# Math Help - Pre-calc problem: Minimizing distance

1. ## Pre-calc problem: Minimizing distance

At 2:00 PM bike A is 4km north of point C and traveling south at 16km/h. At the same time, bike B is 2km east of C and traveling east at 12km/h.

a. Show that t hours after 2:00 PM the distance between the bikes is:
square root of 400t^2 - 80t + 20

b. At what time is the distance between the bikes the least?

Help would really be appreciated!
Thanks!!!

2. Originally Posted by Juice08
At 2:00 PM bike A is 4km north of point C and traveling south at 16km/h. At the same time, bike B is 2km east of C and traveling east at 12km/h.

a. Show that t hours after 2:00 PM the distance between the bikes is:
square root of 400t^2 - 80t + 20

b. At what time is the distance between the bikes the least?

Help would really be appreciated!
Thanks!!!
bike A's distance from C ...

$d_A = 4 - 16t$

bike B's distance from point C ...

$d_B = 2 + 12t$

distance between the two bikes at any time t ...

$D = \sqrt{d_A^2 + d_B^2}$

how were you taught to minimize ... with or w/o calculus?

3. Originally Posted by skeeter
how were you taught to minimize ... with or w/o calculus?
the title indicates that this is for a precalculus class, so i guess w/o calculus is the way to go

4. ## Thanks!

With a calculator....i can take it from here...thank you so much guys!!!

5. Originally Posted by Juice08
With a calculator....i can take it from here...thank you so much guys!!!
?? How do you use a calculator to find a minimum value?

6. Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
?? How do you use a calculator to find a minimum value?
graph the function and find the min ... it's really amazing what graphing calculators can do these days.