Ladder.gsp

Form 5 Additional Mathematics

Sliding rod problem

This is a prototype of JavaSketchpad, a World-Wide-Web component of The Geometer's Sketchpad. Copyright & copy ; 1990-1998 by Key Curriculum Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Portions of this work were funded by the National Science Foundation (awards DMI 9561674 & 9623018).

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A rod PQ, of length a², is leaning against a vertical wall.
R is a point on the rod PQ such that PR : RQ = m : 1 . The lower end Q of the rod is sliding away from the wall.
(1) What is the path of R? Can you find its equation algebraically?

(2) If Q is moving at a constant rate, will P move at a constant rate? Press "Animate Q" and observe the motion of P.
Press "r" to reset the sketch.

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