A Calc question

I haven't done these types of problems yet, so the math I have done on it so far may be incorrect, but i'll let you be the judge of that.

This is just for fun

Ok, here it is broken into two parts

start with a cube(A) of side length x, nested inside a cube(B) of side lenght (x+1), at what side lengths will their rates of change in volume be equal

Given: dx(A)/dt(A) = 3 units per second
and dx(B)/dt(B) = 2 units per second

start by differentiating

dV(A)/dt(A) = (3x^2)( dx(A)/dt(A))
&
dV(B)/dt(B) = (3x^2 + 6x + 3 )(dx(B)/dt(B))

then set dV(A)/dt(A) = dV(B)/dt(B) and solve for x

9x^2 = 6x^2 + 12x + 6

3x^2 - 12x -6 = 0

x^2 -4x - 2 = 0

using the quadratic formula I come up with

2 + sqrt(6).

ruling out the negative solution.

so the side lenght of (A) = 2 + sqrt(6)

and Side lenght of (B) = 3 + sqrt(6)

Now, my second question. If i were to ask, what time will the rates of volume be the same, assuming start times were the same, would i need to add another piece of information, like one of the original starting volumes to deduce this?

Originally posted by joe shmo
I haven't done these types of problems yet, so the math I have done on it so far may be incorrect, but i'll let you be the judge of that.

This is just for fun

Ok, here it is broken into two parts

start with a cube(A) of side length x, nested inside a cube(B) of side lenght (x+1), at what side lengths will their rates of change in volume be equal
...[text shortened]... to add another piece of information, like one of the original starting volumes to deduce this?

I cant follow this. If the rates of change of the sides are constant then the rates of change of the volumes will be constant. Namely 8 and 27. They are never going to be equal!

The volume (V) is equal to x^3 so

DV/dx = 3x^2

DV/dt = DV/dx * dx/dt
= (3x^2) * 3
= 9x^2

I'm unclear as to the realtionship between the two cubes - Is the bigger cube constantly 1 unit larger than the smaller?

ie does y = x+1 (y is side length of larger cube)

Originally posted by wolfgang59
I cant follow this. If the rates of change of the sides are constant then the rates of change of the volumes will be constant. Namely 8 and 27. They are never going to be equal!

The volume (V) is equal to x^3 so

DV/dx = 3x^2

DV/dt = DV/dx * dx/dt
= (3x^2) * 3
= 9x^2

I'm unclear as to the realtionship between the two cubes - ...[text shortened]... constantly 1 unit larger than the smaller?

ie does y = x+1 (y is side length of larger cube)

Originally posted by joe shmo
sorry, I think I meant to ask, when are their rates of change in volume with respect to time equal

And yes, the side of the larger cube is (x+1)

so the two volumes are V= x^3 & V = (x+1)^3

the cubes are growing at different rates relative to each other, so the larger cube isnt always 1 unit larger

given enough time V= x^3 should become greater than V = (x+1)^3 right?

Originally posted by wolfgang59
How can x^3 be greater than (x+1)^3 ????

Your problem I think is that you are using x as a variable as well as using it as a discrete value.

You have 2 variables which vary with time; the length of small cube (lets call it 'a'😉 and the length of the larger (lets call that 'b'😉

Lets call their respective volumes A and B.

We are given that

da/dt = 3; a=3t + C (where C is a constant)
db/dt = 2; b=2t + K (where K is a constant)
initial value t=0, a=x, b=x+1

At time t, a=C = x and b=K=x+1

Therefore a=3t+x and b=2t+x+1


A=a^3; DA/da = 3a^2

B=b^3; DB/db = 3b^2

We want to find what t equals when dA/dt = dB/dt

dA/dt = dA/da * da/dt = (3a^2) * 3
dB/dt = dB/db * db/dt = (3b^2) * 2

So what is t when 9a^2 = 6b^2 ?
Substitute for a and b.

3 (3t + x)^2 = 2 (2t+x+1)^2

Then solve for t in terms of x.
REMEMBER that x IS NOT A VARIABLE!!!

Originally posted by wolfgang59
You have 2 variables which vary with time; the length of small cube (lets call it 'a'😉 and the length of the larger (lets call that 'b'😉

Lets call their respective volumes A and B.

We are given that

da/dt = 3; a=3t + C (where C is a constant)
db/dt = 2; b=2t + K (where K is a constant)
initial value t=0, a=x, b=x+1

At time t, a=C = x and b= ...[text shortened]... x)^2 = 2 (2t+x+1)^2

Then solve for t in terms of x.
REMEMBER that x IS NOT A VARIABLE!!!