Rectilinear

Motion and
Tangent Lines
Alyssa Cobranchi
AP Calculus
Rectilinear Motion Introduction
 Rectilinear Motion is the movement of a
particle on a straight line.
 It is an application of the derivative of a
function.
 Some examples can include a race car
moving along a straight track, an object
thrown from the top of a building and
falling straight down, or a ball thrown
straight up and then falling straight down.
Position Versus Time Curve
A particle in rectilinear motion moves
along a coordinate line, which is called
the s-axis.

 We can plot the s-coordinate of the

particle versus the elapsed time t from
starting time 𝑡 = 0. (position versus time
curve)
 Position Versus Time Curve
s-axis

As a biker moves forward, his position increases as time does so the graph is
a positive slope. When the biker stands still to get a drink of water, the graph
is a horizontal line because time is continuing to increase while the position
does not. When the biker moves backward, the position decreases while
time still increases.
 Formulas for Rectilinear Motion

 Given a function, we can use the derivative and

the second derivative to find velocity and
acceleration of a particle as it moves along a line.
 The position of a particle is given as the function.

Position: Velocity:
𝒙(𝒕) 𝒙′ 𝒕 or 𝒗(𝒕)

Acceleration:
𝒙′′ 𝒕 or 𝒗′(𝒕) or 𝒂(𝒕)
 First,
you have to figure out what you are given
and what you need to find.

 If you are given the position formula and are asked to

find the velocity, you find the derivative. For
acceleration, you find the second derivative.

 If you are given the acceleration formula, you have to

find the integral to get velocity, and again to get
position.
 To determine the direction of a particle, you
need to use the velocity formula of the
particle.
 After you simplify the velocity formula, you
have to find the zeros and make a sign line.
 MAKE SURE YOU LABEL YOUR SIGN LINE AS V(T)
 On the sign line, where it is positive, the
particle is moving to the right, and where it is
negative, it is moving to the left.
 The points on the sign line are the points at
which the particle is at rest.
 An odd number of dotted
lines indicate negative—the
particle is moving to the
Negative left.
Positive

𝑡−2

𝑡−1

𝑡−5

+ 1 - 2 + 5 -

Critical points where the A positive to negative

equation is equal to zero; switch in signs
the particle is at rest indicates a change in
direction
A particle moves along the x-axis so that
at any time t its position is given by
3
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡 + 1 𝑡 − 3 . For what values
of t is the particle moving to the right?
Left? At rest?
Given: position formula
Needed: direction
(velocity formula)
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡+1 𝑡−3 2
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡+1 𝑡−3 2
= 𝑡 3 − 5𝑡 2 + 3𝑡 + 9
𝑥 ′ 𝑡 = 𝑣 𝑡 = 3𝑡 2 − 10𝑡 + 3
= (3𝑡 − 1)(𝑡 − 3)
1
Zeros are 𝑡 = and 𝑡 = 3
3

+ - +
𝑡−3
3𝑡 − 1
1
𝑣 𝑡
Right: 𝑡 < and 𝑡 > 3
1 3
3 1
3 Left: <𝑡<3
3
1
At rest: 𝑡 = and 𝑡 =
3
3
 Distance Traveled

 In order to find the total distance a particle has traveled,

you first need to find the velocity formula.
 After you find the velocity, you have to make a sign line
in order to see when the particle changes direction.
 Next you have to check the points given in the problem
and put them in the position formula. You also have to
check any points within the interval that the particle
changes direction.
 Finally, calculate the total distance between the positions
at the different positions.
Example

