Students’ Difficulties with Related Rates Problem in Calculus

This study aims to propose actions to address the difficulties that the first year engineering students at Abu Dhabi Men's College encounter while solving related rates problems in Calculus. Related rates problem, which involve equations with derivatives with respect to time, is an important lesson for Calculus students. However, word problems in mathematics, in general, often pose a challenge because they require the students to read and comprehend the text of the problem, identify the given and the unknown quantities, formulate the mathematical equation and finally solve the equation. A teacher-made questionnaire incorporating two related rates problems and self-reflection items/survey was administered to two intact first year Engineering classes at Abu Dhabi Men's College; one in the fall of 2017-2018 (20 students) and another in Summer 2017-2018 (22 students). Final Examination scripts and Grades of ADMC Fall of 2017 Calculus 1 students (104 students) and in Summer of 2017 (22 students) were investigated to ascertain student performance in solving related rates problems. Moreover, five students and three Calculus teachers were interviewed to collect data on difficulties with related rates problems. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis approach based on categories of difficulties identified from existing literature causes or sources of difficulties were generated. The study concludes with a model to help students overcome their difficulties with related rates problems.