Math Problem Statement
a spotlight is on the ground 21 ft away from a wall and a 6 ft tall man is walking towards the was at a rate of 2 ft/sec. how fast is the height changing when the man is 6 ft from the wall
Solution
To solve this related rates problem, we need to analyze the situation step-by-step.
Step 1: Variables and Relationships
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Define the variables:
- : The distance between the man and the wall (in feet).
- : The height of the shadow on the wall (in feet).
- : The height of the man ( ft, constant).
- : The rate at which the man is moving toward the wall (negative because is decreasing).
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Geometry of the situation:
- The spotlight, the top of the man, and the top of the shadow form similar triangles.
- The first triangle is formed by the spotlight, the wall, and the shadow height ().
- The second triangle is formed by the spotlight, the ground, and the man's height ().
Step 2: Set up the proportional relationship
Using the property of similar triangles: Substitute :
Simplify:
Step 3: Differentiate with respect to time ()
Differentiate implicitly with respect to :
Substitute :
Step 4: Solve for when ft
Substitute :
Final Answer
The height of the shadow on the wall is increasing at a rate of:
Would you like a step-by-step explanation of any part of the solution?
Here are 5 related questions for deeper understanding:
- How does the principle of similar triangles apply in this scenario?
- Why is the rate of change of negative?
- What happens to the rate of change of as the man gets closer to the wall?
- Can this problem be solved using other methods besides similar triangles?
- How does the spotlight's distance from the wall affect the problem?
Tip: Always label variables clearly when solving related rates problems to avoid confusion!
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Related Rates
Similar Triangles
Rates of Change
Differentiation
Formulas
y = 126 / x
dy/dt = -126 / x^2 * dx/dt
Theorems
Principle of Similar Triangles
Chain Rule (Differentiation)
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 11-12
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