3.

4 The Derivative as a rate of change

Ex. 1 (velocity & acceleration)

An object moves along the x-axis, its
position at each time t is given by the
function 3 2
x(t )  t  12t  36t  27.
Now, let us study the motion of the
object from t = 0 to t= 9.
 3 2
x(t )  t  12t  36t  27.
x(t) represents the position of the
object at time t. So at t = 0,
x(0) = -27.
x(0) = -27 means the object starts out
27 units to the left of the origin.
 3 2
x(t )  t  12t  36t  27.
Now let see what happens at t = 9.
When t = 9, x(9) = 54
What x(9)=54 means is that the object
ends up 54 units to the right of the
origin.
We can find the velocity of the object
by differentiating the position function.

The position function:

3 2
x(t )  t  12t  36t  27.
Therefore, the velocity function:
2
v(t )  x' (t )  3t  24t  36.
 2
Let us v(t )  3t  24t  36
investigate the
velocity of the v(t )  3(t  2)(t  6).
object from

t=0 to t=9.  ve, for 0  t  2

 0, at t  2



v (t ) is  ve, for 2  t  6


 0, at t  6

 ve, for 6  t  9.


sign of v(t) + + + 0 - - - 0 + + +

t 0 2 6 9

object object object

moving moving moving
right left right
The object begins by moving to the right; it
comes to a stop at t=2; it then moves left; it
stops at t=6; it then moves right and keeps
going right.
Next, we can find the acceleration of
the object by differentiating the
velocity. We already have
2
v(t )  x' (t )  3t  24t  36.
Therefore
a (t )  v' (t )  6t  24.
For now, let us a (t )  6t  24.
investigate the
acceleration of
a (t )  6(t  4)
the object
from t=0 to
ve, for 0  t  4
t=9.


a(t ) is  0, at t  4

ve, for 4  t  9.

sign of a(t) ----- 0 + + + +

t 0 4 9

Velocity Velocity
decreasing Velocity increasing
constant

At the beginning, the velocity decreases,

reaching a minimum at t = 4. Then the velocity
starts to increase and continues to increase.
 Ex.2 (free fall)
A stone is dropped from a height of 98 meters.
Its height is given by

s (t )  4.9t  98
2

where s is in meters and t in seconds.

1. Find its velocity as a function of t.
2. In how many seconds does it hit the ground?
3. What is the speed at the instant of impact?
 we have s (t )  4.9t  98
2

1. To Find velocity as a function of t.

v(t )  s ' (t )  9.8t
2. To find when it hits the ground.
We know that when the stone hit the ground,
s (t )  4.9t  98  0
2

4.9t  98
2

t  20
2
disregard the
t  2 5  4.47 s negative
value
3. What is the speed at the instant of impact?
v(t )  s ' (t )  9.8t
v(4.47)  43.83 m / s

The speed at the time of impact is

m
v(4.47)  43.83
s