Math 21 Lec 3.3 Rates of Change, Rectilinear Motion (Handouts)

Rates of Change and Rectilinear Motion
Mathematics 21
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Rates of Change and Rectilinear Motion Mathematics 21 1 / 31
Rates of Change
Rates of change occur in many applications.

A microbiologist might be interested in the rate at which the number of bacteria
in a culture changes with time.
An engineer might be interested in the rate at which the length of a metal rod
changes with temperature.
An economist might be interested in the rate at which production cost changes
with the quantity of a product that is manufactured.
A medical researcher might be interested in the rate at which the radius of an
artery changes with the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream.
Rates of Change
A hot air balloon started rising vertically from the ground and after 10 seconds, it
was observed to be at an altitude of 40 feet from the ground. 30 seconds after it
left the ground, it was found to be 100 feet from the ground. On average, what
was its speed between the 10th and the 30th second?
100 − 40 60
Average speed = = = 3 feet/second
30 − 10 20
Rates of Change
In general, given y = f ( x ), we can measure how fast y changes with respect to

changes in x.
Definition
Suppose f is a function and y = f ( x ).
The average rate of change of y with respect to x on [ x0 , x ] is
f ( x ) − f ( x0 ) ∆f
= .
x − x0 ∆x
Rates of Change
Question: In the example earlier, is the velocity at each moment equal to 3

feet/second? Not necessarily.
Definition
Suppose f is a function and y = f ( x ).
The instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x at x = x0 is
f ( x ) − f ( x0 ) ∆f
lim = lim = f ′ ( x0 )
x → x0 x − x0 ∆x →0 ∆x
This gives us a new interpretation for the derivative.

Aside from giving the slope of a tangent line, it gives an instantaneous rate of
change.
Rates of Change
Remarks
Graphically, the average rate of change of y with respect to x on [ x0 , x ] is the

slope of the secant line passing through P( x0 , f ( x0 )) and Q( x, f ( x )).
The derivative of f at x = x0 , f ′ ( x0 ) can be interpreted as the instantaneous

rate of change of y with respect at x at x = x0 . That is, f ′ ( x0 ) is the rate of
change of y per unit change in x at the instant when x = x0 .
Rates of Change
Remarks
Let y be a function of x.
dy
If > 0 on an interval I , then y increases as x increases, and y decreases as x
dx
decreases.
dy
If < 0 on an interval I , then y decreases as x increases, and y increases as x
dx
decreases.
dy
If = 0 on an interval I , then y does not change with respect to x.
dx
Rates of Change
Example
A right circular cylinder has a fixed height of 6 units. Find the rate of change of its
volume with respect to the radius of its base.
Solution.
dV
Find .
dr
V = πr2 h = 6πr2
dV
∴ = 12πr. (Interpretation?)
dr
Rates of Change
Example
A bactericide was introduced to a nutrient broth in which bacteria were growing.
The bacterium population continued to grow for some time but then stopped
growing and began to decline. The size of the population at time t (hours) was
P = 106 + 104 t − 103 t2 .
Determine the growth rates at t = 0, t = 5 and t = 10 hours.
Solution.The growth rate or the rate of change of the bacterium population P with
respect to time t is given by P′ (t).
=⇒ P′ (t) = 104 − 2(103 )t = 2(103 )(5 − t).
∴ P′ (0) = 104 , P′ (5) = 0 and P′ (10) = −104 .
Rates of Change
Notice that given
P′ (t) = 104 − 2(103 )t = 2(103 )(5 − t)
P′ (t) > 0 when t ∈ [0, 5) and P′ (t) < 0 when t ∈ (5, ∞)

Thus, the bacterium population was increasing until t = 5 hours, then it
stopped growing and began to decline.
Rates of Change
Example
A ladder 24 ft. long rests against a vertical wall. Let θ be the angle between the
top of the ladder and the wall and let x be the distance from the bottom of the
ladder to the wall. If the bottom of the ladder slides away from the wall, how fast
√
does θ change with respect to x when x = 12 3 ft.?
Solution.
From the figure, the equation that

relates x and θ is
θ
24 ft. x
sin θ =
24
x
x θ = sin−1
24
Rates of Change
dθ √
We want to find at x = 12 3.
dx
x
θ = sin−1
24
dθ 1 1
= q ·
dx x 2 24

