Homework Help: Calculus-particle motion

Posted by Matt on Monday, February 7, 2011 at 6:28pm.

1. A particle is moving on the x-axis (or any number line) Its position x(t), or distance from the origin, at the time t is given by x(t)=4t^3-16t^2+15t. t is greater than or equal to 0

a.) Where is the particle when it is at rest?

b.) During what time interval is the particle moving to the LEFT?

c.) When is the acceleration lest?

d.) What is the TOTAL distance traveled by the particle from t=0 to t=3 ?

Calculus-particle motion - Damon, Monday, February 7, 2011 at 8:53pm
a) at rest means dx/dt = 0
12 t^2 -32 t + 15 = 0
t = 2.05 or .607
find x for those two values of t

b) where is dx/dt negative
do a sketch of dx(t)/dt =12t^2-32t+15
you know it is a parabola facing up (holds water) because of the positive coef of x^2
You know it is 0 at t = 2.05 and .607
so it is negative between those two times.

c) a = d^2x/dt^2 = 24 t -32
that seems to be least for t = 0 unless it means |a| which is 0 at t = 32/24

d) integral from 0 to 3 of original function is
value of t^4 - (16/3)t^3 +(15/2)t^2
when t = 3
(since it is 0 at t = 0)

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