What Point Should a Sailor Aim for to Minimize Travel Time Along a Coastline?

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A sailor 10 km offshore aims to reach a point 20 km along a straight coastline in the shortest time possible. The sailor rows at 4 km/h and runs at 12 km/h. The total time function T(X) is defined as T(X) = (√(10² + X²) / 4) + ((20 - X) / 12), where X represents the unknown point on the coast. This equation is crucial for optimizing the sailor's travel time by determining the optimal point on the shore to aim for.

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A sailor in a boat 10 km off a straight coastline wants to reach a point 20km along the coast in the shortest possible time. Toward what point on the shore should he head if he can row at 4 km/h and run at 12 km/h?

i believe this involves optomizeation as well ralated rates but i am unsure as to how to get the equation to maximize.

x=10km
sailor ---------- | (straight coast)
dx/dt=4 km/h |
| y= 20 km dy/dt= 12 km/h
|
|
 
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srry guys, i tried to make a picture at the bottom. I didnt know it wouldn't permit the spaces i input.
 
Let x=0 be the point on the coast directly fronting the boat.

Call the unknown point at the coas for X.

Then, the time it takes for him to reach X by the boat is [itex]\frac{\sqrt{10^{2}+X^{2}}}{4}[/itex]
and the time for him to reach his destination after that [itex]\frac{20-X} {12}[/itex]
Thus, his total time T(X) is given by:
[tex]T(X) =\frac{\sqrt{10^{2}+X^{2}}}{4}+\frac{20-X} {12}[/tex]
Do you agree with this?
 

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