9514 1404 393
Answer:
5.423 miles
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the distance to run. Then the remaining distance to the point that is closest to the island is (6-x) miles. The straight-line distance (d) to the point x from the island is given by the Pythagorean theorem:
d² = 1² +(6 -x)² = x² -12x +37
d = √(x² -12x +37)
The total travel time is the sum of times running and swimming. Each time is found from ...
time = distance/speed
total time = x/4 + d/2 = x/4 +(1/2)√(x² -12x +37)
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The total time will be minimized when its derivative with respect to x is zero.
t' = 1/4 +(1/4)(2x -12)/√(x² -12x +37) = 0
Multiplying by 4 and combining fractions, we can see the numerator will be ...
√(x² -12x +37) +2x -12 = 0
Subtracting the radical term and squaring both sides, we get ...
4x² -48x +144 = x² -12x +37
3x² -36x +107 = 0
The quadratic formula tells us the smaller of the two roots is ...
x = (36 -√(36² -4(3)(107)))/(2(3)) = (36 -√12)/6 ≈ 5.423 . . . mi
You should run 5.423 miles west to minimize the time needed to reach the island.
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A graphing calculator solves this nicely. The attached graph shows the time is a minimum when you run 5.423 miles.
