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Higher Order Derivatives
Higher Order Derivatives
Objective:
To be able to find higher order derivatives and use
them to find velocity and acceleration of objects.
f '( x) y' dy
dx
Well these are the same notations for higher power
derivatives! Any guesses on what each means?
And to get from f’(x) to f(4)(x) you would just take the
derivative of f’(x) three times.
Example A
Find the second derivative of f(x) = x4 – 2x3
f '( x) 4x 3 6x 2
g '( x) 9x 2 9
g ''( x) 18x
We want g ''( x) 0 so 18 x 0
x0
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
squeeeeek!
P 2 2 2
2
P 2 6 feet
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
A crab is crawling along the edge of your desk.
Its location (in feet) at time t (in seconds) is given by
P (t ) = t 2 + t.
P t t2 t
V t P ' t 2t 1
Velocity function P ' 2 2 2 1
P ' 2 5 feet per second
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
Example E:
A disgruntled calculus student
hurls his calculus book in the air.
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
The position of the
calculus book:
p t 16t 2 96t
t is in seconds and
p(t) is in feet
p 3 144 288
p 3 144 feet
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
B) At what time does the book hit the ground?
The book hits the ground when its position is 0.
p t 16t 2 96t
0 16t 96t
2
0 16t (t 6)
16t 0 t 6 0
t 0 sec. t 6 sec.
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
C) How fast is the book moving when it hits the ground?
Good guess: 0 ft/sec This is incorrect.
v t 32t 96
v 6 32 6 96
v 6 192 96
v 6 192 96
v 6 96 ft/sec
Downward direction
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
Acceleration: the rate of change of velocity
with respect to time.
a t p t
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
Example F:
A red sports car is traveling, and its position P (in miles) at time t (in hours)
is given by P (t ) = t 2 – 7t.
B) What is the velocity at the very moment the car is 30 miles away?
C) What is the acceleration at the very moment the car is 30 miles away?
30 t 2 7t
0 t 2 7t 30
0 t 10 t 3
t 10 0 t 3 0
t 10 hours t 3
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
A red sports car is traveling, and its position P (in miles) at time t (in hours)
is given by P (t ) = t 2 – 7t.
V t P ' t 2t 7
V t P ' t 2t 7
P ' 10 2 10 7
V t P ' t 2t 7
A t P '' t 2 Miles per hour2
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
A red sports car is traveling, and its position P (in miles) at time t (in hours)
is given by P (t ) = t 2 – 7t.
V t P ' t 2t 7
0 2t 7
7 2t
t 3.5 hours
Conclusion
• The height/distance of an object can be given by a
position function.