BC Calculus

Unit 7
Practice on Polar,
Parametric, and
Vector Calculus
(AP Units 8 and 9)

Topic 1: Motion
(Linear, Parametric, and Vector)
Topic 2: Polar Calculus
(Slopes, rates, area, and arclength)
1
 AP Motion Problems – Only use a calculator on problems.

t 0 15 25 30 35 50 60
(sec)
v(t) -20 -30 -20 -14 -10 0 10
(ft/sec)
a(t) 1 5 2 1 2 4 2
(ft/sec2

1. A car travels on a straight track. During the time interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 60 seconds, the car’s velocity v,
measured in feet per second, and a, measured in feet per second per second, are differentiable
functions. The table above shows selected values of these functions.

60
(a) Using appropriate units, explain the meaning of ∫30 |𝑣(𝑡)|𝑑𝑡 in terms of the car’s motion.
60
Approximate ∫30 |𝑣(𝑡)|𝑑𝑡 using a trapezoidal approximation with the three subintervals determined
by the table.

30
(b) Using appropriate units, explain the meaning of ∫0 𝑎(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 in terms of the car’s motion. Find the
30
exact value of ∫0 𝑎(𝑡)𝑑𝑡.

(c) For 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 60, must there be a time t when v(t) =-5? Justify your answer.

(d) For 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 60, must there be a time when a(t) = 0? Justify your answer.

2
 t 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
(seconds)
v(t) 5 14 22 29 35 40 44 47 49
(feet per second)
2. Rocket A has positive velocity v(t) after being launched upward form an initial height 0 feet at time t=0 seconds. The
velocity of the rocket is recorded for selected values of t over the interval of 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 80 seconds, as shown in the
table above.

(a)Find the average acceleration of rocket A over the time interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 80 seconds. Indicate units of measure.

70
(b)Using correct units, explain the meaning of ∫10 𝑣(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 in terms of the rocket’s flight. Use a midpoint Riemann sum
70
with 3 subintervals of equal length to approximate ∫10 𝑣(𝑡)𝑑𝑡.

3
(c) Rocket B is launched upward with an acceleration of a(t) = feet per second per second. At time
√𝑡+1
t=0 seconds, the initial height of the rocket is 0 feet, and the initial velocity is 2 feet per second. Which of
the two rockets is travelling faster at time t=80 seconds? Explain your answer.

3
3. A particle moves along the y axis so that its velocity v at time t≥ 0 is given by
v(t) =1 − tan−1(𝑒 𝑡 ). At time t=0, the particle is at y=-1. (Note tan−1x=arctan x)

(a) Find the acceleration of the particle at time t=2.

(b) Is the speed of the particle increasing or decreasing at time t=2? Give a reason for your answer.

(c) Find the time 𝑡 ≥ 0 at which the particle reaches its highest point. Justify your answer.

(d) Find the position of the particle at time t=2. Is the particle moving toward the origin or away from the
origin at time t=2? Justify your answer

4
4. Caren rides her bicycle along a straight road from home to school, starting at home at
time t=0 minutes and arriving at school at time t=12 minutes. During the time interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 12 minutes
her velocity v(t), in miles per minute is modeled by the piecewise-linear function who’s graph is shown
above.

(a) Find the acceleration of Caren’s bicycle at time t=7.5 minutes. Indicate units of measure.

12
(b) Using correct units, explain the meaning of ∫0 |𝑣(𝑡)|𝑑𝑡 in terms of Caren’s trip. Find the value of
12
∫0 |𝑣(𝑡)|𝑑𝑡.

(c) Shortly after leaving home, Caren realizes she left her calculus homework at home, and she returns to
get it. At what time does she turn around to go back home? Give a reason for your answer.

(d) Larry also rides his bicycle along a straight road from home to school in 12 minutes. His velocity is
𝜋 𝜋
modeled by the function w given by 𝑤(𝑡) = 15 sin(12 𝑡), where w(t) is in miles per minute for
0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 12 minutes.
Who lives closer to school: Caren or Larry? Show the work that leads to your answer.

5
5. A particle moves along the x-axis so that it’s velocity v at time
𝑡 ≥ 0 is given by v(t)=sin(t2). The graph of v is shown below for
0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ √5𝜋. The position of the particle at time t is x(t) and its
position at time t=0 is x(0)=5.

(a) Find the acceleration of the particle at time t=3.