1 − 24
√
At x = 12 3,
dθ 1 1 1
dx x =12 3
√ = r √ 2 · 24 = 12 rad/ft.
12 3
1− 24
OR: use implicit differentiation with θ = π3 .
Rectilinear Motion
Suppose a particle is moving along a straight line, which we shall refer to as the
s-axis.
Suppose the position of the particle at time t is given by the function s(t), called
the position function of the particle.
The average velocity of the particle on [t0 , t] is
s ( t ) − s ( t0 ) ∆s
vave = = .
t − t0 ∆t
Rectilinear Motion
Definitions
Let s(t) be the position function of a particle moving along s-axis.
1 The instantaneous velocity of the particle at time t is
∆s ds
v(t) = lim = = f ′ ( t ).
∆t→0 ∆t dt
2 The instantaneous speed of the particle at time t is |v(t)|.
3 The instantaneous acceleration of the particle at time t is

∆v dv d2 s
a(t) = lim = = v′ (t) or a(t) = = f ′′ (t).
∆t→0 ∆t dt dt2
Rectilinear Motion
Remarks
Let s(t) be the position function of a particle moving along the s-axis. The signs of
v(t) and a(t) give us information about the motion of the particle.
1 If v(t) > 0, then the particle is moving in the positive direction of s (usually to
the right or upward) at time t.
2 If v(t) < 0, then the particle is moving in the negative direction of s (usually to
the left or downward) at time t.
3 If v(t) = 0, either the particle is not moving or is changing direction at time t.
Rectilinear Motion
Remarks
1 If a(t) > 0, then the velocity of the particle is increasing at time t. In addition,
if v(t) > 0 then the speed of the particle is increasing at time t (speeding up).
if v(t) < 0 then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time t (slowing down).
2 If a(t) < 0, then the velocity of the particle is decreasing at time t. In addition,
if v(t) > 0 then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time t.
if v(t) < 0 then the speed of the particle is increasing at time t.
3 If a(t) = 0 on the interval I , then the velocity of the particle is constant on I .
(This does not mean that the particle is NOT moving!)

Rectilinear Motion
That is, the particle is
speeding up when v(t) and a(t) have the same sign
slowing down when v(t) and a(t) are opposite in sign
Rectilinear Motion
Example
A particle moves along a horizontal coordinate line in such a way that its position
at time t is specified by s(t) = t3 − 12t2 + 36t − 30 where s is measured in feet
and t in seconds.
1 Find the instantaneous velocity v(t) and the instantaneous acceleration a(t).
2 Describe the position and motion of the particle in a table that includes the
intervals of time when the particle is moving to the left or to the right, when the
velocity is increasing or decreasing, and when the speed is increasing or
decreasing.
3 Show the motion of the particle schematically.
4 Determine the total distance traveled by the particle during the first 7 seconds.
Rectilinear Motion
Example
and t in seconds.
1. Find the instantaneous velocity v(t) and the instantaneous acceleration a(t).
Solution.
s(t) = t3 − 12t2 + 36t − 30
ds
=⇒ v(t) = = 3t2 − 24t + 36
dt
dv
=⇒ a(t) = = 6t − 24
dt
Rectilinear Motion
Example
at time t is specified by s = t3 − 12t2 + 36t − 30 where s is measured in feet and t
in seconds.
2. Describe the position and motion of the particle in a table that includes the
intervals of time when the particle is moving to the left or to the right, when the
velocity is increasing or decreasing, and when the speed is increasing or
decreasing.
Solution. First, we find t ≥ 0 such that v(t) = 0 and a(t) = 0.
v(t) =0 a(t) =0
3t2 − 24t + 36 =0 6t − 24 =0
3(t − 6)(t − 2) =0 t =4
t = 6, t=2
Rectilinear Motion
s(t) = t3 − 12t2 + 36t − 30, v(t) = 3(t − 2)(t − 6), a ( t ) = 6( t − 4)
s(t) v(t) a(t) Conclusions
left of origin, towards right,
t=0 −30 + −
decreasing velocity, slowing down
towards right, decreasing velocity,
0<t<2 + −
slowing down
right of origin, changing direction,
t=2 2 0 −
decreasing velocity
towards left, decreasing velocity,
2<t<4 − −
speeding up
left of origin, towards left
t=4 −14 − 0
towards left, increasing velocity,

4<t<6 − +
slowing down
left of origin, changing direction,
t=6 −30 0 +
increasing velocity
towards right, increasing velocity,
t>6 + +
speeding up
Rectilinear Motion
Example
and t in seconds.
3. Show the motion of the particle schematically.
Solution.
Schematically, the particle moved in the following way:
t=6
t=2
t=0
−30 2
Example
at time t is specified by s = t3 − 12t2 + 36t − 30 where s is measured in feet and t
in seconds.
4. Determine the total distance traveled by the particle during the first 7 seconds.
Solution.
Note that the particle changed directions at t = 2 and t = 6.
t=6
t=2
t=0
−30 2
Total distance traveled = |s(2) − s(0)| + |s(6) − s(2)| + |s(7) − s(6)|