The position of a particle is given by

1 3 3 2
x 𝑡 = 𝑡 − 𝑡 − 2𝑡 + 3. How far does
3 2
the particle travel between times 𝑡 = 0
and 𝑡 = 5?
 Solution
Given: position formula
Needed: distance (velocity
formula)
1 3
1 3 3 2 x 𝑡 = 𝑡 3 − 𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 + 3
x 𝑡 = 𝑡 − 𝑡 + 2𝑡 + 3 3 2
3 2 𝑥 ′ 𝑡 = 𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑡 2 − 3𝑡 + 2
Particle changes = (𝑡 − 1)(𝑡 − 2)
direction at time Zeros are 𝑡 = 1 and 𝑡 = 2
𝑡 = 1 and time 𝑡 =
2
+ - + Points to check: 𝑡 = 0
𝑡−5 𝑡=1
𝑡−1 𝑡=2
𝑡=5
1 2
Solution Continued
1 3 3 2
x 𝑡 = 𝑡 − 𝑡 + 2𝑡 + 3
3 2
1 3
𝑥 0 = 0 3− 0 2+2 0 +3=3
3 2
1 3 3 2
x 𝑡 = 𝑡 − 𝑡 + 2𝑡 + 3
3 2
1 3
3 2
11
1 3 x 2 = (2) − 2 + 2 2 + 3 =
x 𝑡 = 𝑡 3 − 𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 + 3 3 2 3
3 2
1 3 23
x 1 = (1)3 − 1 2 + 2 1 + 3 =
3 2 6 x 0 =3 5
23 6
𝑥 1 =
6 1
11 −
1 3 𝑥 2 = 6
x 𝑡 = 𝑡 3 − 𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 + 3 3 27
3 2 103
1 3 103 𝑥 5 = 2
x 5 = (5)3 − 5 2 + 2 5 + 3 = 6
3 2 6 85
Total distance:
6
 Using Integrals

 If you are given the acceleration or velocity formula,

almost always you will have to find the integral to solve
the problem.
 Sometimes you have to take the integral twice in order to
get the position formula to find distance traveled.
 When taking integrals, remember to add a constant, C, to
the integral and solve for the constant using values given
in the problem.
 After C is found, you can write an equation for the
velocity or position (if you repeat the process) and use
these to solve for what the problem asks for.
 Example

A particle moves on the x-axis so that its

acceleration at any time 𝑡 > 0 is given by 𝑎 𝑡 =
𝑡 1 9
− 2. When 𝑡 = 1, velocity 𝑣 1 = and
8 𝑡 16
25
position 𝑠 𝑡 = . Find
the position s(𝑡) in
48
terms of t.
 Solution
Given: acceleration formula
Needed: position formula

𝑣 𝑡 = න 𝑎(𝑡) 𝑠 𝑡 = න 𝑣(𝑡)

𝑡 1 1 2 1 1
𝑣 𝑡 = න( − 2 ) 𝑑𝑡 𝑠 𝑡 = න( 𝑡 + − ) 𝑑𝑡
8 𝑡 16 𝑡 2
1 2 1 1 1
𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑡 + +𝐶 s 𝑡 = 48 𝑡 3 − ln 𝑡 + 2 𝑡 + 𝐶
16 𝑡
25 1 3
1
9 1 2
1 𝑠 1 = = 1 + ln 1 + (1) + 𝐶
𝑣 1 = = 1 + +𝐶 48 48 2
16 16 1 𝐶=0
1
𝐶=− 𝟏 𝟑 𝟏
2 𝒔 𝒕 = 𝒕 − 𝐥𝐧 𝒕 + 𝒕
1 2 1 1 𝟒𝟖 𝟐
𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑡 + −
16 𝑡 2
 TRY ME!
A particle moves along the x-axis in such a way that
its acceleration at time t for 𝑡 ≥ 0 is given by
a 𝑡 = 2𝑡 − 6. The particle’s position 𝑥 at time 𝑡 =
0 is 𝑥 0 = 0 and its velocity is 𝑣 0 = 8.
1. For what values of 𝑡 is the particle moving to
the left?
2. For what values of 𝑡 is the particle moving to
the right?
3. What is the position of the particle at time 𝑡 =
3?
4. When 𝑡 = 3, what is the total distance the
particle has traveled?
 Solution
1. 3.
𝑣 𝑡 = න 𝑎(𝑡) 𝑥 𝑡 = න 𝑣(𝑡)

𝑣 𝑡 = න(2𝑡 − 6) 𝑑𝑡 𝑥 𝑡 = න(𝑡 2 −6𝑡 + 8) 𝑑𝑡

𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑡 2 − 6𝑡 + 𝐶 1
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡 3 − 3𝑡 2 + 8𝑡 + 𝐶
𝑣 0 = 8 = 0 2 − 6(0) + 𝐶 3
𝐶=8 1
𝑥 0 = 0 = (0)3 − 3 0 2 + 8(0) + 𝐶
𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑡 2 − 6𝑡 + 8 3
𝑣 𝑡 = (𝑡 − 2)(𝑡 − 4) 𝐶=0
1
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡 3 − 3𝑡 2 + 8𝑡
𝑡−4 + - + 1
3
𝑥 3 = (3)3 − 3 3 2 + 8 3 = 6
𝑡−2 3

