# Help with differentiation?

1. Jul 18, 2004

Use differentiation to solve the following

A ladder 25 feet long is leaning against the wall of a house. The base of the ladder is pulled away from the wall at rate of 2 feet per second. How fast is the top moving down the wall when the base of ladder is 15 feet from the wall.

What's the equation?

Thanks

2. Jul 18, 2004

Use the Pythagorean Theorem.

$$x^2 + y^2 = z^2$$

Diffentiate:

$$x\frac{dx}{dt} + y \frac{dy}{dt} = z\frac{dz}{dt}$$

Solve for the desired variable, dy/dt in this case

$$\frac{dy}{dt} = \frac{z\frac{dz}{dt} - x\frac{dx}{dt}}{y}$$

Plug in values you know, using x^2 + y^2 = z^2 to determine distances you don't.

3. Jul 19, 2004

Using Differentiation solve

a rocket is launched vertically and is tracked by a radar station located on the ground 12 kilometers from the launch site. When the rocket is 20 km away from the radar station, its distance from the station is increasing at the rate of 2500 km/hr. What is the vertical speed of the rocket at this instant?

What is the equation?

Thanks

4. Jul 19, 2004

### Gokul43201

Staff Emeritus
Same approach as the previous problem. Now you know x, y and can find z from Pyth. What is important is understanding what dx/dt and dy/dt are equal to.

Typically, we can help you only if you show us what you have tried and where you are stuck. We are not here to provide solutions to your homework.