AP Calculus AB- What are the relationships between change in position, velocity, and acceleration?

For several years, we have been able to calculate average velocity of something if we are provided the distance travelled and the
time it took to travel such a distance. For example, if you drive 20 miles and it takes you 2 hours to do it, then you travel at an
average velocity of 10 miles/hour (mph). However, if you wanted to determine how fast you were moving in one particular instant
of that 2 hour trip (because perhaps traffic caused you to either speed up, slow down, or even stop along the way), you would need
to rely on calculus to determine your instantaneous velocity.

Average velocity can be calculated as an average rate of change of position, that is:

𝒔(𝒃) − 𝒔(𝒂)
𝒃−𝒂

where 𝑠(𝑡) is the position as a function of time 𝑡. It is worth noting that the units that result from this calculation are “length per
unit of time” – for example “miles per hour” or “feet per second.”

Instantaneous velocity is calculated using the limit process described previously, and is the derivative of position with respect to
time; in other words, 𝒗(𝒕) = 𝒔′(𝒕).

A similar relationship holds with average and instantaneous acceleration. Average acceleration can be calculated as an average rate
of change of velocity, or:
𝒗(𝒃) − 𝒗(𝒂)
𝒃−𝒂

and the resulting value has units of “length per square unit of time” – for example “meters per second squared.”

Meanwhile, instantaneous acceleration is the time derivative of velocity, or 𝒂(𝒕) = 𝒗o (𝒕) = 𝒔′′(𝒕) (this means that acceleration is
the second derivative of position).

The positivity or negativity of each of these quantities indicates how the motion of the object is changing at a particular time 𝒕.

Example 1: At time 𝑡 = 0, a diver jumps from a diving board that is 32 ft. above the water. The position of the diver is given by
𝑠(𝑡) = −16𝑡 8 + 16𝑡 + 32, where 𝑠 is measured in feet and 𝑡 is measured in seconds.
a. Find the average velocity of the diver over the time interval of [1.0,1.2] seconds.

b. When does the diver hit the water? What is the diver’s velocity at impact?

c. During what interval is the diver moving upward?

d. When does the diver reach a maximum height? What is that maximum height?

Example 2: The position of a particle is given by 𝑠(𝑡) = 3 cos 𝑡 − 4 sin 𝑡, where 𝑠 is measured in feet and 𝑡 is measured in seconds.
Determine the velocity and acceleration of the particle at time 𝑡 = 0. Describe what is happening to the particle at that time.
Example 3: Let 𝑠ˆ = 15𝑡8 + 10𝑡 + 20 and 𝑠‰ = 5𝑡8 + 40𝑡 be the position functions for cars 𝐴 and 𝐵 that are moving along parallel
straight lanes of a highway for time 𝑡 ≥ 0. 𝑠 is given in feet and 𝑡 is given in seconds.
a. How far is car 𝐴 ahead of car 𝐵 when 𝑡 = 0?

b. At what instant in time are the cars first next to one another?

i. At this instant, which car is moving faster?

c. At what instant in time do the cars have the same velocity?

i. Which car is ahead at this instant?

ii. Which car is accelerating faster at this time?

Example 4: Given the table below, which shows position, velocity and acceleration of a particle at stated times, determine when
the particle is at rest, speeding up, and slowing down.

𝒕 𝒔(𝒕) 𝒗(𝒕) 𝒂(𝒕)

seconds meters m/s m/s2
0 14 -3 2
1 10 0 4
2 12 1 -1
3 17 4 5
4 25 -2 -1

Example 5: Let 𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑡5 − 9𝑡8 for 𝑡 ≥ 0 (units of meters and seconds). Find the maximum speed of the particle, and the
direction of motion of the particle when it has this speed (hint: maximum/minimum velocity is achieved when the acceleration of
the particle is 0 Œ‹y).
Extra Practice: Pos., Vel., and Acc. Practice

1. What is the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration?

2. Once again trying to blow up Earth because it interferes with his view of Venus, Marvin the
Martian lands on the moon. Bugs Bunny, as always, interferes with his plan. Chasing Bugs,
Marvin fires a warning shot straight up into the air with his Acme Disintegration Pistol. The
height (in feet) after 𝑡 seconds of the shot is given by

𝑠(𝑡) = −2.66𝑡 * + 135𝑡 + 3

a. Find the velocity and acceleration as functions of time.

