Q.x and y are the sides of two squares such that y=x−x2. Find the rate of change of the area of the second square with respect to the area of the first square.
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Rate of Change
The very first application of the derivative is to measure how fast one quantity changes when another changes. If y=f(x), then the derivative
dxdy=f′(x)
is the rate of change of y with respect to x. Geometrically it is the slope of the tangent; physically it tells you how sensitive y is to a small change in x at that instant.
Average versus instantaneous rate
Over an interval from x to x+h, the average rate of change is
hf(x+h)−f(x).
As h→0 this becomes the instantaneous rate dxdy. So the derivative is the limit of the average rate — the rate "right now" rather than "over a stretch".
Rates with respect to time
Many problems track how a quantity changes as time passes. If a quantity Q depends on time t, then dtdQ is its rate of change per unit time. For example, if the radius of a circle is r, its area is A=πr2, and the rate at which the area grows is
dtdA=2πrdtdr.
Here the chain rule links the rate of change of the area to the rate of change of the radius. A positive derivative means the quantity is increasing; a negative one means it is decreasing.
When two related quantities both change with time, differentiate the equation connecting them with respect to t. Every variable contributes its own rate, tied together by the chain rule.
Reading the sign and size
- dxdy>0: y increases as x increases.
- dxdy<0: y decreases as x increases.
- A large magnitude means a steep, fast change; a value near zero means y is barely responding. …
Idea: Write both areas as functions of x and use dA1dA2=dA1/dxdA2/dx.
First square side x: A1=x2. Second square side y=x−x2: A2=y2=(x−x2)2.
Differentiate each with respect to x:
dxdA1=2x,dxdA2=2(x−x2)(1−2x).
Divide: …
Writing both areas in terms of x and using dA1dA2=dA1/dxdA2/dx gives dA1dA2=(1−x)(1−2x)=1−3x+2x2.
The intuition
"Rate of change of P with respect to Q" means the derivative dQdP. Here P and Q are the two areas, and both depend on the common variable x (the side of the first square). When two quantities share a variable, we get dQdP=dQ/dxdP/dx.
Set up
- First square: side x, so area A1=x2.
- Second square: side y=x−x2, so area A2=y2=(x−x2)2.
We want dA1dA2.
Work the steps
1. Differentiate A1.
dxdA1=2x.
2. Differentiate A2 (chain rule with u=x−x2, dxdu=1−2x):
dxdA2=2u⋅dxdu=2(x−x2)(1−2x).
3. Divide to get dA1dA2.
dA1dA2=dA1/dxdA2/dx=2x2(x−x2)(1−2x). …
Method: Finding the Rate of One Quantity With Respect to Another (Not Time) — the Quotient Trick
When a problem asks for dQdP where neither P nor Q is time, but both are functions of a shared variable x, you don't need to introduce time at all — the chain rule gives a direct shortcut.
Steps
Step 1: Recognise the shared-variable structure.
Confirm both P and Q can be written explicitly as functions of the same variable x (typically a length that determines both quantities).
Step 2: Write out P(x) and Q(x) using any given relation.
Substitute any relation connecting the underlying variables (e.g. one side expressed in terms of the other) so that both P and Q end up purely in terms of x.
Step 3: Differentiate both with respect to x separately.
Compute dxdP and dxdQ as two ordinary derivatives, using the chain rule, product rule, etc. as each expression requires. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Trying to differentiate A2 directly with respect to A1 as if A1 were an independent variable
Why it's wrong: neither area is given as an explicit function of the other; both are functions of the shared variable x, so dA1dA2 must be computed via dA1/dxdA2/dx, not by some direct differentiation of one area "with respect to" the other. Correct approach: differentiate both A1 and A2 with respect to x separately, then divide.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the chain rule when differentiating A2=(x−x2)2
Why it's wrong: writing dxdA2=2(x−x2) and stopping there omits the derivative of the inner function (1−2x), which is required since A2 is a composite function of x. Correct approach: dxdA2=2(x−x2)⋅(1−2x). …
Showing the 12 most recent of 24 on this concept.
