Looking through my old calc notes, I am reading that f(x) needs to be continuous on [a,b] and f ' (x) also needs to be continuous on [a,b]. Both conditions are needed. If you had to pick just one, then I'd say f(x) being continuous is much more important. Though I'm not 100% sure on this one. My thinking is that if there was any discontinuities on f(x), then the arc length would be distorted and overblown. The arc length should not account for any piece that isn't on the curve.
Assume ladder length is 14 ft and that the top end of the ladder is 5 feet above the ground.
Find the distance the bottom of the ladder is from the base of the wall.
Picture a right triangle with hypotenuse 14 feet and that the side opposite the angle is h. Then sin theta = h / 14, or theta = arcsin 5/14. theta is
0.365 radian. Then the dist. of the bot. of the lad. from the base of the wall is
14cos theta = 14cos 0.365 rad = 13.08 feet. This does not seem reasonable; the ladder would fall if it were already that close to the ground.
Ensure that y ou have copied this problem accurately from the original.
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