\
Pulley on the dock is 1 m higher than the bow of the boat.
\Rope is pulled in at a rate of 1 m/s.
\Diagram of situation at any time
:

Assume the length of the rope as
m at any time
.
Rope is pulled in at a rate of 1 m/s.
\Thus,
, as time increases the length of the rope decreases.
Assume that the boat is
m away from the dock at any time
.
Apply Pythagorean theorem to the above figure.
\
.
Differentiate on each side with respect to
.
Determine how fast the boat is approaching the dock, when it is
m away from the dock.
Thus,
.
Substitute
in
.
Substitute
,
, and
in
.
Therefore, the boat approaching the dock at a rate of
m/s when it is
m away from the dock.
\
The boat approaching the dock at a rate of
m/s when it is
m away from the dock.