Question

Beginning 145 miles directly south of the city of Hartville, a car travels due west. If the car is travelling at a speed of 42 miles per hour, determine the rate of change of the distance between Hartville and the car when the car has been travelling for 55 miles. (Do not include units in your answer, and round to the nearest hundredth.)

Answer 1

Answer:

The rate of change of the distance is 14.89.

Explanation:

Given that,

Distance = 145 miles

Speed of car = 42 miles/hr

Distance covered by car = 55 miles

We need to calculate the the rate of change of the distance

According to figure,

Let OA is x, and AB is y.

Now, using Pythagorean theorem

$x^2=y^2+145^2$

On differentiating

$2x\dfrac{dx}{dt}=2y\dfrac{dy}{dt}$

$\dfrac{dx}{dt}=\dfrac{y}{x}\dfrac{dy}{dt}$

$\dfrac{dx}{dt}=\dfrac{55\times42}{\sqrt{55^2+145^2}}$

$\dfrac{dx}{dt}=14.89\ miles/hr$

Hence, The rate of change of the distance is 14.89.