this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2024
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[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I'm trying to apply the most simple math possible and it seems to add up.

After one second, their distance is √(5² + 1²) = ~5.1 ft

After two seconds, their distance is √(10² + 2²) = ~10.2 ft

After three seconds, it's √(15² + 3²) = ~15.3 ft

As speed is the rate of change of distance over time, you can see it's a constant 5.1 ft/s. You're free to point out any error, but I don't think you need anything more than Pythagoras' theorem.

The question specifically asks for their seperation speed at 5s to ignore any initial change in their speed as they first need to accelerate, I'd assume.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ah sorry, I'm tired and made a mistake. I quickly made a spreadsheet (because keeping track of numbers is hard), and I was looking at the wrong column in the sheet. My bad!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You were tired so you made a spreadsheet to calculate the differential equation quiz from a meme?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Yes, compared to doing the calculations in my head lol

I work in mysterious ways