# Word Problem involving Integration

• November 6th 2007, 08:41 AM
blurain
Word Problem involving Integration
Any help as to how to get started or get through the problem will be much appreciated:

An oil spill is spreading in a circular pattern from a damaged tanker on a calm sea. The radius of the circle is growing at a rate of r'(t)=40 times the radical of t feet per minute.

A)How much does the radius grow from time t= 100 to t= 225?
B) When will the radius be 1,000 feet long?
• November 6th 2007, 08:46 AM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by blurain
Any help as to how to get started or get through the problem will be much appreciated:

An oil spill is spreading in a circular pattern from a damaged tanker on a calm sea. The radius of the circle is growing at a rate of r'(t)=40 times the radical of t feet per minute.

A)How much does the radius grow from time t= 100 to t= 225?
B) When will the radius be 1,000 feet long?

$r(t) = \int r'(t)~dt = \int 40 \sqrt{t}~dt = 40 \int t^{\frac 12}~dt$ ----> use the power rule

(A) we want $\int_{100}^{225} r'(t)~dt = r(225) - r(100)$

or you can use the second fundamental theorem of calculus if you which, but direct integration is more fun

(B) we want $r(t) = 1000$ and solve for t
• November 6th 2007, 12:59 PM
blurain
Is r(t)=80/3 t^3/2 the correct function for the derivative r'(t)= 40 times the radical of t?
• November 6th 2007, 01:05 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by blurain
Is r(t)=80/3 t^3/2 the correct function for the derivative r'(t)= 40 times the radical of t?

yes, but it should really be $\frac {80}3t^{3/2} + C$ but we know that C = 0, so it's fine