Post Number Ten

This week i felt i caught on okay in class, but when i try to do problems by myself i feel like i don't know what to do and where to even start. Story of my life though right?

Well this week we learned related rates and angle of elevation. I understood related rates at first, but now i'm not so sure of myself. But here's the steps for related rates:

1. Identify all variables and equations.
2. Identify what you are looking for.
3. Make a sketch and label.
4. Write an equations involving your variables.
*You can only have one unknown so a secondary equation may be given
5. Take the derivative with respect to time.
6. Substitute in derivative and solve.

The problems can be given to you in two ways. You can either be given the equation and such or you may need to find them. I personally do better at when there given, but that's expected.

Ex:

The variables x and y are differentiable functions of t and are related by the equation y = 2x^3 - x + 4. When x = 2, dx/dt = -1. Find dy/dt when x = 2.

Since everything is given you can skip straight to the derivative.
dy/dt=6x^2dx/dt - dx/dt
Now plug in all your givens in order to find dy/dt.
dy/dt=6(2)^2(-1) - (-1)
dy/dt= -23
That was fairly easy and i can do all problems like that, but whenever the equation is not given i struggle with that. I guess it's because i sucked at optimization too and recognizing what equations to use when. Hopefully i'll get the hang of it.

Now for angles of elevation I can't really explain because I didn't really catch on to that in class when being taught. I'm not good at imagining a sketch to draw in the first place so if anyone can help me with that it'd be greatly appreciated. I need all the help i can get in everything so if anyone's up for that that'd be great :)