Related rates solver
Solve classic related-rates problems from a template: expanding sphere, spreading ripple, inflating balloon, sliding ladder, filling cone, shadow from a lamppost, two vehicles separating, and a changing rectangle. Pick a scenario, enter the known quantities and rates, and read off the unknown rate with its governing equation.
Related tools
All Calculus tools →Related rates solver works straight from this page — free, instant, nothing to install. It covers expanding sphere, spreading ripple, inflating balloon, sliding ladder, filling cone, shadow from a lamppost, two vehicles separating, and a changing rectangle. Pick a scenario, enter the known quantities and rates, and read off the unknown rate with its governing equation — adjust any of them and the result follows immediately.
How to use it
- Open the tool — no signup or install needed.
- Enter your input or adjust the available options.
- Get your result instantly, then copy or download it.
Frequently asked questions
What does Related rates solver do?
Solve classic related-rates problems from a template: expanding sphere, spreading ripple, inflating balloon, sliding ladder, filling cone, shadow from a lamppost, two vehicles separating, and a changing rectangle. Pick a scenario, enter the known quantities and rates, and read off the unknown rate with its governing equation.
What does it take into account?
It factors in expanding sphere, spreading ripple, inflating balloon, sliding ladder, filling cone, shadow from a lamppost, two vehicles separating, and a changing rectangle. Pick a scenario, enter the known quantities and rates, and read off the unknown rate with its governing equation. Change any of them and the output follows immediately.
When would I actually use this?
Checking a derivative or an integral you worked out by hand, finding where a function turns, and getting a numeric answer when no closed form exists.
What is the most common mistake?
Integrating across a discontinuity as if it were not there. A numeric method will happily return a finite value for an integral that diverges — check the domain before trusting the number.
How is Related rates solver different from Bernoulli ODE Solver?
They sit next to each other but answer different questions: Bernoulli ODE Solver is the one to open when you need it to solves y′ + P(x)y = Q(x)yⁿ by showing the substitution v = y^(1−n) that turns it into a linear equation, then integrating. The two degenerate cases are handled explicitly: n = 0 is already linear, n = 1 is separable. Pick whichever matches what you're starting from — both are free.
Is there a tool for the next step?
First-Order ODE Solver is the closest one after this: Solves dy/dx = f(x, y) from an initial condition with RK4, integrating outward in both directions, and plots the solution curve. Growth, decay, Newton cooling, logistic and separable cases are one click away.
Where do the figures come from?
Symbolic results are exact; numeric ones come from adaptive quadrature or a standard step method, and the tool reports which. Where both are available, compare them — a large gap means the problem is ill-conditioned.