Accumulation Functions, Definite Intervals, Applied Contexts
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AP Calculus BC › Accumulation Functions, Definite Intervals, Applied Contexts
A spherical balloon is being inflated. The rate of change of its radius is given by the function $$r'(t)$$, measured in centimeters per second. Which of the following represents the total increase in the balloon's radius from $$t=2$$ to $$t=6$$ seconds?
$$\int_2^6 r'(t) dt$$
$$r'(6) - r'(2)$$
$$\frac{1}{4} \int_2^6 r'(t) dt$$
$$r(6)$$
Explanation
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus states that the integral of a rate of change of a quantity gives the net change in that quantity. Here, $$r'(t)$$ is the rate of change of the radius. Therefore, the total increase (net change) in the radius from $$t=2$$ to $$t=6$$ is given by the definite integral $$\int_2^6 r'(t) dt$$.
At 9 AM ($$t=0$$ hours), an online store has 500 orders to be processed. The rate at which orders are processed is given by $$P(t) = 20t + 50$$ orders per hour. Assuming no new orders arrive, how many orders are still waiting to be processed at 1 PM ($$t=4$$ hours)?
$$500 + \int_0^4 (20t + 50) dt$$
$$500 - (20(4) + 50)$$
$$\int_0^4 (20t + 50) dt$$
$$500 - \int_0^4 (20t + 50) dt$$
Explanation
The initial number of orders is 500. The total number of orders processed from $$t=0$$ to $$t=4$$ is the integral of the rate of processing, $$\int_0^4 P(t) dt$$. The number of orders remaining is the initial amount minus the total amount processed. Thus, the expression is $$500 - \int_0^4 (20t + 50) dt$$.
A medication is administered to a patient. The rate of absorption of the drug into the bloodstream is $$A(t)$$ milligrams per hour, and the rate at which the drug is eliminated is $$E(t)$$ milligrams per hour. The amount of the drug in the bloodstream is at a maximum when which of the following conditions is met?
The total amount of drug absorbed equals the total amount of drug eliminated.
The derivative of the net rate, $$A'(t) - E'(t)$$, is equal to zero.
The rate of absorption equals the rate of elimination, $$A(t) = E(t)$$.
The net rate of change of the drug, $$A(t) - E(t)$$, is at its maximum value.
Explanation
Let $$M(t)$$ be the amount of the drug in the bloodstream. The rate of change of this amount is $$M'(t) = A(t) - E(t)$$. To find a maximum value for $$M(t)$$, we must find a critical point by setting its derivative to zero: $$M'(t) = A(t) - E(t) = 0$$. This occurs when $$A(t) = E(t)$$, where the rate of change switches from positive to negative.
The rate of change of a quantity $$Q$$ is given by $$Q'(t) = \frac{1}{t^2 + 1}$$. If $$Q(0) = 5$$, what is the value of $$Q(1)$$?
$$5.5$$
$$5 + \frac{\pi}{4}$$
$$5 + \ln(2)$$
$$\frac{\pi}{4}$$
Explanation
The value of $$Q(1)$$ is the initial value $$Q(0)$$ plus the net change from $$t=0$$ to $$t=1$$. $$Q(1) = Q(0) + \int_0^1 Q'(t) dt = 5 + \int_0^1 \frac{1}{t^2+1} dt = 5 + [\arctan(t)]_0^1 = 5 + (\arctan(1) - \arctan(0)) = 5 + (\frac{\pi}{4} - 0) = 5 + \frac{\pi}{4}$$.
People enter an amusement park at a rate modeled by $$E(t) = 100 + 20t$$ people per hour. People leave the park at a constant rate of $$L(t) = 80$$ people per hour. What is the net change in the number of people in the park from time $$t=0$$ to $$t=3$$ hours?
80
150
240
390
Explanation
The net rate of change of people in the park is $$R(t) = E(t) - L(t) = (100 + 20t) - 80 = 20 + 20t$$. The net change from $$t=0$$ to $$t=3$$ is the integral of the net rate: $$\int_0^3 (20 + 20t) dt = [20t + 10t^2]_0^3 = (20(3) + 10(3^2)) - 0 = 60 + 90 = 150$$ people.
