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, f(t). Speed, being the absolute value of velocity, indicates how fast an object is moving regardless of direction. To determine when speed is increasing, one must analyze the behavior of the velocity function over the given interval.
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Derivatives Applied To Velocity
Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, which can be found by taking the derivative of the velocity function. If the acceleration is positive, the speed of the object is increasing. Therefore, to find intervals where speed is increasing, we need to examine where the derivative of the velocity function is positive.
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Derivatives Applied To Acceleration
Critical Points and Intervals
Critical points occur where the first derivative of a function is zero or undefined, indicating potential maxima, minima, or points of inflection. By analyzing these points and the sign of the derivative in the intervals between them, one can determine where the function is increasing or decreasing. This is essential for identifying the intervals where speed is increasing in the context of the given position function.
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