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1.6 Differentiation

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Question 61

A laboratory-grown synthetic crystal takes the form of a regular tetrahedron, which consists of 4 congruent equilateral triangular faces meeting at 4 vertices. The side length of the tetrahedron is denoted by L mmL\text{ mm}L mm.

a.

Show that the total surface area, S mm2S\text{ mm}^2S mm2, of the tetrahedron is given by

S=3L2 S = \sqrt{3}L^2 S=3​L2
[2]
b.

Given that the volume, V mm3V\text{ mm}^3V mm3, of the tetrahedron is given by

V=L362 V = \frac{L^3}{6\sqrt{2}} V=62​L3​

show that dVdS=624L\dfrac{\text{d}V}{\text{d}S} = \dfrac{\sqrt{6}}{24}LdSdV​=246​​L.

[3]
c.

The surface area of the crystal is increasing at a constant rate of 0.14 mm2 s−10.14\text{ mm}^2\text{ s}^{-1}0.14 mm2 s−1.

Find the rate of change of the volume of the crystal when L=6L = 6L=6, giving your answer to 2 significant figures.

[3]

1.6 Differentiation Questions

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