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1.1 the Concept of Instantaneous Rate of Change (Notes)

The document introduces the concept of instantaneous rate of change in calculus, focusing on how it differs from average rates of change. It uses examples such as velocity, heart rate after exercise, and traffic patterns to illustrate how to estimate instantaneous rates through shrinking time intervals. The document emphasizes the importance of calculus in determining instantaneous values and provides mathematical expressions and problems for practice.

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2 views

1.1 the Concept of Instantaneous Rate of Change (Notes)

The document introduces the concept of instantaneous rate of change in calculus, focusing on how it differs from average rates of change. It uses examples such as velocity, heart rate after exercise, and traffic patterns to illustrate how to estimate instantaneous rates through shrinking time intervals. The document emphasizes the importance of calculus in determining instantaneous values and provides mathematical expressions and problems for practice.

Uploaded by

sugarhoneyicedbee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 1: The Concept of Instantaneous Rate of Change

Topic 1.1: Introducing Calculus: Can Change Occur at an Instant?


As students of life, and algebra, you have studied many rates of change for different situations: how
fast we drive, how our savings grow over time, the rate that the world population changes, our
growth rate every year, unemployment rates, and so much more. In each of these studies, we can
express one variable in terms of another, that is, as a function, = ( ).

Velocity
Consider an object that travels in a straight line. The over some given time interval
can be defined as the ratio of the change in position (displacement or to the elapsed
time period:

Average Velocity =

However, when we think of velocity, we usually mean , which indicates the


speed and direction of some object at a particular moment, which could be faster or slower than the
average velocity.

Can you explain why we can’t define instantaneous velocity as a ratio?

How can you estimate an instantaneous velocity?

Let’s generalize that big idea with this principle:

If you climb to the top of the Tower of Pisa and drop a coin to the
ground, estimate the instantaneous velocity at = 0.7 seconds.
Use Galileo’s formula = 16 to compute the average velocity,
in feet/second , over the time intervals listed in the table below.

What is your estimate for the


Interval Velocity
[0.7, 0.71] 22.56 (IROC) at = 0.7 second?

[0.7, 0.705]

[0. 7, 0.7001]

[0.7, 0.70005]
Photo: Jean Adams
[0.7, 0.700001]

© 2020 Jean Adams Flamingo Math.com 1


In our first example, we allowed the time interval to shrink to zero, so can say that
converges or that the limit

is defined by the total distance


traveled, d, divided by the elapsed time period, t.

Graphically, the average speed is the slope of the


secant line.
Analytically, average speed AROC =

Sketch the secant line through a and b. a b

is the speed at a specific


instant in time, where = is the limit of the average
rates of change.

Graphically, the instantaneous speed is the slope


of the tangent line at a specific point.

Analytically, we need calculus to determine this


instantaneous speed.
c

Sketch the tangent line through point c. = ?

Have you ever taken a Spin Class at the gym? Then you know that after the class is over, your rapid
heart rate decreases as time passes. Let ( ) represent your heart rate. Write an expression for
the rate of change of your heart rate over the period from = 0 seconds to = 90 seconds, after
you have stopped exercising.

© 2020 Jean Adams Flamingo Math.com 2


A hypercoaster is a special circuit roller coaster with a height measuring greater than 200 feet. If
a new hypercoaster is under design to have its largest drop on the circuit modeled by the equation
below, where ( ) is measured in feet, and time , is measured in seconds.
= 1.87 20.64 + 112. + 132.56

Find the average speed (velocity) of the hypercoaster from 2 seconds to 8 seconds.

What is the average speed (velocity) of the hypercoaster from 4 seconds to 6 seconds?

Estimate the instantaneous speed (velocity) of the hypercoaster at exactly 5 seconds.

[5, 5.1]

[5, 5.01]

[5, 5.001]

Explain the meaning of the instantaneous speed (velocity)in the context of the question at
= 5 seconds.

© 2020 Jean Adams Flamingo Math.com 3


The traffic pattern of departing flights at Orlando International Airport on a fall afternoon
can be modeled by the function V defined by = 92 15 sin where is measured in
vehicles and is measured in minutes 0 30.
Find for = 18. V(t)

Make a sketch of the graph of time vs. number


of vehicles. Be sure your graph has a scale.
t

What is the average rate of change of the vehicles


at the departing flights over the time interval 15 20 ?
Indicate units of measure.

Estimate the instantaneous rate of change of vehicles at = 18 by finding the average rates
from = 18 to = 18.1, = 18 to = 18.01 and = 18 to = 18.001

[18, 18.1]

[18, 18.01]

[18, 18.001]

Why can’t the instantaneous rate of change of traffic in the departure lane with respect to
time be calculated using the method in part D?

© 2020 Jean Adams Flamingo Math.com 4

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