Related Rates - Slipping Ladder

[spagomat]

I'm pretty sure *both* sides of the ladder would naturally move at non-constant rates, but the question setup requires one side to be constant. You could have wall end dropping at a constant rate and the floor side would have to be non-constant.

[johnnolen]

The thing under the radical is a difference of squares. Factor it. Simplifying the square root is a lot faster if you factor first.

[TheFarmanimalfriend]

Shows that there unaccounted variables that have been neglected, but should not have been. Friction varies in direct proportion to weight, the weight (center of gravity) doesn't shifts as the ladder transforms from vertical to horizontal, however the friction resistance does shift.