(What is the meaning of the acceleration function?)

b. What is the position of the shot when the velocity is 0?

3. Fill in the blanks.

a. When the ________________________ is positive, the object is moving in a positive direction.

b. An object is __________________________ when the velocity and acceleration have different signs.

c. An object is stopped when _______________________ is zero.

d. Speed is always positive because it is the ________________________ of velocity.

4. A bug begins to crawl up a vertical wire at time 𝑡 = 0. The velocity, 𝑣, of the bug at time 𝑡, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 8 is given by the
function whose graph is shown below.

a. At what value of 𝑡 does the bug change direction?

Justify your response.

b. During which time intervals is the bug slowing down?

Justify your response.
5. The figure graphed below shows the velocity of a particle moving along a coordinate line. Justify each response.

a. When is the particle moving right?

b. When is the particle moving left?

c. When is the particle stopped?

d. When is the particle speeding up?

e. When does the particle change directions?

f. When is the particle slowing down? g. What is the particle’s greatest speed and when is the particle
moving at its greatest speed?

h. When is the particle’s acceleration positive? i. When is the particle’s acceleration negative?

6. Fill in the blanks with correct mathematical notation.

a. If you want the average velocity of a particle on the interval [2,5], you must find ____________________________.

b. If you want the velocity of a particle at 𝑡 = 4, you must find __________________________.

7. Velocity is the rate of change of _____________________. If the position of a particle on the 𝑥-axis at time 𝑡 is given by
−5𝑡 * , then what is the average velocity of the particle for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 3?

8. A particle moves along the 𝑥-axis so that its position at time 𝑡 is given by 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑡 * − 6𝑡 + 5. For what value of 𝑡 is the
velocity of the particle zero?
9. Fill in the blanks with correct mathematical notation.

a. If you want the average acceleration of a particle on the interval [1,3], you must find ________________________.

b. If you want the acceleration of a particle at 𝑡 = 8, you must find _________________________.

10. Rocket A has a positive velocity 𝑣(𝑡) after being launched upward from an initial height of 0 feet at time 𝑡 = 0 seconds.
The velocity of the rocket is recorded for selected values of 𝑡 over the interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 80 seconds as shown in the table
below.

𝒕
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
(sec)
𝒗(𝒕)
5 14 22 29 35 40 44 47 49
(ft/sec)

a. Find the average acceleration of the Rocket B over the time interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 80 seconds. Indicate units of measure.

b. Using the data in the table, find an estimate for 𝑣′(35). Indicate units of measure.

11. A particle moves along the 𝑥-axis so that its position at any time 𝑡 ≥ 0 is given by the function 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑡 : − 12𝑡 + 1, when
𝑥 is measured in feet and 𝑡 is measured in seconds. Justify each response and indicate units of measure when appropriate.

a. Find the displacement during the first 3 seconds. b. Find the average velocity during the first 3 seconds.

c. Find the instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 3 seconds. d. Find the acceleration when 𝑡 = 3 seconds.

e. When is the particle moving left? f. At what value(s) 𝑡 does the particle change direction?

g. When is the particle speeding up?

 ?@
12. [Calculator] A particle moves along a line so that at time 𝑡, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝜋, its position is given by 𝑠(𝑡) = −4 cos 𝑡 − *
+ 10.
What is the velocity of the particle when its acceleration is zero?

13. [No Calculator] A spring is bobbing up and down. A particle’s position (on the end of the spring) at any time 𝑡 ≥ 0 is given
by 𝑠(𝑡) = −4 sin 𝑡.

a. What is the initial position of the spring?

b. Which way is the particle moving to start? Justify your response.

