Pre-Calculus Parametrics Worksheet Name

1. Fill in the table and sketch the parametric equation for t [-2,6]

x= t x y
-2
y=2–t -1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6

Problems 2 – 11: Eliminate the parameter to write the parametric equations as a

rectangular equation.
2. x = 3. x = 6 – t 4. x = ½t + 4
y = 4t + 5 y= y = t3

5. x = 3 cos t 6. x = 4 sin (2t) 7. x = cos t

y = 3 sin t y = 2 cos (2t) y = 2 sin2t

8. x = 4 sec t 9. x = 4 + 2 cos t 10. x = -4 + 3tan t

y = 3 tan t y = -1 + 4 sin t y = 7 – 2 sec t

Problems 11 and 12: Write two new sets of parametric equations for the following
rectangular equations.
11. y = (x + 2)3 – 4 12. x =

13. Graph the parametric equations using the window provided.

x1 = 700t and x2 = 300 T [0, 0.6] Tstep = 0.005
 y1 = -4.9t2 y2 = -4.9t2 X [0, 310] X scl = 100
Y [-2, 2] Yscl = 0.5

a) Do the paths intersect or just cross? If the paths intersect, where and when?

b) Change x1 to 900t and then to 500t. What do you observe?

14. Horizontal Motion of a Particle.

a) Graph the parametric equations with the provided window:
x = 4t3 – 16t2 + 15t T [0, 5] step 0.05 X [-4, 6] scl 1 Y [-3, 6] scl 1
y=2
b) When and where does the particle reverse direction?

c) Graph the parametric equations simultaneously with the graph from part (a)
x = 4t3 – 16t2 + 15t
y=t
d) What do you observe from part (c)?

15. Two tankers leave Corpus Cristi at the same time traveling toward St. Petersburg,
which is 900 miles east of Corpus Cristi. Tanker A travels at 18mph and Tanker B travels
at 22mph.
a) Write parametric equations for the situation.

b) Graph and identify appropriate windows.

c) How long does it take the faster tanker to reach St. Petersburg?

d) Where is the slower tanker when the faster tanker reaches its destination?

e) When, during the trip, is the faster tanker exactly 82 miles in front of the slower
tanker?

f) During what part of the trip are the tankers less than 60 miles apart?

Problems 16 – 19: Use parametric equations to solve each situation.

16. Jack and Mark live 4 miles apart from each other on Baseline Road. At 6pm, their
moms agree to let them both leave and ride their bikes toward one another. If Jack can
pedal 12 mph and Mark can pedal 8 mph, where and when will the boys meet each other?

17. Andrew’s dog Toby ran out of the house at 4pm and continued to run along Guadalupe
Road without stopping at a speed of 4 mph. When Andrew’s mom returned home from the
grocery store at 4:30pm, she and Andrew hopped in the minivan to retrieve Toby. If
Andrew’s mom drove at a speed of 20 mph, when and where will they find Toby?

18. A dart is thrown from a point of 5 feet above the ground with an initial velocity of 58
ft/sec and angle of elevation of 41. Assume the only force acting on the dart is gravity.
a) Write a pair of parametric equations to simulate the motion of the dart.

b) Sketch a graph of the motion and give an appropriate window.

c) What is the maximum height reached by the dart?

d) When and where will the dart hit the ground?

19. Kelly and Mary are standing 78 feet apart. At the same time, they each throw a
softball toward each other. Mary throws her softball with an initial velocity of 45 ft/sec
with an angle of elevation of 44. Kelly throws her softball with an initial velocity of 41
ft/sec with an angle of elevation of 39°.
a) Write the sets of parametric equations to simulate the motion of the softballs.

b) Will the softballs collide? Justify your answer.

c) Which softball hits the ground first?

d) How far does each softball travel in the horizontal direction?