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The length of a rectangle is decreasing at the rate of 4 cm/minute and the width is increasing at the rate of 3 cm/minute, then the rate of change of the perimeter is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 1

Let LL = length and WW = width of the rectangle.

Length is decreasing at 4 cm/min, so dLdt=−4\frac{dL}{dt} = -4 cm/min

Width is increasing at 3 cm/min, so dWdt=3\frac{dW}{dt} = 3 cm/min


The perimeter of a rectangle is:

P=2L+2WP = 2L + 2W


Differentiating both sides with respect to time:

dPdt=2dLdt+2dWdt\frac{dP}{dt} = 2\frac{dL}{dt} + 2\frac{dW}{dt}


Substituting the given values:

dPdt=2(−4)+2(3)\frac{dP}{dt} = 2(-4) + 2(3)

dPdt=−8+6\frac{dP}{dt} = -8 + 6

dPdt=−2\frac{dP}{dt} = -2 cm/min


The negative sign indicates the perimeter is decreasing.

Therefore, the rate of change of the perimeter is 2 cm/min decreasing.

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