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nicnic20
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Homework Statement
So I've seen this posted here already but I'm still completely clueless on how to start the problem.
Problem: A 30-foot ladder rests vertically against a wall. A bug starts at the bottom of the ladder and climbs up at a rate of 3.5 feet per minute. At the same time, the foot of the ladder is being pulled along the ground at a rate of 1.5 feet per minute until the top of the ladder reaches the ground. Let x be the distance of the bug from the wall at time t.
Question: Find the function x(t). This function gives the horizontal distance of the bug to the wall as a function of time, t.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
So I'm not sure where to begin when finding x(t). I started with the Pythagorean theorem because of the obvious triangle and came up with x^2 + y^2= 30. Now I'm stuck.