How fast is the area of triangle formed

You are calculating the rate of change of the area at the specific instant when the top of the ladder is 12 feet above the ground. This is found by using the formula for the area of a triangle and taking the derivative with respect to time. In summary, the area of the triangle formed by the ladder, building, and ground is changing at a rate of 119/36 feet squared per second when the top of the ladder is 12 feet above the ground.
  • #1
karush
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9 A Ladder 13ft long is leaning against the side of a building.
If the foot of the ladder is pulled away from the building at a constant rate of 8in per second how fast is the area of triangle formed by the ladder, the building and the ground changing (in feet squared per second) at the instant when the top of the ladder is 12 feet above the ground

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$$A=\frac{1}{2}BH=\frac{1}{2}xy$$

$$\frac{d}{dt}A=\frac{d}{dt} \left(\frac{1}{2} xy \right)

\Rightarrow \frac{dA}{dt}=\frac{1}{2}x\frac{dy}{dt}+\frac{1}{2}y\frac{dx}{dt}$$

since $$\frac{dy}{dt}\text{ at y }= 12\text { is }\frac{-5 ft}{12 ft}\cdot \frac {2ft}{3 sec} = -\frac {5 ft}{18 sec}$$

then substituting

$$\frac{dA}{dt} = \frac{119}{36}\frac{ft^2}{sec}$$

hopefully
 
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  • #2
Looks good to me!
 

FAQ: How fast is the area of triangle formed

1) How is the area of a triangle calculated?

The area of a triangle is calculated by multiplying the base length by the height and dividing the result by 2. This can be represented by the formula A = (b * h) / 2, where A is the area, b is the base length, and h is the height.

2) What is the unit of measurement for the area of a triangle?

The unit of measurement for the area of a triangle is typically square units, such as square inches, square feet, or square meters. This is because the area is a measure of two-dimensional space.

3) How fast is the area of a triangle formed?

The speed at which the area of a triangle is formed depends on the rate at which the base and height are changing. If there is a constant rate of change, the area will increase or decrease at a constant rate. However, if the base and height are changing at different rates, the area will change at a varying speed.

4) Can the area of a triangle change instantaneously?

No, the area of a triangle cannot change instantaneously. Since it is a calculation based on two measurements, any change in the area will require a change in at least one of the measurements. Therefore, the area will change gradually as the base and/or height change.

5) How does the shape of a triangle affect its area?

The shape of a triangle does not affect its area, as long as the base and height remain the same. This is because the formula for calculating the area of a triangle is the same for all types of triangles, regardless of their shape. However, if the base and/or height of a triangle changes, the resulting shape may not be a triangle and the area calculation will be different.

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