# Math Help - softball problem

1. ## softball problem

ok so we have a softball diamond that is a square whose sides are 60 ft long. suppose that a player running from first to second base has a speed of 25 ft/s at the instant when she is 10ft. from second base. at what rate is the players distance from home plate changing at that instant? ok im clueless on this one...would i use the area of the square and take the derivative? thanks in advance...

2. Originally Posted by slapmaxwell1
ok so we have a softball diamond that is a square whose sides are 60 ft long. suppose that a player running from first to second base has a speed of 25 ft/s at the instant when she is 10ft. from second base. at what rate is the players distance from home plate changing at that instant? ok im clueless on this one...would i use the area of the square and take the derivative? thanks in advance...
home plate to the runner to first base forms a right triangle ...

let x = distance the runner is from first base

y = distance the runner is from home plate

$x^2 + 60^2 = y^2
$

you were given $\frac{dx}{dt} = 25$ ft/s ... take the derivative of the above equation w/r to time and calculate $\frac{dy}{dt}$ when x = 50 ft

3. ok im looking at this problem and im not seeing how you are getting x = 50 ft

4. never mind i see it, 10 ft from 2nd base, 60-10 ft sorry about that..