CPM Homework Help : APCALC Problem 10-115

A rocket, rising vertically, is being tracked by a radar station $3$ miles away from the rocket’s launch pad. How fast is the rocket rising when it is $5$ miles above the ground and the distance between the rocket and the radar station is increasing at a rate of $3000$ miles per hour?

Step 1:

Draw a diagram and use it to write an equation.

Right triangle, horizontal leg labeled 3 miles, vertical leg labeled, h, with arrow pointing up, hypotenuse labeled, d.

Step 2:

Differentiate your equation from Step 1.

Step 3:

What is the value of d when $h = 5$ ?

Step 4:

Evaluate your equation from Step 2 for $h = 5$ , $d = \text{(# from Step 3)}$ , and $d^\prime = 3000$ .