Answer: To find the rate at which the radius is increasing when the balloon is one foot in diameter, we can use the related rates approach.
Let's assume:
V = Volume of the balloon (cubic inches)
r = Radius of the balloon (inches)
Given:
dV/dt = Rate of change of volume with respect to time = 15 cubic inches per minute
We know that the volume of a sphere is given by:
V = (4/3) * π * r^3
Now, we need to find the rate at which the radius is increasing (dr/dt) when the balloon's diameter is one foot (12 inches). Since the diameter is 2 times the radius (D = 2r), when the diameter is 12 inches, the radius is 6 inches.
To find dr/dt, we'll differentiate the volume equation with respect to time:
dV/dt = d/dt [(4/3) * π * r^3]
dV/dt = (4/3) * π * 3r^2 * (dr/dt)
Now, plug in the given values:
15 = (4/3) * π * 3 * (6)^2 * (dr/dt)
Now, solve for dr/dt:
15 = 4 * π * 36 * (dr/dt)
dr/dt = 15 / (4 * π * 36)
dr/dt ≈ 0.03311 inches per minute
So, when the balloon's diameter is one foot (12 inches), the rate at which the radius is increasing is approximately 0.03311 inches per minute.