A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand length 3.
What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?
Why is this in the calculus section? I used simple geometry and A²+B²=C². Once you understand that the angle changes at a uniform rate and that the orientation of the triangle is meaningless the rest is easy. If the minute hand doesn't move at what point is the end of the hour hand moving directly away from the end of the minute hand? When it is at 90° to the unknown segment!
Edited on February 28, 2004, 9:22 pm
Edited on February 28, 2004, 9:36 pm
Edited on February 28, 2004, 9:46 pm
why calculus
