Asked by Lucy

An object is moving along the graph of f (x)= x2 . When it reaches the point (2,4) the x coordinate of the object is decreasing at the rate of 3 units/sec. Give the rate of change of the distance between the object and the point (0,1) at the instant when the object is at (2,4).

Answers

Answered by Reiny
Let P(x,y) be any point on f(x)
then the distance D between P and (0,1) is such that
D^2 = (x-0)^ + (y-1)^2
= x^2 + (x^2 - 1)^2
= x^2 + x^4 - 2x^2 + 1 = x^4 - x^2 + 1

2D dD/dt = 4x^3 dx/dt - 2x dx/dt

so at (2,4), x=2 and dx/dt = -3
and D^2 = 4 + 9 = 13
D = √13

√13 dD/dt = 4(8)(-3) - 2(2)(-3)
dD/dt = -84/√13 = appr. -23.3 units/sec

check my arithmetic.
Answered by Steve
OK until you forgot that it was 2D dD/dt, and you just plugged in √13. So, the answer is half what you showed.

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