- CBSE 2024Set 65/3/11 markMCQQ.If the sides of a square are decreasing at the rate of 1.5 cm/s, the rate of decrease of its perimeter is: (A) 1.5 cm/s (B) 6 cm/s (C) 3 cm/s (D) 2.25 cm/s
›Reveal solutionSolution
The perimeter of a square is directly proportional to its side length. If the side decreases at 1.5 cm/s, the perimeter decreases at 4 times that rate, which is 6 cm/s. The correct option is (B).
This problem asks us to find the rate at which the perimeter of a square is decreasing, given the rate at which its sides are decreasing. This is a classic "related rates" problem in calculus. The core idea is to establish a relationship between the quantities involved (side length and perimeter), and then differentiate that relationship with respect to time to find how their rates of change are related.
When we talk about a "rate of change," we are essentially talking about a derivative with respect to time. If a quantity is decreasing, its rate of change will be negative.
Here's how we approach it:
-
Identify the variables and given rates.
Let s be the side length of the square at any given time t.
Let P be the perimeter of the square at any given time t.
We are given that the sides of the square are decreasing at the rate of 1.5 cm/s. In calculus terms, this means the derivative of the side length with respect to time, dtds, is −1.5 cm/s. The negative sign indicates a decrease.
Our goal is to find the rate of decrease of the perimeter, which means we need to find dtdP.
-
Establish a relationship between the variables.
The formula for the perimeter of a square with side length s is:
P=4s
- Differentiate the relationship with respect to time. To find how the rates of change are related, we differentiate both sides of the equation P=4s with respect to time t. We use the chain rule here.
dtdP=dtd(4s)
Since $4$ is a constant, we can pull it out of the differentiation:dtdP=4dtds
This equation tells us that the rate of change of the perimeter is $4$ times the rate of change of the side. This makes intuitive sense: if each of the four sides shrinks by a certain amount, the total perimeter shrinks by four times that amount.4. Substitute the given rate and calculate. …
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- CBSE 2026Set 65/3/11 markMCQQ.The rate of change of the volume of a sphere with respect to its diameter, when its radius is 5 cm, is: (A) 400π cm3/cm (B) 100π cm3/cm (C) 50π cm3/cm (D) 25π cm3/cm
›Reveal solutionSolution
We need to find the rate of change of the sphere's volume with respect to its diameter, which is dDdV. Using the chain rule, dDdV=drdV⋅dDdr, we find this rate to be 2πr2. For a radius of 5 cm, the rate is 50π cm3/cm.
When we talk about the "rate of change of the volume of a sphere with respect to its diameter," we are essentially asking for the derivative of the volume (V) with respect to the diameter (D). In mathematical terms, this is dDdV.
The volume of a sphere is typically expressed in terms of its radius, r. The diameter, D, is related to the radius by D=2r. To find dDdV, we can either express V entirely in terms of D and then differentiate, or we can use the chain rule. The chain rule is often more intuitive for problems like this, as it breaks down the problem into smaller, more manageable derivatives. It states that if V depends on r, and r depends on D, then dDdV=drdV⋅dDdr.
Let's work through the problem step-by-step.
- Identify the relevant formulas and relationships. The volume of a sphere is given by:
V=34πr3
The relationship between the radius ($r$) and the diameter ($D$) is:D=2r
From this, we can express $r$ in terms of $D$:r=2D
We are given that the radius $r = 5$ cm. We need to find $\frac{dV}{dD}$ at this specific radius.2. Find the rate of change of volume with respect to radius (drdV).
We differentiate the volume formula V=34πr3 with respect to r:
drdV=drd(34πr3)
drdV=34π⋅3r2
drdV=4πr2
This tells us how quickly the volume changes as the radius changes.3. Find the rate of change of radius with respect to diameter (dDdr).
We use the relationship r=2D and differentiate it with respect to D:
dDdr=dDd(2D)
dDdr=21
This makes sense: for every unit increase in diameter, the radius increases by half a unit.4. Apply the Chain Rule to find dDdV. …
- CBSE 2020Set 65/2/11 markQ.If the radius of the circle is increasing at the rate of 0.5 cm/s, then the rate of increase of its circumference is ____________ .
