Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Velocity and Speed
Velocity is the rate of change of position with respect to time, represented mathematically as the derivative of the position function, s=f(t). Speed, a scalar quantity, refers to how fast an object is moving regardless of direction. Understanding how to interpret the graph of position versus time is crucial for determining when the car is traveling fastest or slowest.
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Derivatives Applied To Velocity
Critical Points
Critical points occur where the derivative of a function is zero or undefined, indicating potential local maxima or minima. In the context of the car's velocity, these points on the graph of the position function can help identify when the car is at its fastest or slowest speeds. Analyzing these points allows us to determine changes in the car's motion.
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Graph Interpretation
Interpreting graphs involves analyzing the shape and features of the graph to extract meaningful information. For the position-time graph of the car, the slope at any point indicates the car's velocity. A steeper slope corresponds to higher speeds, while a flatter slope indicates slower speeds, which is essential for answering the question about the car's speed at different times.
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