CD
c. At 𝑡 = E
, is the end of the spring moving up or down? Justify your response.

CD
d. Is the spring speeding up or slowing down at 𝑡 = ? Justify your response.
E

14. [Calculator Required] A body is moving in simple harmonic motion (up/down) with position 𝑠(𝑡) = 3 + cos 𝑡, where
0 ≤ 𝑡 < 2𝜋.

a. Find 𝑣(𝑡), the velocity function. b. Find the zeros of 𝑣(𝑡).

c. Find 𝑎(𝑡), the acceleration function. d. Find the zeros of 𝑎(𝑡).

e. When is the object stopped? Justify your response.

f. When does the object change direction? Justify your response.

g. When does the object speed up? Justify your response.

Intro to Chain Rule: How to differentiate compositions of functions

You may remember the notation 𝑓™𝑔(𝑥)š or 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 from previous courses; these are called composite functions. For our purposes,
𝒇(𝒙) will be called the “outer” function and 𝒈(𝒙) will be called the “inner” function.

Before we try to start differentiating these functions, it is important to be able to recognize the outer and inner functions that
comprise a composite function. For example, in the function ℎ(𝑥) = sin™√𝑥š, the inner function is 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 and the outer
function is 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥. Break the following functions into inner and outer pieces.

• ℎ(𝑥) = √sin 𝑥 Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = 3(2𝑥 − 1)R Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = tan5 𝑥 Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑒 53•8 Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

In order to differentiate composite functions, we have to follow the Chain Rule, which states:

𝒅
œ𝒇™𝒈(𝒙)š• = 𝒇o ™𝒈(𝒙)š 𝒈′(𝒙)
𝒅𝒙

In words, this rule says to take the derivative of the outer function, replace 𝒙 with the inner function, and multiply this by the
derivative of the inner function.

H 3
For example, ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥 8 + 1, which is the same as (𝑥 8 + 1)H⁄8 , differentiates to ℎo (𝑥) = (𝑥 8 + 1)4H⁄8 (2𝑥) = . It is worth
8 Ÿ3 y •H
noting that while we normally would require the radical in the denominator to be rationalized, this derivative will actually be easier
to work with if we leave it as it is.

Differentiate the four functions given above:

• ℎ(𝑥) = √sin 𝑥 Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

ℎo (𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = 3(2𝑥 − 1)R Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

ℎo (𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = tan5 𝑥 Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

ℎo (𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑒 53•8 Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

ℎo (𝑥) =
• ℎ(𝑥) = sin 6𝑥 Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑔′(𝑥) =

ℎ′(𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = (3𝑥 + 2)5

Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑔′(𝑥) =

′(𝑥)7𝑥+1
• ℎ(𝑥)ℎ = 𝑒=

Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑔′(𝑥) =

• ℎ(𝑥) = sec2x

ℎ′(𝑥) =

Outer: 𝑓(𝑥) = Inner: 𝑔(𝑥) =

𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑔′(𝑥) =

ℎ′(𝑥) =
Extra Practice: Determine the outer and inner functions in the following composition of functions. Then use the Chain Rule to find
the derivative.
𝜋
a) 𝑦 = (𝑥 3 + 2)100 b) 𝑦 = cos(3𝑥 − )
4

2
c) 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 − 4 d) 𝑦 = tan(4𝑒 𝑥 )

1 𝜋
e) 𝑦=
√𝑥+1
f) 𝑦 = 5sin3 ( 2 𝑥)

g) 𝑦 = √3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1 h) 𝑦 = ln(6𝑥)
Example 2: Combine the chain rule with other known differentiation techniques to find the following derivatives.
𝑑 𝑑
a) [𝑒 𝑥 sin2 x] b) [𝑥 2 √1 − 𝑥2]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 3𝑥−1 2 d)
𝑑
[
𝑥
]
c) [(
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 2 +3
) ] 𝑑𝑥 3√𝑥 2 +4

e) ℎ(𝑥) = sin(𝑥8 tan 𝑥) f) 𝑘(𝑥) = 𝑒Ÿ3

y•H
Example 3: Given the table below, find:

a) ℎ′(2), if ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)

b) 𝑘′(−1), if 𝑘(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))

