- #1
SpicyPepper
- 20
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Hey people, first time posting. This isn't really homework, but I want to know how to apply inverse trig functions. So, while looking over some problems in my textbook, I came across the following, which I really have no idea how to do.
A ladder 10ft long leans against a wall. The bottom of the ladder (on the floor) slides away from the wall at 2ft/sec. How fast is the angle between the ladder & the wall changing when the bottom of the ladder is 6ft from the base of the wall?
Since the ladder is 10ft (hypothenuse), the distance from the ladder to wall is 6ft (opposite), then I can figure the wall is effectively 8ft (adjacent).
I assume the angle [tex]\Theta[/tex] can be figured with any inverse trig function.
I know the answer (1/4 rad/s), but that's not really important. I want to be able to understand how to approach this type of problem.
Homework Statement
A ladder 10ft long leans against a wall. The bottom of the ladder (on the floor) slides away from the wall at 2ft/sec. How fast is the angle between the ladder & the wall changing when the bottom of the ladder is 6ft from the base of the wall?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Since the ladder is 10ft (hypothenuse), the distance from the ladder to wall is 6ft (opposite), then I can figure the wall is effectively 8ft (adjacent).
I assume the angle [tex]\Theta[/tex] can be figured with any inverse trig function.
I know the answer (1/4 rad/s), but that's not really important. I want to be able to understand how to approach this type of problem.
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