ApplicationsofDerivative

(via35Displacement,Velocity,andAccelerationCalculusConceptsandApplicationsbyPaulA.Foerster)

LuluChow,DanielLau,GalenLei,DongwenLu 2nd APCALCAB.

**ifyourelazyjustreadthebolded,anditalicized.

OBJECTIVE:
Givenanequationforthedisplacementofamovingobject,findanequationforitsvelocityand
anequationforitsacceleration,andusetheequationstodeterminethemotion.

Displacementisalsoposition,ordirecteddistanceittellsyouhowfartheobjectisfromits
initialplaceand
whatdirection.
Anegativedisplacementtellsyouhowmuchanobjectmovedbackward.
Apositivedisplacementtellsyouhowmuchanobjectmovedforward.
Distanceistheabsolutevalueofdisplacementandgivesyouthetotalamountof
distancetheobjecttraveledbackwardandforward.

Velocityisspeedwithdirection,ordirectedspeedittellsyoutherateatwhichtheobjects
displacementischangingandwhatdirection.
Anegativevelocitytellsyoutherateatwhichtheobjectmovedbackward.
Apositivevelocitytellsyoutherateatwhichtheobjectmovedforward.
Ifdisplacementandvelocityhavedifferentsigns,thentheamountofdisplacementis
decreasing.
Speedistheabsolutevalueofvelocityandtellsyouhowfasttheobjectismoving
akavelocityisthederivativeofdisplacement.
Accelerationisthechangeinspeedwithdirectionwithrespecttotime,ortheinstantaneous
rateofchangeofvelocityittellsyouwhethertheobjectsvelocityisspeedinguporslowing
down.
Ifvelocityandaccelerationhavethesamesigns,thentheobjectisspeedingup,
(velocityisincreasing).
Ifvelocityandaccelerationhavetheoppositesigns,thentheobjectisslowingdown,
(velocityisdecreasing).

PROPERTIES:Velocity,Speed,andAcceleration:
Ifxisthedisplacementofamovingobjectfromafixedplane(suchastheground),andt
istime,then
Velocity:v=x=dx/dt
Acceleration:a=v=dv/dt=x=d2
x/dt2
Speed:|v|

LocalMax.andLocalMin.:
Localmax:thepointatwhichtheyvalueishighestonaconcavedowncurvealocal
maxexistsifitscorrespondingderivativeequalszeroandchangessignsfrompositiveto
negative.
Localmin:thepointatwhichtheyvalueislowestonaconcaveupcurvealocalmin
existsifitscorrespondingderivativeequalszeroandchangessignsfromnegativeto
positive.

exampleoflocalmax
andlocalminona
graph.

Ratesofchange:Wearegoingtolookatafunction,f(x),thatrepresentssomequantitythat
variesasxvaries.Forinstance,maybef(x)representstheamountofwaterinatankafterx
minutes.Ormaybef(x)isthedistancetraveledbyaboatafterxhours.
Whatwewanttodoisdeterminehowfastf(x)ischangingatsomepoint,x=a.Thisiscalledthe
instantaneousrateofchangeorjustrateofchangeoff(x)atx=a.

Tocalculatetheaveragerateofchangeoff(x)atx=a, allweneedtodoischooseanother
point,x,andthentheaveragerateofchangewillbe,
changeinf(x)
changeinx
f(x)f(a)
= xa

A.R.C. =

A.R.C. =
=

changeinf(x)
changeinx
f(x)f(a)
xa

**A.R.C.standsforaveragerateofchange.

Thentogetagoodestimateoftheinstantaneousrateofchangeatx=a,allweneedtodois
choosevaluesofxthatgetcloserandclosertox=a.(dontforgettochoosethemonbothsides
ofx=aandcomputevaluesoftheaveragerateofchange.Wecanthenestimatethe
instantaneousrateofchangefromthat.

SampleProblems
Example1
Supposeafootballiskickedintotheair.Asitrisesandfalls,itsdisplacementfromthegroundis
afunctionofthenumberofsecondssinceitwaskicked.
2

y = 15t + 36t + 36
andyisthefootballsdisplacementinfeetandtisthenumberofsecondssinceitwaskicked.
thusyisthetotaldistancetraveled,andtisthetimeinseconds.
Thevelocityoftheballgivesitsspeedandthedirectioninwhichitsgoing.Becausevelocityis
theinstantaneousrateofchange,itisaderivation.
velocity = dy/dt = y = 30t + 36
Findvelocitywhen t =1
t =2
Wecanfindthevelocitiesofbothtimessimplybypluggingthevaluesoftintotheequationof
velocityfoundbytakingthederivativeofthedisplacementequation.
30(1)+36=6for t =1and30(2)+36=24for t =2
Theanswerscomeoutto6ft/secat t =1and24 f t/sec at t =2.
The dy/dt remindsyouoftheunitsforvelocity,whichis( f t/sec ).
Speedistheabsolutevalueofvelocity.Speedtellshowfastanobjectisgoingwithoutregardto
itsdirection.
Describethespeedandvelocityat t =1and t =2andtheunitsfortisseconds.
Thespeedandvelocityat t =1is6 f t/sec andthespeedandvelocityat t =2is24 f t/sec .
Notethatthevelocitychangesfrom t =1to t =2sec.Theinstantaneousrateofchangein
velocityiscalledacceleration.Usingvforvelocity, v =30t+36
Findacceleration.
acceleration= dv/dt = v =30
The dv/dt symbolforthederivativegivestheunitsofacceleration. dv/dt isin
( f eet/second )/ sec andwritten f t/sec2
Notethattheaccelerationisconstant,30 f t/sec2
,foranobjectactedononlybygravity.
Totellquicklywhetheranobjectisspeedinguporslowingdown,comparethesignsof

