Question

A mouse runs along a baseboard in your house. The mouse's position as a function of time is given by x(t)=pt 2+qt, with p = 0.36 m/s2and q = -1.10 m/s . Determine the mouse's average speed between t = 1.0 s and t = 4.0 s. I have tried everything and the answer is not 0.40 m/s

Answer 1

Answer: the average speed of the rat from the information given above is 0.7m/s

Explanation:

position is given as

x(t) = pt² + qt

finding the diffencial of x(t) with respect to t, we have

d(x(t))/dt = 2pt + q

we substitute the p = 0.36m/s² and q= -1.10 m/s

d(x(t))/dt = 2(0.36)t + (-1.10)

so, at t= 1s

d(x(t))/dt = 2*(0.36)*1 - 1.1 = 0.72 - 1.1 = -0.38m/s

at t= 4s

d(x(t))/dt = 2*(0.36)*4 - 1.10 = 2.88 - 1.10 = 1.78 m/s

To find the average speed,

average speed = (V1 + V2)/ 2

average speed = (1.78 + (-0.38))/2 = 0.7m/s