[Math] Solving a Calculus velocity question using Precalc.

calculus

Decide whether on not Calculus is needed for the problem. If it is, use Pre-Calculus to approximate an answer. Find the distance traveled in 10 seconds by an object traveling at a velocity of v(t) = 20 + 7cos(t) feet per second. I know that Calculus is needed as the velocity is not constant, I'm just unsure how to approach the problem.

Best Answer

Without using calculus:

Separate $v(t)$ into two components, its constant component, and its cosine component.

From the constant component, it's easy to start by observing that a constant speed of 20 ft/sec for 10 sec yields 200ft. Hang onto this number.

From the cosine component, we know that cosine has a period of $2\pi$. At $t=2pi$, effect of the term has completely nullified itself: the amount of velocity above the $x$-axis has exactly the same profile as that below the $x$ axis. So let's look at $(2\pi,10)$.

Now, we know that $3\pi \approx 9.4 < 10$. From $2\pi$ to $3\pi$, we have the same effect: the velocity above the $x$ axis "neutralizes" the velocity below.

So now we're left with just a little tail of negative velocity between $3\pi$ and $10$. It's only about a half-second worth of time, and in that time the velocity goes from -7 to -5.87. Let's split the difference, and consider it to have a constant velocity in that half-second window of -6.43 ft/s. Multiplying this quantity by $(10-3\pi)$, and adding to the previous result, and we get about 196 feet.


Let's compare this to the integral:

$$\begin{align*}\int_0^10 \left(20+7\cos t\right)\ dt &= \left.20t\right|_0^10 + \left.7\sin t \right|_0^10 \\ &= 200(10-0) + 7\sin(10)-7\sin(0) \\ &= 200+7\sin(10) \\ &= 200-3.808 \\ &\approx 196.19. \end{align*}$$