Rewrite the statement in mathematical notation. (Let y be the distance from the top of the ladder to the floor, x be the distance from the base of the ladder to the wall, and t be time.)

A ladder is sliding down a wall so that the distance between the top of the ladder and the floor is decreasing at a rate of 2 feet per second. How fast is the base of the ladder receding from the wall?

dy/dt= ??

Question

Rewrite the statement in mathematical notation. (Let y be the distance from the top of the ladder to the floor, x be the distance from the base of the ladder to the wall, and t be time.) 

A ladder is sliding down a wall so that the distance between the top of the ladder and the floor is decreasing at a rate of 2 feet per second. How fast is the base of the ladder receding from the wall?

dy/dt= ??

anonymous · Answer

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the length of the ladder ties the related rates, you need to use pythagorean theorem to incorporate everythign together