StudyDeck

Connected Rates of Change

Exam code: 4037
Written by: Ashika|Reviewed by: Caroline Carroll|Updated 2 July 2026

Connected Rates of Changevideo

Connected Rates of Change

Connected rates of change

What are connected rates of change?

  • In situations involving more than two variables you can use the chain rule to connect multiple rates of change into a single equation

  • Look out for the word "rate"

    • This implies a derivative is involved

    • e.g. The height is increasing at a rate of 4 cm per second means dhdt=4{"language":"en","fontFamily":"Times New Roman","fontSize":"18","autoformat":true}

  • If the variable is decreasing then the rate will be negative

    • e.g. The height is decreasing at a rate of 4 cm per second means dhdt=-4{"language":"en","fontFamily":"Times New Roman","fontSize":"18","autoformat":true}

 

Example of a connected rates of change problem