Question

Find the displacement of the car. (screenshot of graph)

Answer 1

What would be the total mileage traveled in the first interval, 30mph for 2.5 hours?

Answer 2

I'm not sure how to read the graph, cause the lines are straight. Does that mean the velocity is staying at 30 then for 2/5 hours?

Answer 3

Well if i take the area of everything under the first section, 2.5*30 =75?

Answer 4

Yup, you're on the right track. The velocity is staying at 30mph for 2.5 hrs = 75 miles traveled. What about the other 2 intervals? Remember, the velocity now changes.

Answer 5

Right, so the displacement is just adding up the 3 intervals?

Answer 6

So 75 + 25 + 40=140? Is it really that simple? All three are just rectangles...

Answer 7

Wow yeah it is. Thanks!

Answer 8

Yup yup, though be careful with the "area of rectangles" idea. I say that only because sometimes a graph won't be provided or it may not look at nice.

Answer 9

Yeah i've had triangles and trapezoids etc before. Thanks

Answer 10

Cause in real life a car doesn't suddenly go from 30mph to 50mph, it needs to travel continuously from 30mph to 50mph. It'd be cool through lol.

Answer 11

No problem, keep up the good work!

Answer 12

Haha yeah exactly.