Related rates problem with a twist

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around a related rates problem involving a man running towards a light source. The height of the light source is defined by the function h(t) = t³ + 1. The user seeks to determine the rate at which the length of the man's shadow is decreasing at t = 10 seconds. By establishing relationships using similar triangles and differentiating with respect to time, the user can derive the necessary rates of change, specifically using dx/dt = -8 ft/sec and calculating dh/dt from the given height function.

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sebasalekhine7
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I have this problem, and I have attepmted a classical approach without much success.

A man 5 ft tall runs at a rate of 8ft/sec towards a source of light that arises vertically at a point A. The height of the light source H, is given by the formula h(t)=t^3 +1, in feet, where time t is measured in seconds. At what rate is the length of the man's shadow decreasing at time=10seconds?

I have tried establishing the geometrical relationships between the height h(t) and the distance between the point A and the tip of the man's shadow.
say, if we call "s" the length of the shadow, and 'x' the distance between the man and point A, we have that h/5=x/s but then I do not have any other information about the problem. What's next??
 
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Take another look at your picture! At any given instant, we have two triangles: one with a vertical side of length h (the light), the other with a vertical side of length 5 (the man). The horizontal sides of those triangles are s+ x and s respectively. (Notice that there is NO triangle with side length x: there is no triangle with vertex at the man.)

Using "similar triangles", you have s/5= (x+s)/h. Not to convert that from a "static" equation to one involving rates of change, differentiate both sides with respect to t. You are given that dx/dt= -8. Knowing that h(t)= t3+ 1, you can calculate dh/dt, as a function of t, and so find ds/dt as a function of t.
 

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