A rocket has 50,000 kg of fuel at time $$t=0$$. It burns fuel at a rate of $$r(t) = 150\sqrt{t}$$ kilograms per second. Which of the following expressions gives the amount of fuel, in kg, remaining in the rocket at time $$t=100$$ seconds?
$$50000 - \int_0^{100} 150\sqrt{t} dt$$
$$50000 + \int_0^{100} 150\sqrt{t} dt$$
$$50000 - 150\sqrt{100}$$
$$\int_0^{100} 150\sqrt{t} dt$$
Explanation
The amount of fuel remaining is the initial amount minus the total amount of fuel burned. The amount burned is the integral of the rate of consumption from $$t=0$$ to $$t=100$$. Thus, the remaining fuel is $$50000 - \int_0^{100} 150\sqrt{t} dt$$.
Suppose the amount of snow on the slope is the same at $$t=24$$ as it was at $$t=0$$. Which of the following must be true?
$$S(24) = M(24)$$
$$\int_0^{24} (S(t) - M(t)) dt = 0$$
The average rates of snowmaking and melting over the 24-hour period are equal
$$S(t) = M(t)$$ for all $$t$$ in $$[0, 24]$$
Explanation
If the amount of snow is the same at $$t=24$$ as at $$t=0$$, then the net change in snow is zero. The net change equals the integral of the net rate of change: $$\int_0^{24} (S(t) - M(t)) dt = 0$$. This doesn't require that $$S(t) = M(t)$$ at every instant, only that the total snow added equals the total snow melted over the entire period.
Which of the following expressions represents the average rate at which cars pass through the intersection, in cars per hour, between 8:00 AM ($$t=2$$) and 11:00 AM ($$t=5$$)?
$$C(5) - C(2)$$
$$C'(5) - C'(2)$$
$$\frac{1}{3} \int_2^5 C(t) dt$$
$$\frac{C(5) - C(2)}{5 - 2}$$
Explanation
The question asks for the average rate of change of the number of cars. Since $$C(t)$$ is the total number of cars (an accumulation function), the rate is $$C'(t)$$. The average value of the rate $$C'(t)$$ over $$[2, 5]$$ is $$\frac{1}{5-2}\int_2^5 C'(t)dt$$. By the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, this is equal to $$\frac{C(5)-C(2)}{5-2}$$. This is also the standard definition of average rate of change for the function $$C(t)$$.
The total snowfall, in centimeters, during a storm lasting 12 hours is given by the accumulation function $$S(t) = \int_0^t s(x) dx$$, where $$s(x) = 1.5 + \sin(\frac{\pi x}{6})$$ is the rate of snowfall in cm/hr. How much snow fell from hour $$t=2$$ to hour $$t=6$$?
$$6 - \frac{3}{\pi}$$
$$1.5 + \sin(\frac{\pi}{3})$$
$$9 + \frac{6}{\pi}$$
$$6 + \frac{9}{\pi}$$
Explanation
The amount of snow that fell from $$t=2$$ to $$t=6$$ is given by $$S(6) - S(2) = \int_2^6 s(x) dx$$. $$\int_2^6 (1.5 + \sin(\frac{\pi x}{6})) dx = [1.5x - \frac{6}{\pi}\cos(\frac{\pi x}{6})]_2^6 = (1.5(6) - \frac{6}{\pi}\cos(\pi)) - (1.5(2) - \frac{6}{\pi}\cos(\frac{\pi}{3})) = (9 - \frac{6}{\pi}(-1)) - (3 - \frac{6}{\pi}(\frac{1}{2})) = (9 + \frac{6}{\pi}) - (3 - \frac{3}{\pi}) = 6 + \frac{9}{\pi}$$ cm.
The marginal profit for a company, in dollars per unit, is given by $$P'(x) = 150 - 0.2x$$, where $$x$$ is the number of units sold. Which of the following expressions gives the total change in profit from selling the 101st unit through the 200th unit?
$$\frac{1}{100} \int_{100}^{200} (150 - 0.2x) dx$$
$$\int_{101}^{200} (150 - 0.2x) dx$$
$$\int_{100}^{200} (150 - 0.2x) dx$$
$$P'(200) - P'(100)$$
Explanation
The change in profit from selling the 101st unit through the 200th unit corresponds to the accumulation of profit from $$x=100$$ to $$x=200$$. The total change is the definite integral of the marginal profit function over this interval, which is $$\int_{100}^{200} (150 - 0.2x) dx$$.