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Ch. 6 - Applications of Integration
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 6, Problem 6.RE.1c

Explain why or why not Determine whether the following statements are true and give an explanation or counterexample.
c. If water flows into a tank at a constant rate (for example, 6 gal/min), the volume of water in the tank increases according to a linear function of time.

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Identify the given situation: water flows into a tank at a constant rate, for example, 6 gallons per minute.
Recall the definition of a linear function: a function of the form \(f(t) = mt + b\), where \(m\) and \(b\) are constants, and \(t\) represents time.
Since the rate of flow is constant, the volume of water added per unit time does not change, meaning the rate of change of volume with respect to time is constant.
Express the volume \(V(t)\) as a function of time \(t\): since the flow rate is 6 gal/min, the volume increases by 6 gallons every minute, so \(V(t) = 6t + V_0\), where \(V_0\) is the initial volume of water in the tank.
Conclude that because \(V(t)\) is of the form \(mt + b\) with constant \(m=6\), the volume of water in the tank increases according to a linear function of time.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Linear Functions

A linear function describes a relationship where the output changes at a constant rate with respect to the input. Graphically, it forms a straight line, and algebraically, it can be expressed as f(t) = mt + b, where m is the constant rate of change.
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Linearization

Rate of Change and Accumulation

The rate of change represents how quickly a quantity changes over time. When a quantity accumulates at a constant rate, its total amount increases linearly, meaning the accumulated value is the integral of the constant rate over time.
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Relationship Between Derivatives and Functions

The derivative of a function gives the instantaneous rate of change. If the derivative is constant, the original function must be linear. In this context, a constant inflow rate (derivative) implies the volume function is linear in time.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Displacement and distance from velocity Consider the graph shown in the figure, which gives the velocity of an object moving along a line. Assume time is measured in hours and distance is measured in miles. The areas of three regions bounded by the velocity curve and the t-axis are also given.

a. On what intervals is the object moving in the positive direction?

Textbook Question

Variable gravity At Earth’s surface, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately g=9.8 m/s² (with local variations). However, the acceleration decreases with distance from the surface according to Newton’s law of gravitation. At a distance of y meters from Earth’s surface, the acceleration is given by a(y) = - g / (1+y/R)², where R=6.4×10⁶ m is the radius of Earth.


f. Graph ymax as a function of v0. What is the maximum height when v0=500 m/s,1500 m/s, and 5 km/s?

Textbook Question

Explain why or why not Determine whether the following statements are true and give an explanation or counterexample.

b. Given only the velocity of an object moving on a line, it is possible to find its displacement, but not its position.

Textbook Question

70–72. Variable density in one dimension Find the mass of the following thin bars.


A bar on the interval 0≤x≤6 with a density ρ(x) = {1 if 0 ≤ x < 2

2 if 2 ≤ x < 4

4 if 4 ≤ x ≤ 6

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Textbook Question

Fuel consumption A small plane in flight consumes fuel at a rate (in gal/min) given by

R'(t) ={ 4t^{1/3} if 0 ≤ t ≤ 8 (take-off)

2 if t> 0 (cruising)

a. Find a function R that gives the total fuel consumed, for 0≤t≤8.

Textbook Question

21–30. {Use of Tech} Arc length by calculator


a. Write and simplify the integral that gives the arc length of the following curves on the given interval. 

y = cos 2x, for 0 ≤ x ≤ π