The Biggest Mistake Students Make With Related Rates

Have you ever stared at a Related Rates problem and felt like you were reading another language? You aren't alone. Let's break down exactly why this trips up so many students.

Did you make this error?

• The Trap: plugging in changing values before taking the derivative
• The Proof: Read this scenario: In a falling ladder problem, don't plug in the 'x=3' distance until AFTER you differentiate x^2 + y^2 = L^2 with respect to time (t).

If your logic doesn't match the proof above, you've fallen for the trap. Erase it and start over.

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