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I am having problems solving the following question.

The volume, $V$, of a sphere of radius r is given by $V=f(r)=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$. Calculate the instantaneous rate of change of the volume, $V$, with the respect to change of the radius, $r$, at $r=36.4$.

I assume the answer to this question would be $f\prime(36.4)$

where $f\prime$ is equal to;

$f\prime(x) = 4\pi x^2 \\ f\prime(36.4) = 4\pi (36.4)^2 \\= 16649.93$

Although this is not the solution. Please advise me where I have went wrong.

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  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, my appologies, I left a typo while formatting my question. I meant to put $\frac{4}{3}$ and not $\frac{3}{4}$ $\endgroup$ – Miroslav Glamuzina Oct 12 '15 at 23:03
  • $\begingroup$ Then you were doing right! $\endgroup$ – Megadeth Oct 12 '15 at 23:04
  • $\begingroup$ That is what I believed, but the solution I have is apparently incorrect? I just wanted to confirm my answer. Thankyou. $\endgroup$ – Miroslav Glamuzina Oct 12 '15 at 23:05
  • $\begingroup$ Looks good to me. You've been asked to compute for $\frac{dV(r)}{dr}$ for some value of $r$ and that's what you did. $\endgroup$ – mopy Oct 12 '15 at 23:08
  • $\begingroup$ Closer to $16649.94$ (kidding). Maybe they wanted you to round. $\endgroup$ – André Nicolas Oct 12 '15 at 23:11
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This is a related rates problem, and it seems your trouble is in the formula you're using. The volume of a sphere is $V = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$, not $\frac{3}{4}$.

Other than that, you have the right idea.

EDIT: Just saw that you fixed that.

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  • $\begingroup$ What is the rate of change of the radius? That's a key piece of information that is missing. $\endgroup$ – Cody Rudisill Oct 12 '15 at 23:09
  • $\begingroup$ The right side of your formula should be expressed 4*pi*(36.4)^2*(dr/dt), where dr/dt is the rate of change of the radius. $\endgroup$ – Cody Rudisill Oct 12 '15 at 23:11
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$V(r)=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$. Using the chain rule, we have $\frac{dV}{dr}=4\pi r^2\cdot\frac{dr}{dt}$. We know $r=36.4$. However, the radius depends on time and you did not provide that info. In your problem, they'll give you $r(t)$, and take it's derivative. Then your answer is $\frac{dV}{dr}=4\pi\cdot 36.4^2\cdot\frac{dr}{dt}$

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