Nathan Elmore

Math 1210 Signature Assignment: Derivatives

Suppose that a particle moves according to the law of motion s ( t ) =t 4−6 t 3 +4 t 2 +3 with
t ≥ 0, where s is in meters and t is in seconds. Use your knowledge of the relationship between
position, velocity, and acceleration to answer the following questions. Use exact values (not
approximations) throughout.
a) Find the velocity of the particle at time t. What is the velocity at t = 0?
Using the power rule of derivatives x n is n x(n−1)
s' (t )=v (t )=4 t 3−18 t 2+8 t
Then to find the velocity at t=0, we plug in 0 for t in the equation
v ( 0 )=4 (0)3−18 ( 0 )2 +8( 0)
v ( 0 )=0
Graphing the equation for the velocity we can verify that the velocity at t=0 is 0

b) Determine, using algebraic analysis, when the particle is moving in a positive direction, a negative
direction, and when it is at rest.
We need to know when the particle is at rest or stopped, for that we look at v ( t )=0
For positive direction v ( t )> 0 and for negative direction v ( t )< 0.
v ( t )=4 t 3 −18t 2 +8 t=0
2 t(2 t 2−9 t+ 4)=0
−b ± √b 2−4 ac
2 t=0 2t 2−9 t +4=0 using the quadratic formula
2a

−(−9) ± √ (−9)2−4(2)( 4) 9 ± √ 49 9 ±7 1
= = = ∧4
2(2) 4 4 2
1
So our particle is at rest or stopped at t=0 , , 4
2
If we then use a number in between each significant number, it will tell us which
direction the particle is moving during that interval.
t 4 t 3 −18t 2 +8 t
-1 -30
1 15
4 16
1 -6
5 90

The particle is moving in the positive direction » (0 , 12 )∪ (4 , ∞)

1
The particle is moving in the Negative direction »(−∞ , 0 ) ∪( , 4)
2
These numbers can be verified using the graph of the velocity (below)

c) Find the total distance traveled by the particle in the first 6 seconds.
Now that we know at which time (t) that the particle stops and changes directions
we can figure out the total distance it has traveled by adding together the distances
between stops.
The critical numbers are the start time t=0, first stop t=0.5, second stop t=4,
endpoint of t=6.
So we look at the difference between each critical number i.e. (0,0.5), (0.5,4), (4,6).

t s ( t ) =t 4−6 t 3 +4 t 2 +3
0 3

0.5 53/16

4 -61

6 147

Total Distance T= ( 5316 −3)+( 5316 +|−61|)+ (|−61|+147 )

5 1029
T =( ) +(
16 )
+ ( 208 )
16
2181
T =(
5 )
≈ 272.625 meters

Using the graph below we can verify each portion of the equation above and the
rough estimate indicates a value close to the one calculated above

d) Find the acceleration of the particle at time t. What is the acceleration at t = 0?

Again using the power rule of derivatives x n is n x(n−1)
s' ' ( t )=v' (t )=a ( t ) =12t 2−36 t + 8
Then to find the acceleration at t=0, we plug in 0 for t in the equation
a ( 0 )=12(0)2−36( 0)+ 8
a ( 0 )=8
We can verify this on the acceleration graph below that at x=0 y=8

e) When is the particle speeding up and slowing down? Explain how you found your answers.

We need to know when the particle is at rest or stopped, for that we look at a ( t )=0
For positive direction a ( t ) >0 and for negative direction a ( t ) <0.
a ( t )=12 t 2−36 t+8=0
a ( t )=4 ( 3 t 2 −9 t+2 ) =0
−b ± √b 2−4 ac
Using the quadratic formula
2a
 9+ √ 57
∧9− √57
−(−9) ± √ (−9)2−4(3)(2) 9± √ 57 6
= =
2(3) 6 6
9+ √57
∧9− √ 57
So our particle is at rest or stopped at 6
t=
6
If we then use a number in between each significant number, it will tell us which
direction the particle is moving during that interval.
t 12 t 2−36 t +8
0 8
1 -16
3 8

The particle is moving in the speeding up » (−∞, 9−6√57 )∪( 9+6√57 , ∞)

9− √ 57 9+ √ 57
The particle is moving in the Slowing down »( , )
6 6
To verify my conclusions, I have included a graph of the acceleration equation
Position Graph s ( t ) =t 4−6 t 3 +4 t 2 +3

Velocity graph v ( t )=4 t 3 −18t 2 +8 t

Acceleration graph a ( t )=12 t 2−36 t+8

These graphs were generated using Desmos online graphing calulator

https://www.desmos.com/calculator?tour=restrictions

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