
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
8th Edition
ISBN: 9781285741550
Author: James Stewart
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Transcribed Image Text:**Understanding the Safety in Vehicle Race Tracks: A Calculus Application**
**Graphs and Diagrams Analysis:**
- **Figure 3.21**
- **Part (a)**: This graph depicts the function \( f(x) = x^3 + 3x^2 + x \).
- The graph exhibits a cubic curve with several turning points, located on a standard Cartesian coordinate plane with x-axis ranging from -5 to 5 and y-axis ranging from -5 to 5.
- **Part (b)**: This graph represents the same cubic function, \( f(x) = x^3 + 3x^2 + x \), but includes additional elements.
- A visual representation of the grandstand is illustrated at the coordinates (-1.9, 2.8).
- This diagram particularly highlights the section of the racetrack near the point where the turning point of the function—the slope of the tangent line—is 1.
**Educational Problems and Questions:**
1. **Problem Statement**:
- Physicists have observed that drivers are most likely to lose control of their vehicles when navigating a turn, specifically at the juncture where the slope of the tangent line to the curve is 1. First, determine the \((x, y)\) coordinates of this key point on the racetrack.
2. **Equation of Tangent Line**:
- Derive the equation for the tangent line to the curve at the identified point.
3. **Spectator Safety Analysis**:
- Assess whether the spectators, located at \((x,y) = (-1.9, 2.8)\), are in a potential danger zone. Determine this by finding the x-coordinate where the tangent line intersects \(y = 2.8\) and decide if this point is safely positioned relative to the grandstand.
4. **Additional Safety Scenario**:
- Consider an alternative scenario where a driver loses control earlier than anticipated, at the coordinates \((-2.5, 0.625)\). Calculate the slope of the tangent line at this point.
5. **Safety Confirmation**:
- Based on the tangent line slope derived in part 4, analyze whether the spectators remain safe in this scenario.
6. **Final Decision Making**:
- Conclude if the current grandstand placement is adequate for ensuring spectator safety, or if a redesign or relocation is warranted based on the mathematical insights gained
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