Science:Math Exam Resources/Courses/MATH102/December 2013/Question C 04/Statement

Shown in the figure below is the view from above of the path taken by a penguin from point A to a feeding area on the shore at point C. The penguin must choose the point B toward which it starts walking. It takes twice as much energy per unit distance for the penguin to walk over land (AB) as to swim through water (BC). The distance AD is 300 m and the distance DC is 400 m. Calculate the value of the distance x (and hence the location of the point B - see figure) that minimizes the energy spent on the entire trip.