•(3)
c) 𝑚′(6), if 𝑚(𝑥) = Ž(3)

𝒙 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒇′(𝒙) 𝒈′(𝒙)

−1 3 2 2 4
0 2 3 1 5
2 −3 −2 5 −1
3 4 5 −3 3
6 1 −1 4 6

Example 4:
𝒙 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒇′(𝒙) 𝒈′(𝒙)
1 2 2 1 -3
2 3 1 -4 5
3 -4 0 -3 -8
Given the table above, find:

a) ℎ′(1): ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑔(𝑥)) b) 𝑢′(2): 𝑢(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)

Example 23: The position of an object along a line is given by the function 𝑠(𝑡) = 4 sin 3𝑡, given in meters and seconds. Find
functions that describe the velocity and acceleration of that object, and then determine the behavior of the object at 𝑡 = 𝜋/6
seconds.
𝑓(𝑥) d) 𝑠′(3): 𝑠(𝑥) = 𝑔(2𝑥 − 4)
c) 𝑠′(1): 𝑠(𝑥) =
𝑔(𝑥)
 H ¡
Example 4: Assume that ℎ(𝑥) = (𝑓(𝑥))5, where 𝑓 is a differentiable function. If 𝑓(0) = − 8 and 𝑓′(0) = 5, determine an equation
of the line tangent to the graph of ℎ at 𝑥 = 0.

Example 5: Find the second derivative of the following functions.

a) 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑥 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 5)𝑒 𝑥

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 3 + 5) 𝑒 𝑥 +𝑥

d) 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥

7
AB Calculus: Unit 3- Basic Anti-differentiation and PVA initial conditions

   1
1) Let h'(x) = 2x sin(x 2 ) and h   = . Assume h(x)=f(g(x)). Find h(x).
 3 2

2) Let h'(x) = e x/4 and h(0) = −3 . Assume h(x)=f(g(x)). Find h(x).

1
3) Let h'(x) = (3x + 1)5 and h(0) = . Assume h(x)=f(g(x)). Find h(x).
18

4) Let h'(x) = x2 cos(x 3 ) and h(0) = 0 . Assume h(x)=f(g(x)). Find h(x).

5) Let h '(x) = 2x + 1 and h(4) = 10 . Assume h(x)=f(g(x)). Find h(x).

6) 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 whose graph is shown below. Find the acceleration of Caren’s bicycle at time
t=7.5 minutes.

7) A car is traveling on a straight road with velocity 55 ft/sec at time t=0. For 0  t  18 seconds, the car’s acceleration
a(t), in ft/sec2, is the piecewise linear function defined by the graph below.

a) Is the velocity of the car increasing at t=2 seconds?

Why or why not?
8) A particle moves along the x-axis so that at any time t>0 its velocity is given by v(t) = t ln(t) − t . At time t=1, the position
of the particle is s(1)=6.

Write an expression for the acceleration of the particle.

9) An object moves along the x-axis with initial position s(0)=2. The velocity of the object at time t  0 is given by
 
v(t ) = sin t  .
3 

a) Find the position function s(t), and use it to find the position of the object at time t=4?

b) Write an expression for the acceleration of the object a(t) and find a(4).

c) Is the object speeding up or slowing down at t=4 seconds? Why?

Extra Practice:

1) If f (x) = e
(2/ x )
, find f’(x)

dy
2) If y = cos (3x) , find
2

dx

3) If y = (x 3 − cos x)5 , find y’

4) The acceleration of a particle moving along the x-axis at time t is given by a(t) = 6t − 2. If the velocity is 25 when t=3,
and the position is 10 when t=1, then find the position function.