A crystal in the form of a regular tetrahedron, with side length s cms\text{ cm}s cm, is growing in a laboratory. The tetrahedron consists of 4 congruent equilateral triangular faces.
Show that the total surface area, S cm2S\text{ cm}^2S cm2, of the tetrahedron is given by S=3s2S = \sqrt{3}s^2S=3s2
Given that the volume, V cm3V\text{ cm}^3V cm3, of the tetrahedron is given by V=212s3V = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{12}s^3V=122s3
Prove that dVdS=624s\dfrac{dV}{dS} = \dfrac{\sqrt{6}}{24}sdSdV=246s.
The surface area of the crystal is increasing at a constant rate of 0.12 cm2 s−10.12\text{ cm}^2\text{ s}^{-1}0.12 cm2 s−1.
Determine the rate of change of the volume of the crystal at the instant when s=8s = 8s=8, giving your answer to 2 significant figures.
Practise Edexcel A Level Maths 9.10 Rates of Change with exam-style questions for A Level Maths. 24 questions, matched to the Edexcel A Level Maths (9MA0) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.