Calculus 1 : Calculus

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #230 : Acceleration

If the velocity of an asteroid is given by \displaystyle g(x), find the acceleration of the asteroid when \displaystyle x=\frac{9\pi}{4}.

\displaystyle g(x)=5sin(x)

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{5 \sqrt{2}}{2}

\displaystyle 0

\displaystyle \frac{-5 \sqrt{2}}{2}

\displaystyle -5

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \frac{5 \sqrt{2}}{2}

Explanation:

If the velocity of an asteroid is given by g(x), find the acceleration of the asteroid when \displaystyle x=\frac{9\pi}{4}.

\displaystyle g(x)=5sin(x)

Begin by recalling that acceleration is the first derivative of velocity.

Next, we can put that knowledge to the use by finding the derivative of g(x)

The derivative of sine is cosine, so we get

\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}5sin(x)=5cos(x)

So now we have the acceleration function, but we need the acceleration when \displaystyle x=\frac{9\pi}{4}

We can see that 

\displaystyle \frac{9\pi}{4}=\frac{\pi}{4}+2 \pi

So...

\displaystyle 5cos(\frac{9\pi}{4})=\frac{5 \sqrt{2}}{2}

So our answer must be  

\displaystyle \frac{5 \sqrt{2}}{2}.

Example Question #11 : Calculus Review

Given the velocity function \displaystyle v(t)=3tan(t)sin(t), find the acceleration function \displaystyle a(t)

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle a(t)=3cos(t)sec^2(t)

\displaystyle a(t)=3(sin(t)+sec(t)tan(t))

\displaystyle a(t)=3(sec^2(t)sin(t)+sin(t)tan(t))

\displaystyle a(t)=3sin(t)+sec(t)tan(t)

Correct answer:

\displaystyle a(t)=3(sin(t)+sec(t)tan(t))

Explanation:

We know that acceleration \displaystyle a(t) is the derivative of velocity with respect to time. 

\displaystyle a(t)=v'(t)

We also know that the velocity function \displaystyle v(t) is given by

\displaystyle v(t)=3tan(t)sin(t)

We need to apply the product rule to solve for the derivative. 

Recall that the product rule is given by:

\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} t}(f(t)*g(t))=f(t)*g'(t)+g(t)*f'(t)

In our case, \displaystyle f(t)=tan(t) and \displaystyle g(t)=sin(t)

Therefore,

\displaystyle f'(t)=sec^2(t) 

\displaystyle g'(t)=cos(t)

\displaystyle v'(t)=a(t)=3(tan(t)cos(t)+sec^2(t)sin(t))

We can reduce some terms in the acceleration function. 

\displaystyle tan(t)*cos(t)=\frac{sin(t)}{cos(t)}*cos(t)=sin(t)

\displaystyle sec^2(t)*sin(t)=\frac{sin(t)}{cos(t)}*sec(t)=tan(t)*sec(t)

The final answer can be given as

\displaystyle a(t)=3(sin(t)+sec(t)tan(t))

Example Question #231 : How To Find Acceleration

A mail company uses air tubes in order to send its mail from one part of the building to the other. The main tube sends mail with increasing speed in one direction, and the position of the mail at a time t (in seconds) after being sent is given by the formula \displaystyle 5t^2+3t+5\ m

What is the acceleration of the mail in the tube? 

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 10\ ^m/s^2

\displaystyle 5\ ^m/s^2

\displaystyle 10t\ ^m/s^2

\displaystyle 10t^2+3t\ ^m/s^2

\displaystyle 8\ ^m/s^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 10\ ^m/s^2

Explanation:

The acceleration of the mail is equal to the second derivative of its postion. The first derivative of the position gives the velocity, since it is how the position of the mail is changing over time. The derivative of the velocity gives how the velocity is changing over time, which is the acceleration. 

\displaystyle f(t) = 5t^2+3t+5\ m

In order to take the derivative of the position equation, use the power rule. Bring the exponent to the front of the term, multiple it by the constant in front of \displaystyle t, and reduce the exponent by one. If the term does not include the \displaystyle t variable, the derivative of the constant will be equal to zero. 

\displaystyle f'(t) = v(t) = (5*2)t^{2-1} + (3*1)t^{1-1}\ ^m/s

\displaystyle f'(t) = v(t) = 10t + 3\ ^m/s

Now that the velocity has been derived from the position function, the acceleration can be found by taking the derivative of the velocity function. Once again using the power rule to differentiate:

\displaystyle f''(t) = a(t) = (10*1)t^{1-1}} \ ^m/s^2

\displaystyle f''(t) = a(t) = 10 \ ^m/s^2

This gives the acceleration function.

