- ⭐ – Most used in JEE
- ⚠️ – Common Mistake
- 💡 – Memory Hint
Basic Idea of Rate of Change
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rate of Change | [\dfrac{f(x_2) – f(x_1)}{x_2 – x_1}] | [f(x)] = function, [x_1, x_2] = points | Over an interval ⭐ |
| Instantaneous Rate | [\dfrac{dy}{dx}] | [y] = dependent variable, [x] = independent variable | At a point ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Derivative = instantaneous rate
Velocity and Acceleration
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velocity | [v = \dfrac{ds}{dt}] | [s] = displacement, [t] = time | Rate of change of position ⭐ |
| Acceleration | [a = \dfrac{dv}{dt} = \dfrac{d^2s}{dt^2}] | [v] = velocity | Second derivative ⭐ |
| Average Velocity | [\dfrac{s_2 – s_1}{t_2 – t_1}] | — | Over interval |
| Instantaneous Velocity | [\lim_{\Delta t \to 0} \dfrac{\Delta s}{\Delta t}] | — | Exact velocity ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Position → velocity → acceleration
Increasing and Decreasing Functions
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increasing | [\dfrac{dy}{dx} > 0] | — | Function rises ⭐ |
| Decreasing | [\dfrac{dy}{dx} < 0] | — | Function falls ⭐ |
| Constant | [\dfrac{dy}{dx} = 0] | — | Flat region |
💡 Memory Hint:
Sign of derivative decides behavior
Rate Problems (Related Rates)
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Rule Form | [\dfrac{dy}{dt} = \dfrac{dy}{dx} \cdot \dfrac{dx}{dt}] | [x, y] = variables depending on [t] | Very important ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Differentiate → then substitute values
Rate of Change in Geometry
Circle
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area Rate | [\dfrac{dA}{dt} = 2\pi r \dfrac{dr}{dt}] | [A] = area, [r] = radius | Common JEE ⭐ |
| Circumference Rate | [\dfrac{dC}{dt} = 2\pi \dfrac{dr}{dt}] | [C] = circumference | Direct |
Sphere
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume Rate | [\dfrac{dV}{dt} = 4\pi r^2 \dfrac{dr}{dt}] | [V] = volume | Important ⭐ |
Cylinder
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume Rate | [\dfrac{dV}{dt} = \pi r^2 \dfrac{dh}{dt} + 2\pi r h \dfrac{dr}{dt}] | [h] = height | Combined change ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Differentiate formula → apply chain rule
Exponential Growth & Decay
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | [\dfrac{dy}{dt} = ky] | [k] = constant | Rate ∝ quantity ⭐ |
| Solution | [y = y_0 e^{kt}] | [y_0] = initial value | Standard model ⭐ |
| Decay | [k < 0] | — | Decreasing quantity |
💡 Memory Hint:
Growth → exponential increase
Error & Approximation
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Differential | [dy = \dfrac{dy}{dx} dx] | [dx] = small change | Approximation ⭐ |
| Relative Error | [\dfrac{dy}{y}] | — | Accuracy measure |
💡 Memory Hint:
Small change → use derivative