Home / AP Calculus BC 8.3 Using Accumulation Functions and Definite Integrals in Applied Contexts – FRQs

AP Calculus BC 8.3 Using Accumulation Functions and Definite Integrals in Applied Contexts - FRQs - Exam Style Questions

Calc-Ok Question

An invasive species of plant appears in a fruit grove at time \(t=0\) and begins to spread. The number of acres affected \(t\) weeks after the species appears is modeled by \(C(t)=7.6\arctan(0.2t)\). It can be shown that \(C'(t)=\dfrac{38}{25+t^2}\).
(A) Find the average number of acres affected from \(t=0\) to \(t=4\) weeks. Show the setup.
(B) Find the time \(t\) when the instantaneous rate of change of \(C\) equals the average rate of change of \(C\) on \(0\le t\le 4\). Show the setup.
(C) Assuming the model continues for all \(t>0\), write a limit expression that describes the end behavior of the rate of change in acres, and evaluate it.
(D) At \(t=4\) weeks, measures are taken to counter the spread. Let \(A(t)=C(t)-\displaystyle\int_{4}^{t}0.1\ln(x)\,dx\) model the acres affected for \(4\le t\le 36\). For what \(t\) does \(A\) attain its maximum? Justify.
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Solutions

(A) Average value
\[ \text{Average}=\frac{1}{4}\int_{0}^{4} C(t)\,dt =\frac{1}{4}\int_{0}^{4} 7.6\arctan(0.2t)\,dt \approx \boxed{2.778\ \text{acres}}. \] (Calculator.)

(B) Instantaneous rate = average rate
Average rate on \([0,4]\): \(\dfrac{C(4)-C(0)}{4}=\dfrac{C(4)}{4}\) with \(C(4)=7.6\arctan(0.8)\). Solve \[ C'(t)=\frac{C(4)}{4}\quad\Rightarrow\quad \frac{38}{25+t^2}=\frac{7.6\arctan(0.8)}{4}. \] Numerical solution on \([0,4]\): \(\boxed{t\approx 2.154\ \text{weeks}}\).

(C) End behavior
\[ \lim_{t\to\infty} C'(t)=\lim_{t\to\infty}\frac{38}{25+t^2}=\boxed{0}. \] The growth rate tends to zero.

(D) Maximizing \(A\) on \([4,36]\)
\(A'(t)=C'(t)-0.1\ln t\). Critical points solve \(\dfrac{38}{25+t^2}=0.1\ln t\). Numerical root: \(\boxed{t\approx 11.442}\). Since \(A'(t)\) changes from \(+\) to \(−\) there (and endpoints give smaller values), \(A\) attains its maximum at \(t\approx 11.442\) weeks.

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