Related Rates: Sliding Ladder Against a Wall
December 10, 2025
Problem
A ladder 10m long leans against a wall. If the bottom slides away at 2 m/s, how fast is the top sliding down when the bottom is 6m from the wall?
Explanation
A 10 m ladder leans against a wall. As the bottom slides away, the top slides down so that x² + y² = 10² remains constant. This visualization shows the geometry, the changing position, and the instantaneous rate at which the top is sliding down (dy/dt) given dx/dt.
Interactive Visualization
Parameters
10.00
2.00
6.00