the conversion factor between the two rates at that instant.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=x3−3x2+2x−1⇒dxdy=3x2−6x+2.
- At the point (2,−1): dxdy=3(4)−6(2)+2=12−12+2=2.
- Given dtdy=6, use dtdy=dxdy⋅dtdx: 6=2⋅dtdx.
- So dtdx=3.
Common Mistakes
- Evaluating the derivative at the wrong x-value, or forgetting to check that (2,−1) actually lies on the curve.
- Inverting the chain-rule relation (dividing the wrong way).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — 3.
ANSWER: A
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-AN1 markMCQQ.Let 'x' and 'y' be the sides of two squares such that y=x−x2. The rate of change of area of the second square with respect to area of the first square is ______. (A) 1−3x+2x2 (B) 1+3x−2x2 (C) 2x (D) x+2x3−3x2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the chain rule to compute a derivative of one area with respect to another, both parametrized by x. Answer: 1−3x+2x2.
Concept and Intuition
"Rate of change of Area2 w.r.t. Area1" means d(Area1)d(Area2), which by the chain rule equals d(Area1)/dxd(Area2)/dx since both areas are functions of the common parameter x.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Area1 =x2⇒dxd(Area1)=2x.
- Area2 =y2=(x−x2)2⇒dxd(Area2)=2(x−x2)(1−2x).
- d(Area1)d(Area2)=2x2(x−x2)(1−2x)=x(x−x2)(1−2x)=(1−x)(1−2x) (cancel one factor of x, since x−x2=x(1−x)).
- Expand: (1−x)(1−2x)=1−2x−x+2x2=1−3x+2x2.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to cancel the common x factor and leaving an unsimplified expression that doesn't match any option.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — 1−3x+2x2.
ANSWER: A
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