Part 1: Laser
A laser is fired at a flat mirror.
The laser beam starts at the point (0,5) following the equation y = 5 - x/3 heading down to the right.
The mirror follows the equation y=x/2.
Find the equation for the path the beam takes after it hits the mirror.
(In reply to
solution start by Mindrod)
Taking that further, the slope of the laser beam is -1/3, so after reflection the slope is 3.
Now we have y = 3x + ?.
To find that unknown, we take (0-6)*3 + 3 to get -18 + 3 = -15. So, the y-intercept is -15.
We now have the equation that the beam takes after hitting the mirror, and that equation is y = 3x - 15.
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Posted by Justin
on 2006-02-08 09:57:03 |
re: solution start