thevelocityandacceleration.

Inthisproblem,velocityandaccelerationhavedifferentsigns,sotheobjectisslowingdown.

Example2
Supposethattheamountofairinaballoonafterthoursisgivenby

Estimatetheinstantaneousrateofchangeofthevolumeafter5hours.
Solution
Okay.Thefirstthingthatweneedtodoisgetaformulafortheaveragerateofchangeofthe
volume.Inthiscasethisis,

Toestimatetheinstantaneousrateofchangeofthevolumeatt=5 wejustneedtopickvalues
oftthataregettingcloserandclosertot= 5.Hereisatableofvaluesoftandtheaveragerate
ofchangeforthosevalues.
t

averagerateofchange

4.9

14.11

4.99

14.9101

4.999

14.9101001

5.01

15.0901

5.001

15.009001

5.0001

15.00090001

So,fromthistableitlooksliketheaveragerateofchangeisapproaching15andsowecan
estimatethattheinstantaneousrateofchangeis15atthispoint.

PracticeProblems
1)

Findequationsforthevelocity, v ,andtheacceleration, a ,ofamovingobjectif y isits

displacement
4

y =5 t 3 t
2)

2.4

+7 t

Anobjectmoveswithdisplacement,x,givenby
3

x = t + 13t 35t + 27

wherexisinfeetandtisinseconds.
a.Findequationsforthevelocityandtheacceleration.
b.Findthevelocityandaccelerationatt=1,t=6,t=8.Ateachtime,state
Whetherxisincreasingordecreasing,andatwhatrate
Whethertheobjectsisspeedinguporslowingdown,andhowyoudecided
c.Atwhattimesintheinterval[0,9]isxarelativemaximum?Isxevernegativeiftisin
thisinterval?
3)

Aparticle(asmallobject)moveswithdisplacement, x ,givenby
4

x= t 11 t +38 t 48 t +50
wherexisinmetersand t isinminutes.
a.Writetheequationsforthevelocity, v ,andacceleration, a .
b.Istheobjectspeedinguporslowingdownat t =1?At t =3?At t =5?Howcanyou
tell?
4)

Thegraphbelowshowsthedisplacement,y,incentimetersfromatabletop,foramass
bouncingupanddownonaspring.Timetisinseconds.

a.Sketchthevelocityofthegraph.
b.Forwhatvaluesoftisyarelativemaximum?
c.Atwhattimesisthevelocityarelativemaximum?

5)

SpaceshipProblem:AspaceshipisapproachingMars.Itfiresitsretrorockets,which
causesittoslowdown,stop,riseupagain,thencomebackdown.Itsdisplacement,y,in
kilometers,fromthesurfaceisfoundtobe
3

y = 0.01t + 0.9t 25t + 250

wheretistime,insecondssincetheretrorocketwasfired.
a.Writeequationsforthevelocityandaccelerationofthespaceship,
b.Findtheaccelerationattimet=15.Atthetime,isthespaceshipspeedingupor
slowingdown?Howdoyoutell?
c.Findbydirectcalculationthevaluesoftatwhichthespaceshipisstopped.
d.WhendoesthespaceshiptouchthesurfaceofMars?Whatisitsvelocityatthetime?
6)

Supposes(t)=3 t representsthedisplacementofaracecaronastraighttrack,
measuredinfeetfromthestartinglineattimetseconds.Whatistheaveragerateof
changeofs(t)fromt=2tot=3?

AnswerKey
1)

originalequation: y = 5t 3t

2.4

+ 7t

velocity:Findthederivativeoftheoriginalequation
3

1.4

v = dy
dt = 20t 7.2t

+7

acceleration:Findthederivativeofvelocity, v
2

a = dv
dt = 60t 10.08t

2)

a.

0.4

velocity:Findthederivativeoftheoriginalequation, x
2

v = 3t + 26t 35
acceleration:Findthederivativeofthevelocity, v
a = 6t + 26
b.