= 32 + 32 + 7
= 71 feet.
Rectilinear Motion
Example
A ball was thrown from the edge of a cliff such that its directed distance from the
ground after t seconds is given by s(t) = −16t2 + 32t + 128 feet. Determine:
1 the acceleration of the ball at t = 3
2 the maximum height the ball will attain
3 the velocity at which the ball was thrown
4 how long it would take the ball to hit the ground
5 the speed at which the ball would hit the ground
Rectilinear Motion
Example
1. the acceleration of the ball at t = 3
Solution.
s(t) = −16t2 + 32t + 128
=⇒ v(t) = −32t + 32
=⇒ a(t) = −32
∴ a(3) = −32 feet/second2
Rectilinear Motion
Example
2. the maximum height the ball will attain
Solution.
At the instant when the ball reaches its maximum height, the ball is at rest. Then
v(t) = −32t + 32 = 0 =⇒ t = 1.
Thus, the maximum height of the ball is s(1) = −16(1) + 32(1) + 128 = 144 feet.
Rectilinear Motion
Example
3. the velocity at which the ball was thrown
Solution.
Velocity at which the ball was thrown = v(0)
v(t) = −32t + 32
∴ v(0) = −32(0) + 32 = 32 feet/second
Rectilinear Motion
Example
4. how long it would take the ball to hit the ground
5. the speed at which the ball would hit the ground
Solution.
Since t ≥ 0, the ball would hit the
s(t) = 0 ground after 4 seconds.
− 16(t2 − 2t − 8) = 0
It would hit the ground at a speed of
− 16(t − 4)(t + 2) = 0
|v(4)| = | − 32(4) + 32|
= 96 feet/second
Thus, t = 4 or t = −2.
Exercise
1 A swimming pool with a rectangular shape is 7 meters long and 6 meters wide.
At what rate is the depth of the pool changing with respect to its volume?
2 The position function of a particle moving along a coordinate line is
s(t) = 6t2 − t3 ,
where s is in feet and t is in seconds.
Determine the velocity and acceleration functions.
When is the particle speeding up?

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Math 21 Lec 3.3 Rates of Change, Rectilinear Motion (Handouts)

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Rates of Change and Rectilinear Motion

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Rates of change occur in many applications.

In general, given y = f ( x ), we can measure how fast y changes with respect to

The average rate of change of y with respect to x on [ x0 , x ] is

Question: In the example earlier, is the velocity at each moment equal to 3

The instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x at x = x0 is

This gives us a new interpretation for the derivative.

Graphically, the average rate of change of y with respect to x on [ x0 , x ] is the

The derivative of f at x = x0 , f ′ ( x0 ) can be interpreted as the instantaneous

P = 106 + 104 t − 103 t2 .

Determine the growth rates at t = 0, t = 5 and t = 10 hours.

=⇒ P′ (t) = 104 − 2(103 )t = 2(103 )(5 − t).

∴ P′ (0) = 104 , P′ (5) = 0 and P′ (10) = −104 .

Notice that given

P′ (t) = 104 − 2(103 )t = 2(103 )(5 − t)

P′ (t) > 0 when t ∈ [0, 5) and P′ (t) < 0 when t ∈ (5, ∞)

From the figure, the equation that

OR: use implicit differentiation with θ = π3 .

The average velocity of the particle on [t0 , t] is

3 The instantaneous acceleration of the particle at time t is

3 If v(t) = 0, either the particle is not moving or is changing direction at time t.

if v(t) > 0 then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time t.

if v(t) < 0 then the speed of the particle is increasing at time t.

3 If a(t) = 0 on the interval I , then the velocity of the particle is constant on I .

(This does not mean that the particle is NOT moving!)

That is, the particle is

speeding up when v(t) and a(t) have the same sign

slowing down when v(t) and a(t) are opposite in sign

Solution. First, we find t ≥ 0 such that v(t) = 0 and a(t) = 0.

towards left, increasing velocity,

Total distance traveled = |s(2) − s(0)| + |s(6) − s(2)| + |s(7) − s(6)|

∴ a(3) = −32 feet/second2

Velocity at which the ball was thrown = v(0)

∴ v(0) = −32(0) + 32 = 32 feet/second

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