Accumulation Functions, Definite Intervals, Applied Contexts

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AP Calculus BC › Accumulation Functions, Definite Intervals, Applied Contexts

Questions 1 - 10
1

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 $$\int_2^6 r'(t) dt$$.

2

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 $$500 - \int_0^4 (20t + 50) dt$$.

3

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.

4

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 $$t=1$$. $$Q(1) = Q(0) + \int_0^1 Q'(t) dt = 5 + \int_0^1 \frac{1}{t^2+1} dt = 5 + [\arctan(t)]_0^1 = 5 + (\arctan(1) - \arctan(0)) = 5 + (\frac{\pi}{4} - 0) = 5 + \frac{\pi}{4}$$.

5

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.

6

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 $$50000 - \int_0^{100} 150\sqrt{t} dt$$.

7

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.

8

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 $$C(t)$$.

9

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.

10

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 $$\int_{100}^{200} (150 - 0.2x) dx$$.

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