A ladder rests against a wall at an angle $$\alpha $$ to the horizintal. Its foot is pulled away from the wall through a distance $$a$$, so that it slides $$a$$ distance $$b$$ down the wall making an angle $$\beta $$ with the horizontal. Show that $$a = b\tan {1 \over 2}\left( {\alpha + \beta } \right)$$

In a triangle $$ABC$$, the median to the side $$BC$$ is of length $$${1 \over {\sqrt {11 - 6\sqrt 3 } }}$$$ and it divides the angle $$A$$ into angles $${30^ \circ }$$ and $${45^ \circ }$$. Find the length of the side $$BC$$.

Find all the tangents to the curve
$$y = \cos \left( {x + y} \right),\,\, - 2\pi \le x \le 2\pi ,$$ that are parallel to the line $$x+2y=0$$.

Let $$f\left( x \right) = {\sin ^3}x + \lambda {\sin ^2}x, - {\pi \over 2} < x < {\pi \over 2}.$$ Find the intervals in which $$\lambda $$ should lie in order that $$f(x)$$ has exactly one minimum and exactly one maximum.