A ride car's height is modeled by \(H(t)=40-5(t-3)^2\) feet, where \(t\) is measured in seconds. For each of the symmetric intervals \([2,4]\), \([2.5,3.5]\), and \([2.9,3.1]\), the average rate of change of height is \(0\,\text{ft/s}\).
A student says, “Because every one of those symmetric average rates is \(0\), the car is not moving vertically anywhere near \(t=3\), and its instantaneous vertical rate at \(t=3\) must be \(0\).”
a) Explain why the claim about zero vertical motion near \(t=3\) is false.
b) Explain why the listed symmetric average rates alone do not establish the ordinary instantaneous rate at \(t=3\).
c) For \(h>0\), compute the average vertical rate on \([3-h,3]\) and on \([3,3+h]\). Use these two expressions to determine the instantaneous vertical rate at \(t=3\).
Hints
- Separate net change over an interval from what happens at individual times inside the interval.
- A two-sided instantaneous rate should be supported by compatible behavior from the left and from the right.
- Write the average-rate quotient separately for \([3-h,3]\) and \([3,3+h]\).
Solution
1. Equal endpoint heights on a symmetric interval make the net height change zero, but they do not make the height constant throughout the interval.
2. A centered average rate uses values on both sides at once. Its convergence does not by itself show that the left-hand and right-hand average rates approach the same value.
3. Since \(H(3)=40\) and \(H(3-h)=40-5h^2\), the average rate on \([3-h,3]\) is \(\frac{40-(40-5h^2)}{h}=5h\,\text{ft/s}\).
4. Since \(H(3+h)=40-5h^2\), the average rate on \([3,3+h]\) is \(\frac{(40-5h^2)-40}{h}=-5h\,\text{ft/s}\).
5. As \(h\to0^+\), both one-sided average rates approach \(0\,\text{ft/s}\). Therefore the instantaneous vertical rate at \(t=3\) is \(0\,\text{ft/s}\).
Answer
a) Zero net height change over a symmetric interval does not mean the height is constant inside that interval.
b) The symmetric averages alone do not establish matching left-hand and right-hand instantaneous rates.
c) Left-side average rate: \(5h\,\text{ft/s}\). Right-side average rate: \(-5h\,\text{ft/s}\). Both approach \(0\,\text{ft/s}\), so the instantaneous vertical rate at \(t=3\) is \(0\,\text{ft/s}\).