# general question about velocity and rates of change

• July 22nd 2007, 01:02 PM
driver327
general question about velocity and rates of change
I have a couple of dropping something into a sea or river problems. equations provided(d^2+d+some constant), how do you find the instantaneous velocity at a given time? And also, what are the steps to finding the average velocity from one point to another?

Aside from the questions above, is the rate of change the same thing as velocity?
• July 22nd 2007, 01:09 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by driver327
I have a couple of dropping something into a sea or river problems. equations provided(d^2+d+some constant)

what does this equation represent? the distance? the velocity? ...
Quote:

how do you find the instantaneous velocity at a given time?
to ensure i can give you an answer you understand, are you in calculus or precalculus?

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And also, what are the steps to finding the average velocity from one point to another?
this is just the slope between the two points. if $(x, f(x))$ gives the position, the average rate of change between two points $a$ and $b$ where $a > b$ is given by:

$\mbox {Avg Velocity } = \frac {f(b) - f(a)}{b - a}$

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Aside from the questions above, is the rate of change the same thing as velocity?
yes
• July 22nd 2007, 01:18 PM
driver327
I believe it represents the velocity. And the answer is in meters.

I am in calculus.
• July 22nd 2007, 01:22 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by driver327
I believe it represents the velocity. And the answer is in meters.

I am in calculus.

meters represent distance or position. if it was velocity the unit would be (unit distance)/(unit time), for example, meters per second (m/s)

it would probably be best if you actually type out the original question
• July 22nd 2007, 01:30 PM
driver327
I found an example on instantaneous velocity and since velocity=rates of change, I found the answer. Thanks
• July 22nd 2007, 01:40 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by driver327
I found an example on instantaneous velocity and since velocity=rates of change, I found the answer. Thanks

ok. i guess you understand everything then