2 4
4. 1
Particle is moving to the 𝑥 0 = (0)3 − 3 0 2
+8 0 =0 20
3
left: 2 < 𝑡 < 4 1 20 3
𝑥 3 = (2)3 − 3 2 2+8 2 =
3 3 2
2. 1
𝑥 3 = (3)3 − 3 3 2
+8 3 =6 3
Particle is moving to the 3
22
right: 𝑡 < 2 and 𝑡 > 4 Total distance:
3
A particle moves along a line so that at any
time t its position is given by 𝑥 𝑡 = 2𝜋𝑡 +
cos 2𝜋𝑡.
a. Find the velocity at time t.
b. Find the acceleration at time t.
c. What are all values of t, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 3, for
which the particle is at rest?
d. What is the maximum velocity?
a. 𝑥 𝑡 = 2𝜋𝑡 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜋𝑡
𝑣 𝑡 = 2𝜋 − sin 2𝜋𝑡 (2𝜋)
b. 𝑎 𝑡 = −2𝜋 cos 2𝜋𝑡 (2𝜋)
c. 𝑣 𝑡 = 2𝜋 − sin 2𝜋𝑡 (2𝜋)
1 − sin 2𝜋𝑡 = 0
1 3 5
𝑡= , , …
4 4 4
f(x)

Slope= f’(x)

The line is tangent to the graph

at x
 The tangent line of a curve models the
direction of the particle at a given point.
 The tangent line shares exactly one point
with the curve.
 The derivative of the curve is equal to the
slope of the tangent line.
 The formula used when finding a tangent
line is point-slope form.
Slope of the tangent
line—derivative of
the function

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1)

y value found
when given x given x value
value is put
into the
function
 To find a tangent line, you need to do several
things.
 First, you need the function.
 You have to take the derivative of the
function given.
 Put the x-value given into the derivative
found; the answer is m in the formula.
 Put the x-value given into the given
function; the answer is y1 in the formula.
◦ If you are given an ordered pair, this
step is not necessary; just use the y-
value given.
 Plug in all values found into the formula of
tangent lines.
 Plug the x-value given into the given
function:
𝑦 = x 2 + 2x + 1
𝑦 = (1)2 +2 1 + 1 = 4
 Plug all values found into the formula:
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1)
𝑦1 = 4
𝑦 − 4 = 8(𝑥 − 1)
𝑥1 = 1
𝒚 = 𝟖𝒚 − 𝟒
𝑚=8
Consider the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1. Find the line
tangent to the curve that passes through the
point where 𝑥 = 1.

 First, find the derivative of the function:

𝑦 ′ = 2𝑥 + 2
 Plug the x-value given into the derivative:
𝑦′ = 2 3 + 2 = 8
Let f be the function defined by
𝑓 𝑥 = 7 − 15𝑥 + 9𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 for all
real numbers x. Write an
equation of the line tangent to
the graph of f at 𝑥 = 2.
Solution
Given: 𝑓 𝑥 = 7 − 15𝑥 + 9𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3
𝑥=2

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = −15 + 18𝑥 − 3𝑥 2

𝑓 ′ 2 = −15 + 18 2 − 3 2 2
= −1

𝑓 2 = 7 − 15 2 + 9 2 2 − 2 3 =5

𝑦 − 5 = −1 𝑥 − 2
𝑦 = −𝑥 + 7
TRY ME!

Let f be the function given by

2𝑥−5
𝑓 𝑥 = 2 . Write an equation
𝑥 −4
for the line tangent to the
curve of f at the point (0,f(0))
Solution
2𝑥−5
Given:𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥 2 −4
𝑥=0 2
′
𝑥 − 4 2 − (2𝑥 − 5)(2𝑥)
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥2 − 4 2

′
(0)2 −4 2 − (2(0) − 5)(2(0)) 1
𝑓 0 = 2 =−
(0)2 −4 2

2(0) − 5 5
𝑓 0 = = 5 1
2
(0) −4 4 𝑦− =− 𝑥−0
4 2
1 5
𝑦=− 𝑥+
2 4
Normal Lines

 The process of finding normal lines is the

same as finding tangent lines.
 The slope of tangent line is the same as
the curve. Normal lines, however are
perpendicular to the curve, therefore the
slope of the normal line is the negative
reciprocal of the slope of the curve.
Bibliography
 http://demo.webassign.net/ebooks/cj6de
mo/pc/c02/read/main/c02x2_7.htm
 http://www.frapanthers.com/teachers/zab
/APCalculus/ABQuizzes/QuizOptimization.
pdf

©Alyssa Cobranchi 2011