(b) Find the total distance traveled by the particle from time t=0 to t=3.

(c) Find the position of the particle at time t=3.

(d) For 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ √5𝜋, find the time t at which the particle is farthest to the right. Explain your
answer.

6
6. A particle moves along the x-axis with velocity at time t≥ 0 given by −1 + 𝑒 1−𝑡 .

(a) Find the acceleration of the particle at time t=3.

(b) Is the speed of the particle increasing t=3? Give a reason for your answer.

(c) Find all values of t at which the particle changes direction. Justify your answer.

(d) Find the total distance traveled by the particle over the time 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 3.

7
Practice: PARAMETRIC CALCULUS

A. Make a table of values and sketch the curve, indicating the direction of your graph. Then eliminate the parameter.
Do not use your calculator.

1. x = t + 2 and y = 3 − t
y

Equation: ___________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

dy d2y
B. Find and . Do not use your calculator.
dx dx 2
3. x = t 2 , y = t 2 + 6t + 5 4. x = ln t , y = t 2 + t 5. x = 3sin t + 2, y = 4 cos t − 1

8
 6. A curve C is defined by the parametric equations x = t 2 + t −1, y = t 3 − t 2 .

dy
(a) Find in terms of t.
dx

(b) Find an equation of the tangent line to C at the point where t = 2.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. A curve C is defined by the parametric equations x = 2cost, y = 3sint .

dy
(a) Find in terms of t.
dx


(b) Find an equation of the tangent line to C at the point where t = .
4

__________________________________________________________________________________________

On problems 8 – 9, find:

dy
(a) in terms of t. (b) all points of horizontal and vertical tangency
dx

8. x = t + 5, y = t 2 − 4t 9. x = 3 + 2 cos t , y = −1 + 4sin t on [0, 2π)

9
On problems 10 - 11, a curve C is defined by the parametric equations given. For each problem, write an integral
expression that represents the length of the arc of the curve over the given interval.

10. x = t 2 , y = t 3 , 0  t  2 11. x = e2t + 1, y = 3t −1, − 2  t  2

__________________________________________________________________________________________

AP Style Vector Practice:

( )
1. If a particle moves in the xy-plane so that at any time t > 0, its position vector is ln t 2 + 5t , 3t 2 , find its

velocity vector at time t = 2.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. A particle moves in the xy-plane so that at any time t, its coordinates are given

by x = t 5 − 1 and y = 3t 4 − 2t 3. Find its acceleration vector at t = 1.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

  2
3. If a particle moves in the xy-plane so that at time t its position vector is sin  3t −  ,3t , find the
 2


velocity vector at time t = .
2

10
4. A particle moves on the curve y = ln x so that its x-component has derivative x (t ) = t + 1 for t  0. At

time t = 0, the particle is at the point (1, 0). Find the position of the particle at time t = 1.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. A particle moves in the xy-plane in such a way that its velocity vector is 1 + t , t 3 . If the position vector

at t = 0 is 5, 0 , find the position of the particle at t = 2.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

dy dx
6. A particle moves along the curve xy = 10. If x = 2 and = 3, what is the value of ?
dt dt

__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. The position of a particle moving in the xy-plane is given by the parametric equations

3
x = t3 − t 2 − 18t + 5 and y = t 3 − 6t 2 + 9t + 4. For what value(s) of t is the particle at rest?
2

__________________________________________________________________________________________

8. A curve C is defined by the parametric equations x = t 3 and y = t 2 − 5t + 2. Write the equation of the line

tangent to the graph of C at the point (8, − 4) .

11
*9. {Calculator} A particle moves in the xy-plane so that the position of the particle is given by x (t ) = 5t + 3sin t and

y ( t ) = (8 − t )(1 − cos t ) Find the velocity vector at the time when the particle’s horizontal position is x = 25.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2
10. The position of a particle at any time t  0 is given by x ( t ) = t 2 − 3 and y ( t ) = t3.
3

(a) Find the magnitude of the velocity vector at time t = 5.

(b) Find the total distance traveled by the particle from t = 0 to t = 5.

dy
(c) Find as a function of x.
dx

__________________________________________________________________________________________

dx 1 dy
11. Point P ( x, y ) moves in the xy-plane in such a way that = and = 2t for t  0.
dt t +1 dt

(a) Find the coordinates of P in terms of t given that when t = 1, x = ln 2 , and y = 0.

(b) Write an equation expressing y in terms of x.

