The Distance Problem

Chapter 5: Integrals The Distance Problem
Book Title: Calculus: Concepts and Contexts

Printed By: Doan Vu ([email protected])
© 2023 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning
The Distance Problem
Now let’s consider the distance problem: find the distance traveled by an object during a
certain time period if the velocity of the object is known at all times. In one sense, this is a
backward problem: we know the velocity but want the distance traveled.
If the velocity of the object is constant, then the distance problem can be solved using the
formula
But if the velocity varies, then finding the total distance traveled is more challenging. The
good news is that we will be able to visualize the result and relate it back to the area
problem. Consider the following example.
Example 4
Estimate a Distance
Suppose the odometer in a car is broken but we still want to estimate the distance
driven over a -second time interval. The table shows the speedometer readings
for selected times, in this case every five seconds.
Time (s) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Velocity (m/h) 17 21 24 29 32 31 28
In order to have the time and the velocity in consistent units, let’s convert the
velocity readings to feet per second :
Time (s) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Velocity (ft/s) 25 31 35 43 47 45 41
During any five-second interval, the velocity doesn’t change very much, so we can
estimate the distance traveled during a five-second interval by assuming that the
velocity is constant.
During the first five seconds, assume the velocity of the car is ft/s (the initial
velocity). Then the approximate distance traveled during the first five seconds is
Similarly, during the second time interval, assume the velocity is ft/s, the velocity
at time . The estimate for the distance traveled from to is
Use similar estimates for the remaining time intervals. An estimate for the total
distance traveled over the second time interval is
We could also have used the velocity at the end of each time interval instead of the
velocity at the beginning as the assumed constant velocity. Then the estimate for
total distance traveled is
A more accurate estimate could be obtained if we had velocity readings every two
seconds, or even every second.
The calculations in Example 4 certainly look like sums we used earlier to estimate areas.
The connection is even more apparent if we sketch a graph of the velocity function of the
car. Figure 5.18 shows a graph with a smooth curve connecting the points of the velocity
function and rectangles with heights equal to the initial velocities in each time interval.
Figure 5.18
A rough sketch of the velocity function and approximating rectangles.
The area of the first rectangle is , which is the estimate for the distance
traveled in the first five seconds. The area of each rectangle can be interpreted as a
distance because the height represents velocity and the width represents time. The sum of
the rectangle areas in Figure 5.18 is , a left sum, which is the initial estimate for
the total distance traveled.
In general, suppose the velocity of an object at time is given by , where

and (so the object is moving in the positive direction). In addition, suppose we
know the velocity of the object at times . If the times are equally
spaced, then .
Assume the velocity is approximately constant over each subinterval. During the first time
interval, the velocity of the object is approximately and the distance traveled is
. Similarly, the distance traveled during the second time interval is about .
The total distance traveled during the time interval is approximately
If we used the velocity at the right endpoints of each subinterval, the estimate for the total
distance traveled is
The more frequently we measure the velocity, the more accurate the estimate becomes. It
seems reasonable that the exact distance traveled is the limit of these sums as
approaches infinity.
(4)
We will see in Section 5.3 that this is indeed true.
Because Equation 4 has the same form as the expression for area, it follows that the
distance traveled is equal to the area under the graph of the velocity function. In Chapter 6,
we will see that other quantities in the natural and social sciences, for example, the work
done by a variable force or the cardiac output of the heart, can also be interpreted as the
area under a curve. So, as we compute areas in this chapter, bear in mind that they can be
interpreted in a variety of practical ways.
Chapter 5: Integrals The Distance Problem
Book Title: Calculus: Concepts and Contexts
Printed By: Doan Vu ([email protected])
© 2023 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning
© 2024 Cengage Learning Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this work may by reproduced or used in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic, or mechanical, or in any other
manner - without the written permission of the copyright holder.

The Distance Problem

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Distance Problem

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Distance Problem

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 5: Integrals The Distance Problem

Book Title: Calculus: Concepts and Contexts

The Distance Problem

A rough sketch of the velocity function and approximating rectangles.

In general, suppose the velocity of an object at time is given by , where

We will see in Section 5.3 that this is indeed true.

You might also like