8.

Instantaneous Rate of Change

Tony U
University of Macau

Outline

1 Average Rate of Change

2 Instantaneous Rate of Change

3 Percentage Change

Average Rate of Change

Average Rate of Change

The average rate of change of f with respect to x, as x changes

from x1 to x2 , is the ratio
f (x2 ) f (x1 )
f (x1 + x) f (x1 )
=
,
x2 x1
x
where x2 = x1 + x.

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

Instantaneous Rate of Change

Rate of change at a point
Limit concept: instantaneous rate of change is the limit
(x 0) of average rate of change
i.e., the instantaneous rate of change of f (x) at x = x1 is
f (x1 + x) f (x1 )
= f (x1 ).
x0
x
lim

We called the derivative of f with respect to (w.r.t.) x at

x = x1 .

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

Example 1

Let y = f (x) = 16x 2 . Determine the average rate of change of y

w.r.t. x, as x changes from 2 to 3.

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

Example 1

Let y = f (x) = 16x 2 . Determine the average rate of change of y

w.r.t. x, as x changes from 2 to 3.
Sol.: Average rate of change from 2 to 3 is
16(3)2 16(2)2
= 80(unit of y per unit of x).
32

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

Example 2
A ball thrown straight up into the air has a height above the
ground of f (t) = 16t 2 + 144t feet, t seconds after it was thrown.
a. Find the average velocity of the ball (the average rate of
change of s) between t = 1 and t = 2;
b. Determine the instantaneous velocity of the ball at time t = 2;
c. When will the ball reach its highest point? (Hint: The
velocity is zero when the ball reaches its highest point).

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(a) Find the average velocity of the ball (the average rate of
change of s) between t = 1 and t = 2;

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(a) Find the average velocity of the ball (the average rate of
change of s) between t = 1 and t = 2;
Sol.: Recall average velocity is
to 2 is

s
t ,

so the average velocity from 1

16(2)2 + 144(2) [16(1)2 + 144(1)]

= 96(feet/t).
21

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(a) Find the average velocity of the ball (the average rate of
change of s) between t = 1 and t = 2;
Sol.: Recall average velocity is
to 2 is

s
t ,

so the average velocity from 1

16(2)2 + 144(2) [16(1)2 + 144(1)]

= 96(feet/t).
21
(b) Determine the instantaneous velocity of the ball at time t = 2

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(a) Find the average velocity of the ball (the average rate of
change of s) between t = 1 and t = 2;
Sol.: Recall average velocity is
to 2 is

s
t ,

so the average velocity from 1

16(2)2 + 144(2) [16(1)2 + 144(1)]

= 96(feet/t).
21
(b) Determine the instantaneous velocity of the ball at time t = 2
Sol.: Instantaneous velocity is f (t),
f (t) = 32t + 144
f (2) = 32(2) + 144 = 80(feet/t).
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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(c) When will the ball reach its highest point? (Hint: The velocity
is zero when the ball reaches its highest point).

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(c) When will the ball reach its highest point? (Hint: The velocity
is zero when the ball reaches its highest point).
Sol.: When the ball reach its highest point the velocity is zero, let
t1 be the time that happens
f (t1 ) = 0
32t1 + 144 = 0
t1 = 4.5(sec).

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

Example 3
It is estimated that t years from now, the populations (in millions)
of City A and City B will be estimated by the following functions
respectively:
City A: PA (t) = 1 + 0.03t + 0.001t 2
City B: PB (t) = 25 + 0.5t + 0.03t 2
a. Determine the instantaneous rate of growth in population of
both cities 5 years later.
b. Determine the actual change in populations of both cities
during the sixth year.
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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(a) Determine the instantaneous rate of growth in population of

both cities 5 years later.

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(a) Determine the instantaneous rate of growth in population of

both cities 5 years later.
Sol.: The instantaneous rate of growth in population of City A and
B is PA (t) and PB (t),
PA (t) = 0.03 + 0.002t
PA (5) = 0.03 + 0.002(5) = 0.04(millions/year)
PB (t) = 0.5 + 0.06t
PB (5) = 0.5 + 0.06(5) = 0.8(millions/year).

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(b) Determine the actual change in populations of both cities

during the sixth year.

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

(b) Determine the actual change in populations of both cities

during the sixth year.
Sol.: The actual change in populations of both cities during sixth
year,
City A:

PA (6) PA (5)
= 1 + 0.03(6) + 0.001(6)2 [1 + 0.03(5) + 0.001(5)2 ]
= 0.041(millions)

City B:

PB (6) PB (5)
= 25 + 0.5(6) + 0.03(6)2 [25 + 0.5(5) + 0.03(5)2 ]
= 0.83(millions)
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Percentage Change

Percentage Change

Percentage change of f from x1 to x2 ,

100

f (x2 ) f (x1 )
Change in quantity
% = 100
%
f (x1 )
Size of quantity

Percentage rate of change of f w.r.t. x at x = x1 ,

100

f (x1 )
%.
f (x1 )

Note that it is an instantaneous rate of change.

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Percentage Change

Example 4

Refer to example (3) in the above.

a. Determine the percentage change in populations of both cities
during the sixth year.
b. Determine the percentage rate of change of the populations of
both cities 5 years from now.

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Percentage Change

(a) Determine the percentage change in populations of both cities

during the sixth year.

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Percentage Change

(a) Determine the percentage change in populations of both cities

during the sixth year.
Sol.: The percentage change in populations of both cities during
the sixth year,
100

PA (6) PA (5)
%
PA (5)

100

1 + 0.03(6) + 0.001(6)2 [1 + 0.03(5) + 0.001(5)2 ]

%
1 + 0.03(5) + 0.001(5)2

100

0.041
% = 3.49%
1.175

100

PB (6) PB (5)
%
PB (5)

100

25 + 0.5(6) + 0.003(6)2 [25 + 0.5(5) + 0.03(5)2 ]

%
25 + 0.5(5) + 0.03(5)2

100

0.83
% = 2.94%
28.25

City A:

City B:

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Percentage Change

(b) Determine the percentage rate of change of the populations of

both cities 5 years from now.

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Percentage Change

(b) Determine the percentage rate of change of the populations of

both cities 5 years from now.
Sol.: The percentage rate of change of the populations of both
cities 5 years from now,
City A:

100

PA (5)
PA (5)

100

0.03 + 0.002(5)
%
1 + 0.03(5) + 0.001(5)2

100

0.04
% = 3.40% per yr
1.175

City B:

100

PB (5)
PB (5)

100

0.5 + 0.006(5)
%
25 + 0.5(5) + 0.03(5)2

100

0.8
% = 2.83% per yr.
28.25
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