A motorboat starts at the origin and moves in the direction of the positive x-axis, pulling a waterskier along a curve C called a tractrix. See the figure below. The waterskier, initially located on the y-axis at the point  (0, a),  is pulled by a rope of constant length a that is kept taut throughout the motion. At time  t > 0  the waterskier is at point  P(x, y).  Assume that the rope is always tangent to C. Use the concept of slope to determine a differential equation for the path C of motion.

Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
13th Edition
ISBN:9781133382119
Author:Swokowski
Publisher:Swokowski
Chapter3: Functions And Graphs
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 30RE
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A motorboat starts at the origin and moves in the direction of the positive x-axis, pulling a waterskier along a curve C called a tractrix. See the figure below.

The waterskier, initially located on the y-axis at the point 
(0, a),
 is pulled by a rope of constant length a that is kept taut throughout the motion. At time 
t > 0
 the waterskier is at point 
P(x, y).
 Assume that the rope is always tangent to C. Use the concept of slope to determine a differential equation for the path C of motion.
y′ = ?
(0, a)
waterskier
X
P(x, y)
a
motorboat
X
Transcribed Image Text:(0, a) waterskier X P(x, y) a motorboat X
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