›Reveal solutionSolution
The circumference of a circle increases at a rate directly proportional to the rate of change of its radius. Since C=2πr, differentiating gives dtdC=2πdtdr. With dtdr=0.5 cm/s, the rate is π cm/s.
The key idea here is the rate of change — how fast one quantity changes when another related quantity changes. In this problem, the radius of a circle is growing over time, and we want to know how fast the circumference is growing at that same moment.
Think of it this way: if you blow up a balloon, its radius increases, and so does its circumference. The relationship between circumference and radius is simple: C=2πr. So if r changes, C changes proportionally. The question asks for the instantaneous rate of increase of C when r is increasing at 0.5 cm/s. That’s a derivative problem — specifically, related rates.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Write the relationship between circumference and radius. The circumference C of a circle is given by
C=2πr.
Here r is the radius, and both C and r are functions of time t (since the radius is increasing).
- Differentiate both sides with respect to time t. Since C depends on r, and r depends on t, we use the chain rule:
dtdC=dtd(2πr)=2πdtdr.
Notice that 2π is a constant, so it just carries through.
- Plug in the given rate of change of the radius. We are told dtdr=0.5 cm/s. So:
dtdC=2π×0.5=π cm/s.
- Interpret the result. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its radius r at r = 5 cm is(a) 12π(b) 8π(c) 5π(d) 10π
›Reveal solutionSolution
The area of a circle is A=πr2; its rate of change with r is dA/dr=2πr.
A=πr2⇒drdA=2πr.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The rate of change of area of circle w.r.t. its radius 'r' when r = 4 cm is(a) 8π cm²/cm(b) 6π cm²/cm(c) 4π cm²/cm(d) 2π cm²/cm
›Reveal solutionSolution
The rate of change of area with radius is dA/dr=2πr; substitute r=4.
Area of a circle: A=πr2.
drdA=2πr
At r=4 cm: …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The rate of change of area of a circle with respect to its radius r at r=6 cm is(a) 10π cm(b) 12π cm(c) 8π cm(d) 11π cm
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate the area formula A=πr2 with respect to r and evaluate at r=6.
Area of a circle: A=πr2
drdA=2πr
At r=6 cm: …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its radius r at r=6 cm is:(a)(i) 8\pi(b)(ii) 10\pi(c)(iii) 11\pi(d)(iv) 12\pi
›Reveal solutionSolution
drdA=2πr=12π at r=6 cm — option (iv).
Concept. The rate of change of a quantity with respect to a variable is its derivative with respect to that variable.
Steps.
- Area of a circle: A=πr2.
- Differentiate with respect to r: drdA=2πr. …
- CBSE 2025Set A1 markQ.The rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its radius at r=6 cm is ______.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Area of a circle is A=πr2; differentiate with respect to r and substitute r=6.
Area of a circle: A=πr2.
drdA=2πr
At r=6 cm: …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its radius r when r=2.5 cm.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its radius is drdA.
A=πr2⇒drdA=2πr
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The rate of change of area of a circle w.r.t. its radius 'r' when r = 5 cm is :(a) 8π cm²/cm(b) 10π cm²/cm(c) 9π cm²/cm(d) 16π cm²/cm
›Reveal solutionSolution
Area of a circle A=πr2; rate of change drdA=2πr, which at r=5 gives 10π.
Given A=πr2, differentiate with respect to r:
drdA=2πr.
At r=5 cm: …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The rate of change of the area of circle with respect to its radius r at r=6 cm is(a) 6π cm2/cm(b) 6π cm/cm2(c) 12π cm2/cm(d) 12π cm/cm2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate the area formula A=πr2 w.r.t. r and substitute r=6.
Area of circle: A=πr2.
drdA=2πr
At r=6 cm: …
- CBSE 2024Set D1 markMCQQ.The rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its radius r (in cm2/cm) at r=6cm is(a) 10π(b) 12π(c) 8π(d) 11π
›Reveal solutionSolution
drdA=2πr, which at r=6 equals 12π.
Area of a circle: A=πr2.
Rate of change of area with respect to radius: drdA=2πr.
…
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