MA 3972-MA-Book April 11, 2018 16:5
More Applications of Definite Integrals 319
14.2 Distance Traveled Problems
Summary of Formulas
Position Function:s(t);s(t)=
∫
v(t)dt.
Velocity:v(t)=
ds
dt
;v(t)=
∫
a(t)dt.
Acceleration:a(t)=
dv
dt
.
Speed:|v(t)|.
Displacement fromt 1 tot 2 =
∫t 2
t 1
v(t)dt=s(t 2 )−s(t 1 ).
Total Distance Traveled fromt 1 tot 2 =
∫t 2
t 1
∣∣
v(t)
∣∣
dt.
Example 1
(See Figure 14.2-1.)
0
10
- 10
20
2 4 6 8 10 12
v(t)
v(t)
t
(seconds)
(feet/sec)
Figure 14.2-1
The graph of the velocity function of a moving particle is shown in Figure 14.2-1.
What is the total distance traveled by the particle during 0≤t≤12?
Total Distance Traveled=
∣∣
∣
∣
∫ 4
0
v(t)dt
∣∣
∣
∣+
∫ 12
4
v(t)dt
=
1
2
(4)(10)+
1
2
(8)(20)= 20 + 80 =100 feet.
Example 2
The velocity function of a moving particle on a coordinate line isv(t)=t^2 + 3 t− 10
for 0 ≤ t ≤ 6. Find (a) the displacement by the particle during 0 ≤ t ≤ 6, and
(b) the total distance traveled by the particle during 0≤t≤6.