9.6 Solving Motion Problems Using Parametric and Vector-Valued Functions
1 min readβ’october 19, 2021
Sumi Vora
AP Calculus AB/BCΒ βΎοΈ
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Β Motion Problems
Remember from previous units that if we take the integral of the speed (the absolute value of velocity), we can find the distance traveled (imagine adding up all of the tiny instantaneous distances to find a total distance).Β
This same concept applies in parametric equations, but since velocity is expressed as a vector, we need to take the integral of the magnitude of velocity. (In vector-valued functions, the magnitude is equivalent to the distance formula, which is essentially taking the absolute value of the vector.)Β