Example Question #621 : Spatial Calculus

Suppose an object's acceleration is described by \displaystyle a(t)=3t+1, where \displaystyle t is in seconds. What is the objects acceleration after three minutes?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 10

\displaystyle 541

\displaystyle 48601

\displaystyle 5401

\displaystyle \frac{29}{2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 541

Explanation:

No integration is required for this question.  Simply convert three minutes to seconds.  There are 60 seconds in a minute, which means that there are 180 seconds in three minutes.

Substitute 180 seconds into the acceleration equation.

\displaystyle a(t)=3(180)+1 = 540+1=541

Example Question #621 : Calculus

Find acceleration at \displaystyle t=1 given the position function below.

\displaystyle p(t)=6t^2+7t-1

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 13

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 15

\displaystyle 19

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 12

Explanation:

To solve, simply differentiate the position function twice and evaluate at \displaystyle t=1. Thus,

\displaystyle a(t)=p''(t)=12

Example Question #622 : Calculus

Find the acceteration at \displaystyle 2, given the velocity function below.

\displaystyle v(t)=2t^2+6t-2

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 18

\displaystyle 14

\displaystyle 20

\displaystyle 8

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 14

Explanation:

To solve, simply differentiate to find the acceleration function and then plug in \displaystyle 2.

\displaystyle a(t)=v'(t)=4x+6

\displaystyle a(2)=4(2)+6=14

Example Question #623 : Calculus

Find the acceleration at \displaystyle t=4 given the following position function.

\displaystyle p(t)=2t^3-7t+2

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 84

\displaystyle 91

\displaystyle 37

\displaystyle 48

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 48

Explanation:

To find acceleration at a point, simply differentiate the position function twie and then plug in \displaystyle 4. Thus,

\displaystyle a(t)=d''(t)=12t

\displaystyle a(4)=12(4)=48

Example Question #233 : Acceleration

Determine the position of the ball at \displaystyle t=1 if the acceleration function of the ball is \displaystyle a(t)=1.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}

\displaystyle 2

\displaystyle 1

\displaystyle \textup{Cannot be solved.}

\displaystyle 0

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \textup{Cannot be solved.}

Explanation:

Integrate the acceleration function twice to obtain the position function.

\displaystyle \int\int a(t)\: dt \:dt = \int\int 1\: dt \:dt

\displaystyle v(t)=\int 1\: dt = t+C_1

Integrate again for position.

\displaystyle s(t) = \int t+C_1\: dt =\frac{t^2}{2} + C_1t + C_2

There are two unknown constants \displaystyle C_1 and \displaystyle C_2.  Without the initial conditions for velocity and position, we cannot find the position of the ball at \displaystyle t=1.

The answer is:  \displaystyle \textup{Cannot be solved.}

Example Question #234 : Acceleration

Find the acceleration of a ball at \displaystyle t=2 if its velocity is given by the following function:

\displaystyle v(t)=\frac{t^2}{2}-2t+3

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 0

\displaystyle 1

\displaystyle 5

\displaystyle 3

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 0

Explanation:

The acceleration of the ball is given by the first derivative of the ball's velocity function:

\displaystyle a(t)=v'(t)=t-2

The derivative was found using the following rule:

\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} x^n=nx^{n-1}

Now, find the acceleration at \displaystyle t=2 by plugging in \displaystyle 2 into the function:

\displaystyle a(2)=0

Example Question #234 : How To Find Acceleration

Let \displaystyle x(t)=4t^2+5t+3 describe the position of a particle traveling along the \displaystyle x-axis where each unit is \displaystyle 1 inch.

Find the acceleration rate of the particle at \displaystyle t=5 seconds.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 8\ \frac{in}{sec^2}

\displaystyle 45\ \frac{in}{sec^2}

There is not enough information given to determine the answer.

\displaystyle 0\ \frac{in}{sec^2}

\displaystyle -8\ \frac{in}{sec^2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 8\ \frac{in}{sec^2}

Explanation:

We know that acceleration is the derivative of velocity which is the derivative of position therefore, for this particular problem we will need to take the derivative of the position twice.

For this particular function we will need to use the power rule to find the derivative.

The power rule states, \displaystyle (x^n)'=nx^{n-1}.

Also recall, the derivative of a constant is always zero.

Applying the above rules to the position function we can first find our velocity.

\displaystyle \\x(t)=4t^2+5t+3\\ \\ x'(t)=(4*2)t^{2-1}+(1*5)t^{1-1}+0\\ \\v(t)=x'(t)=8t^1+5t^0\\ \\v(t)=8t+5

Now to find the acceleration we will need to apply the power rule to the velocity function.

\displaystyle \\ a(t)=v'(t)=x''(t) \\ \\ a(t)=(8t+5)'\\ \\a(t)=1*8t^{1-1}+0\\ \\a(t)=8t^0=8

Hence, the acceleration is a constant \displaystyle 8\ \frac{in}{sec^2} for all times, \displaystyle t.

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