Unit 4 Test: Rates of Change
AP Calculus AB/Winburn
Directions: Because this test is open notes and online, be sure to show your best work, displaying your
understanding of the material and provide full and well-explained solutions.
Section I: Multiple-Choice:
Choose and circle the best answer. Even though your work will not be reviewed for grading, attached it to
keep for self-review and future reference.
1. A particle’s position is given by s(t) = t3 – 10.5t2 – 2t, when t ≥ 0. When does the particle
reach a velocity of 52 m/s?
a) 9 s b) 2 s c) 21 s d) 24 s e) none of these
2. What is the instantaneous rate of change at t = 2 of the function given in question 1?
a) -38 m/s b) -19 m/s c) -32 m/s d) -30 m/s e) none of these
3. Find the average velocity of the function s(t) = t2 – 7, where s is measured in miles, in the
first 4 minutes.
a) 16 mi/min b) 4 mi/min c) 9 mi/min d) 8 mi/min e) none of these
Answer questions 4 -5 based on the graph to the right, which is the graph of the position, in meters,
of a cat during time measured in seconds.
4. During which intervals is the cat at rest?
a) (0, 5) s c) (10, 15) s
b) (5, 10) s d) (15, 20) s
5. The cat as the fastest velocity or speed during which
interval?
a) (0, 5) s c) (10, 15) s
b) (5, 10) s d) (15, 20) s
6. The rate of change of velocity is called
a) acceleration b) displacement c) velocity d) speed
7. The rate of change of an object’s position is called
a) acceleration b) displacement c) velocity d) speed
8. When a car’s velocity is positive and its acceleration is negative, what is happening to the
car’s motion? The car _________.
a) slows down b) speeds up c) has a constant speed. d) remains at rest
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Use the graph to the right to answer questions 8-9. The graph shows the velocity of a cyclist in
meters per second.
9. The graph to the right shows the motion of a cyclist. The graph
illustrates that the acceleration of the cyclist
a) is constant c) increases
b) Decreases d) is zero
10. During the interval shown in the graph, the cyclist is
a) Slowing down c) staying at the same speed
b) speeding up d) at rest
11. The graph of the derivative of f(x) is shown to the right; which of the
following could be the graph of f(x)?
y = f’(x)
12. If, for all values of x, f´(x) < 0, and f´´(x) > 0, which curve could be a part of the graph of f.
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13. On which of the following intervals given is the function f(x) = x3 + 6x2 + 9x + 1 increasing?
a) (-∞, -3) b) ( -3, -1) c) (-1, ∞) d) (-∞, -3) U (-1, ∞) e) (-∞, -3)U (1, ∞)
14. The graph of g(x) = -2x3 – 6x2 – 7 what is the minimum value of g(x) on the interval [1, 2]
a) -47 b) -15 c) -7 d) 0 e) 4
15. Given f(x) = x3 – 6x2, over which of the following intervals is f(x) decreasing?
a) (-4, -2) b) (1, 3) c) (6, 8) d) (-1, 0) e) (4, 5)
Section II: Free Response: Work is required; show all of your work on each question, for all parts.
16. A rock is tossed into the air from a building rooftop, any time t ≥ 0 seconds. The rock’s position is
given by the function s(t) = 15 + 5t – 4.9t2 where s is measured in meters.
a) Find the displacement during the first 3 seconds.
b) Find the instantaneous velocity when t = 2 seconds.
c) Describe the rock’s acceleration.
d) At what time does the rock reach a maximum height? How high was the rock?
e) How long was the rock in the air?
f) How long did it take the rock to fall to half its height?
Using the following graph on the interval [-4, 4], to answer questions 17 – 18.
17. Suppose that f(3) = 1, find the equation of the tangent line to the
graph of f at the point (3, 1).
18. Find the intervals for f(x) and explain your reasoning.
a) increasing c) concave up
b) decreasing, d) concave down
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19. The graph above is the velocity of an object measured in meters per second.
a) When is the object moving “backward”? Explain.
b) When is the object moving “forward”? Explain.
c) When does the object have a constant velocity? Explain.
d) Give the intervals where the object is accelerating, decelerating, and is constant
(neither decelerating or accelerating). Explain.
e) Where does f have a minimum?
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20. Given f(x) = !$#, find:
a) Interval where f is increasing d) Interval where f is concave down
b) Interval where f is decreasing e) x value(s) of inflection point(s)
c) Interval where f is concave up
Questions 21 and 22 – Provide an estimated sketch of the derivative of f(x). You may do this on graph paper, a
printed coordinate plane, on notebook paper, or using any technology.
21. f(x) 22. f(x)
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