(c) Find the average rate of change of y with respect to x as t varies from 0 to 4.

(d) Find the instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x when t = 1.

12
  
12. Consider the curve C given by the parametric equations x = 2 − 3cos t and y = 3 + 2 sin t , for − t  .
2 2

dy
(a) Find as a function of t.
dx


(b) Find the equation of the tangent line at the point where t = .
4

*(c) {Calculator} The curve C intersects the y-axis twice. Approximate the length of the curve between the two y-

intercepts.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Polar Practice Do NOT use your calculator.

dy
For the following, find for the given value of  .
dx

3 
1. r = 2 + 3sin  ,  = 2. r = 4sin  ,  =
2 3

13
3. Find the points of horizontal and vertical tangency for r = 1 + sin  . Give your answers in polar

form, ( r,  ) .

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Tell what type of graph (circle, cardioid, limacon, lemniscate, rose), and sketch the graph.

4. r = 3cos  5. r = 3 + 2cos 6. r = 4cos ( 2 )

7. r = 1 + 2sin 8. r = 4sin ( 2 )
2
9. r = 6sin (3 )

14
Polar Area Activity 1:
For this activity, you may use your calculator and the following websites:
For graphing: https://www.geogebra.org/m/jhKUc6Hm
For finding area: http://bit.ly/Mod5PolarArea
You must show all work for calculating the requested 𝜃 values.

𝒓 = 𝟏 + 𝟐𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽
When 𝜃 = 0, what is 𝑟? ___________

1. A. For what value of 𝜃 will 𝑟 = 1 for the first time? Show work.

𝜃 = _______
B. Graph the given polar function from 0 to the value you
solved for in part A.
C. Write an integral expression to find the area
of this region, and then use the app or your calculator to
find the actual area.

AREA = _________________________________= __________

2. A. For what value of 𝜃 will 𝑟 = 0 for the first time? Show work.

𝜃 = _______
B. Graph the given polar function from 0 to the value you
solved for in part A.
C. Write an integral expression to find the area
of this region, and then use the app or your calculator to
find the actual area.

AREA = _________________________________= __________

15
3. A. For what value of 𝜃 will 𝑟 = −1 for the first time? Show work.

𝜃 = _______
B. Graph the given polar function from 0 to the value you
solved for in part A.
C. Write an integral expression to find the area
of this region, and then use the app or your calculator to
find the actual area.

AREA = _________________________________= __________

4. A. For what value of 𝜃 will 𝑟 = 0 for the second time? Show work.

𝜃 = _______
B. Graph the given polar function from 0 to the value you
solved for in part A.
Was any region covered twice? _____ If so shade that region.

C. Write an integral expression to find the area

of this region without overlap, and then use the app or your calculator to
find the actual area.

AREA = _________________________________= __________

16
5. A. For what value of 𝜃 will 𝑟 = 1 for the second time? Show work.

𝜃 = _______
B. Graph the given polar function from 0 to the value you
solved for in part A.
Was any region covered twice? _____ If so shade that region.

C. Write an integral expression to find the area

of this region without overlap, and then use the app or your calculator to
find the actual area.

AREA = _________________________________= __________

6. A. For what value of 𝜃 will the graph return to its starting point?

𝜃 = _______
B. Graph the given polar function from 0 to the value you
found in part A.
Was any region covered twice? _____ If so shade that region.

C. Write an integral expression to find the area

of this region without overlap, and then use the app or your calculator to
find the actual area.
AREA = _________________________________= __________

7. A. Write an integral expression to find the area of the inner loop. Then find the area using your calculator.
AREA = _________________________________= __________

B. Which of the following integral expressions would NOT find the area of the inner loop?
4𝜋 4𝜋 2𝜋
1 3 1 𝜋 2 1
i) ∫2𝜋 𝑟 2 𝑑𝜃 ii) ∫𝜋3 𝑟 2 𝑑𝜃 iii) ∫2𝜋 𝑟 𝑑𝜃 iv) | ∫4𝜋3 𝑟 2 𝑑𝜃 |
2 2 3 2
3 3

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8. A. This graph shows the area of the “outer loop” of the given limacon. To find this
area, we cannot simply find that area from 0 to 2𝜋 and then subtract the area of the
inner loop. Why not?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

B. Write an expression involving one or more integrals that would find the area of the outer loop. Then find the area
using your calculator.
AREA = _________________________________= __________

18
Polar Area Activity #2: Area Between 2 Polar Curves

𝑅(𝑡) = 3cos (𝑡)

𝑟(𝑡) = 1 + cos (𝑡)

Use the following app and your graphing calculator

to help you answer the following questions.
http://bit.ly/Mod5Polar3

It will be helpful to find the intersection points for

the two polar curves.

1) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the region shaded below?

Integral : ________________________________________

Area: _____________

2) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the region shaded below?

Integral : ____________________________

Integral : ________________________________________
Area: _____________

Area: _____________

19
3) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the region shaded below? Do not just double your answer from problem 1.

Integral : ____________________________

Area: _____________
Integral : ________________________________________

Area: _____________

3) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the regions shaded below? Do not just double your answer from problem 2.

Integral : ________________________________________

Area: _____________

4) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the region shaded below?

Integral : ____________________________

Area: _____________
Integral : ________________________________________

Area: _____________

20
5) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the region shaded below?

Integral : ____________________________

Integral
Area: : ________________________________________
_____________

Area: _____________

6) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the region shaded below?

Integral : ____________________________

Integral : ________________________________________
Area: _____________

Area: _____________

7) Write an integral expression that would find the area of the region shaded below?

Integral : ____________________________

Integral : ________________________________________
Area: _____________

Area: _____________

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Practice with Polar Area

Sketch a graph of the function and then find the indicated area. Shade the area that is represented by your integral.

You can use a calculator to evaluate on all but #3 and #4, which should be worked by hand.

1. Area of one petal of r = 2cos ( 3 ) 2. Area of the interior of r = 2 − sin 

3. Area of one petal of r = 4sin ( 2 ) 4. Area of one petal of r = 4sin ( 2 )

2

5. Area of the interior of r = 2 + 2cos

22
On problems 6 – 7, sketch a graph, shade the region, set up the integrals needed, and then use
your calculator to evaluate.

6. Area of the inner loop of r = 1 + 2cos

7. Area between the loops of r = 1 + 2cos

________________________________________________________________________________________________

8.

23
9.

24
REVIEW SHEET FOR TEST ON PARAMETRICS, VECTORS, POLAR, & AP REVIEW

Use your calculator on problems 2 – 3 and 9. Show supporting work, and give decimal answers correct to three decimal places.
𝑑2𝑦
x = t 2 +1, y = 2t 3 − t 2 .
𝑑𝑦
1. Find and given
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2

__________________________________________________________________________________________

( )
2. An object moving along a curve in the xy-plane has position x ( t ) , y ( t ) at time t with
dx
dt
( )
= sin t 3 and
dy
dt
( )
= cos t 2 . At

time t = 2, the object is at the position (7, 4).

(a) Write an equation for the line tangent to the curve at the point where t = 2.

(b) Find the speed of the object at time t = 2.

(c) Find the total distance traveled by the object over the time interval 0  t  1.

(d) For what value of t, 0  t  1, does the tangent line to the curve have a slope of 4? Find the acceleration

vector at this time.

(e) Find the position of the object at time t = 1.

25
 ( )
3. An object moving along a curve in the xy-plane has position x ( t ) , y ( t ) at time t with

dx
dt
( )
= 1 + sin t 3 . The derivative
dy
dt
is not explicitly given. At t = 2, the object is at the point ( − 5,4).

(a) Find the x-coordinate of the position at time t = 3.

( )
(b) For any t  0, the line tangent to the curve at x ( t ) , y ( t ) has a slope of t + 3. Find the acceleration

vector of the object at time t = 2.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

No calculator.

dy 
4. Find for the given value of  given r = 4sin  ,  = .
dx 3

__________________________________________________________________________________________

No calculator.

5. Find the area of the interior of r = 2 + 2cos .

26
6. Find the area of one petal of r = 2cos (3 ).

7. Set up the integral(s) needed to find the area inside r = 3cos  and outside r = 2 − cos . Do not evaluate.

8. Set up the integral(s) needed to find the area of the common interior of r = 4sin  and r = 2 . Do not

evaluate.

27
Use your calculator.

9. A curve is drawn in the xy-plane and is described by the equation in polar coordinates

 3
r =  + cos ( 3 ) for   , where r is measured in meters and  is measured in radians.
2 2
(a) Find the area bounded by the curve and the y-axis.

(b) Find the angle  that corresponds to the point on the curve with y-coordinate − 1 .

28