Rate of change of distance from origin?

In summary, the problem asks for the rate of change of the particle's distance from the origin when it is at the point (1,4). To solve this, we can use the distance formula from the origin and the position of a point on the parabola to find the distance as a function of x. Then, we can differentiate with respect to t to find ds/dt, which will give us the rate of change of the particle's distance from the origin. Alternatively, we can use implicit differentiation to find the same result.
  • #1
avr10
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Homework Statement



A particle moves along the parabola [tex]y = 4x^{2} [/tex] such that it's x coordinate increases at a steady rate of 5 units/minute.
How fast is the particle's distance from the origin changing when it is at the point (1,4)?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I honestly have no idea how to start this problem. A couple of ideas that pop up in my head are to take the derivatives [tex]\frac {dx}{dt}[/tex] and [tex]\frac {dy}{dt}[/tex] and use them to take the derivative of the distance formula from the origin, but there is no t...

I have no idea. Someone help get me started?
 
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  • #2
Go with that thought. You have two pieces of information:
the distance of a point (x,y) from the origin is given by [tex]s^2 = x^2 + y^2[/tex] and the position of a point (x,y) on the parabola is (x, x^2).

You will be interested in ds/dt. Differentiate the distance equation implicitly with respect to t after making the appropriate substitutions.

If you haven't had implicit differentiation yet, no matter. Make the appropriate substitutions into the distance equation and you will have the distance as a function of x only, which you can then solve for s and differentiate with respect to t.
 

1. What is the rate of change of distance from origin?

The rate of change of distance from origin refers to how quickly the distance from an object to the origin point is changing over time. It is a measure of the object's speed or velocity at any given point in time.

2. How is the rate of change of distance from origin calculated?

The rate of change of distance from origin is calculated by dividing the change in distance by the change in time. This is represented by the formula: rate of change = (final distance - initial distance) / (final time - initial time).

3. What units are used to measure the rate of change of distance from origin?

The rate of change of distance from origin can be measured in units of distance per unit of time, such as meters per second or kilometers per hour. The specific units used may depend on the context and the system of measurement being used.

4. How does the rate of change of distance from origin relate to velocity?

The rate of change of distance from origin is directly related to an object's velocity. Velocity is defined as the rate of change of displacement, which is the change in position over time. Therefore, the rate of change of distance from origin is equivalent to an object's velocity at any given point in time.

5. What are some real-life applications of understanding the rate of change of distance from origin?

The rate of change of distance from origin is important in many scientific fields, including physics, engineering, and astronomy. It is used to analyze the motion of objects, calculate speed and acceleration, and predict the future positions of objects. It also has practical applications in fields such as transportation, sports, and navigation systems.

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