Pluginthegivennumbersof t intothevelocityandaccelerationequationfoundin
parta.Iftheanswerispositive,then x isincreasingbutiftheanswerisnegative,
then x isdecreasing.Lastly,comparethevelocityandacceleration.Ifboththe
velocityandaccelerationarebothincreasingordecreasingthentheobjectis
speedingupbutiftheyarebothgoingoppositedirectionsthentheobjectis
slowingdown.
t=1

v(1) = 3(1) + 26(1) 35 = 12 velocityisdecreasingat12 f t/s

a(1) = 6(1) + 26 = 20accelerationisincreasingat20

f t/s2

Velocityandaccelerationaregoinginoppositedirectionthusobjectisslowingdown.
t=6

v(6) = 3(6) + 26(6) 35 = 13 velocityisincreasingat13 f t/s

a(6) = 6(6) + 26 = 10accelerationisdecreasingat10

f t/s2

Velocityandaccelerationaregoinginoppositedirectionthusobjectisslowingdown.
t=8

v(8) = 3(8) + 26(8) 35 = 19 velocityisdecreasingat19 f t/s

a(8) = 6(8) + 26 = 22accelerationisdecreasingat22

f t/s2

Velocityandaccelerationaregoinginthesamedirectionthusobjectisspeedingup.
c.

Usingtheoriginalequationandplugginginintoagrapher,findthepointon x
whereithasthegreatest y valuefromtheinterval[0,9]tofindtherelative
maximum.Thenpluginthevelocityequationfoundin(a)todeterminewhetheror
not x isevernegativeif t isintheinterval.
Intheinterval[0,9]t=7isarelativemaximumv(7)=0.Usingthevelocity

equationfoundin(a),anythingbeforev(7)ispositiveandanyvalueafteris
negative.xisnevernegativeiftisintheinterval[0,9].

3)

a.

originalequation: x = t 11 t +38 t 48 t +50

velocity:Findthederivativeoftheoriginalequation, x
3

v = 4t 33t + 76t 48
acceleration:Findthederivativeofvelocity, v
2

a = 12t 66t + 76
b.

Todeterminewhethertheparticleisspeedinguporslowingdownatanyvalueof
t ,pluginthegivenvalueof t tothevelocityandaccelerationequation.Ifeither
answerisnegativeandpositivefromoneanother(goingoppositedirections)then
theobjectisslowingdownbutifthevelocityandaccelerationarebothnegativeor
positive(goingsamedirection)thentheobjectisspeedingup.
t=1

v(1) = 4(1) 33(1) + 76(1) 48 = 1 velocityisdecreasingat1 m/s

2

a(1) = 12(1) 66(1) + 76 = 22 accelerationisincreasingat22 m/s2

Theobjectisslowingdownatt=1becausevelocityandaccelerationisgoingin
oppositedirections.
t=3

v(3) = 4(3) 33(3) + 76(3) 48 = 9 velocityisdecreasingat9 m/s

2

a(3) = 12(3) 66(3) + 76 = 14 accelerationisdecreasingat14 m/s2

t=5

v(5) = 4(5) 33(5) + 76(5) 48 = 7 velocityisincreasingat7 m/s

2

a(5) = 12(5) 66(5) + 76 = 46 accelerationisincreasingat46 m/s2

Theobjectisspeedingupatt=3andt=5becausevelocityandaccelerationis
goinginthesamedirection.

4)a.

b.

Usetheslopeofthetangentlinefromthegraphtodeterminethemaximum,
minimum,height,andifitsincreasingordecreasing.

Findthegreatest y values,where t isgoing

frompositivetonegative
yisarelativemaximumwhen t 0, 4, 8, ...

Findthesmallest y values,where t isgoingfromnegativetopositive

yisarelativeminimumwhen t 2, 6, 10, ...

5)

c.

Findthegreatest y value,where t isgoingfrompositivetonegative,butusingthe

velocitygraph
Thevelocityisarelativemaximumat t 3or7

a.

y = 0.01t + 0.9t 25t + 250

Findthederivativeoftheoriginalequation, y
2

v = dy
dt = 0.03t + 1.8t 25
Findthederivativeofvelocity, v
a = dv
dt = 0.06t + 1.8
b.

Plugin t =15totheaccelerationequation,thendothesameforvelocityand
compareiftheyarethesamesignsortheoppositesigns
a(15) = 0.06(15) + 1.8 = 0.9km/s2
2

v(15) = 0.03(15) + 1.8(15) 25 = 4.75km/s

Att=15sthespaceshipisslowingdownbecausevelocityandaccelerationhave
oppositesigns.
c.

Pluginthevelocityequation, v ,inagrapherandusesolver
2

v = 0.03t + 1.8t 25 = 0
t = 21.835...ort = 38.164...
Thespaceshipstopsatabout21.8secondsand38.2seconds.
d.

Plugintheoriginalequation, y ,inagrapherandusesolver.Thenusethe t found

fromthesolverandplugitinthevelocityequation.
3

y = 0.01t + 0.9t 25t + 250 = 0

t = 50seconds

v(50) = 0.03(50 + 1.8(50) 25 = 10km/s

ThespaceshiptouchesthesurfaceofMarsatt=50andthevelocityatt=50
secondsis10km/s.
6)

Theaveragerateofchangeisequaltothechangeindisplacementwithrespecttothe
changeintime: y s
=
t

s(3)s(2)
32

= 32448
= 276ft/sec
1