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Two people start walking from the same point. One person travels west at a rate of 3 mph, and the other walks north at a rate of 4 mph. At what rate is the distance between the two people changing 1 hour after they start walking?

 Mar 7, 2016
 #1
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Using, the Pythagorean Theorem, the distance  between  them after one hour  = r

 

r  = √ [3^2 + 4^2]  = 5 miles

 

And using the general theorem, again, we have

 

r^2   = x^2 + y^2        differentiating with respect to time, t,  we have

 

2r dr/dt  = 2x dx/dt + 2y dy/dt         divide through by 2

 

r dr/dt   = x dx/dt  + y dy/dt     

 

We are looking for dr/dt    and  x = 3miles, y = 4 miles   and dx/dt = 3mph     and dy/dt  = 4mph    

 

So we have

 

5miles [dr/dt]  = 3miles *3miles per hour + 4miles per hour * 4mph

 

5miles [dr/dt]  = 9m^2ph + 16m^2ph

 

5miles dr/dt  = 25m^2ph     divide through by 5 miles

 

dr/dt  = 25m^2ph / 5miles

 

dr/dt  = 5mph

 

 

 

cool cool cool

 Mar 7, 2016

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