SOLUTION: 2. A rope is tied to the bow of a boat, 3 feet lower than a loop on a dock. The rope runs through the loop. a. Find the distance from the boat to the dock as a function

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: 2. A rope is tied to the bow of a boat, 3 feet lower than a loop on a dock. The rope runs through the loop. a. Find the distance from the boat to the dock as a function       Log On


   



Question 955591: 2. A rope is tied to the bow of a boat, 3 feet lower than a loop on a dock. The rope runs through the loop.
a. Find the distance from the boat to the dock as a function of the length of the rope from the loop to the boat.
I tried this
A^2 + B^2 =C^2
A^2 + 3^2 =C^2
A^2 =c^2 - 9
sqrt (A^2 ) = sqrt(C^2-9)
A = sqrt(C^2-9)
I don't know where to go from here! And what to do with (b.)
b. Now, if the length of rope is 10 – 2*t, find the position of the boat as a function of t.

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20055) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
2. A rope is tied to the bow of a boat, 3 feet lower than a loop on a dock. The rope runs through the loop.
a. Find the distance from the boat to the dock as a function of the length of the rope from the loop to the boat.
I tried this
A^2 + B^2 =C^2
A^2 + 3^2 =C^2
A^2 =c^2 - 9
sqrt (A^2 ) = sqrt(C^2-9)
A = sqrt(C^2-9)
I don't know where to go from here! And what to do with (b.)
b. Now, if the length of rope is 10 – 2*t, find the position of the boat as a function of t.
Draw the triangle so we will know what letter represents what:



We are letting the function be the distance A, 
and the argument be the length of the rope C,

So you are right to have

A%22%22=%22%22sqrt%28C%5E2-9%29

Now we know that since the problem states that the length of the
rope is 10–2t, we know that we are to substitute 10-2t in place
of the length of the rope, which is C, and get

A%22%22=%22%22sqrt%28%2810-2t%29%5E2-9%29

or we can do some algebra and get:

A%22%22=%22%22sqrt%284t%5E2-40t%2B91%29

or even 

A%22%22=%22%22sqrt%28%282t-13%29%282t-7%29%29

Edwin