If a 5 metre ladder is resting against a wall and the bottom of the ladder is 3 metres away from the wall, and someone pulls the bottom of the ladder away at a speed of 1 metre per second, calculate the speed of the top of the ladder after t seconds

After t seconds the distance between the bottom of the ladder and the wall is t metres. Let x denote the distance that the top of the ladder has moved after t seconds. Now use the theorem of Pythagoras to obtain a quadratic equation in x and t. Then use implicit differentiation to obtain a formula for dx/dt in terms of x and t, and solve the quadratic to express this in terms of t alone.

OB
Answered by Oliver B. Maths tutor

2821 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Find the intergal of 2x^5 -1/(4x^3) -5 giving each term in its simplest form.


Integrate x*ln(x) with respect to x


Calculate the binomial expansion of (2x+6)^5 up to x^3 where x is decreasing.


The curve C has equation y = 2x^2 - 12x + 16 Find the gradient of the curve at the point P (5, 6).


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences