Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Water flows into an empty tank at the rate litres per minute for , where is the time in minutes. The pump slows down steadily, and at the rate is zero and the pump stops. A computer keeps a log of the flow. The volume in litres of water in the tank at time is the area under the rate graph from to . This is the area function, so and . A technician wants three numbers. First, the total volume that enters the tank by the time the pump stops. Second, the time at which the tank holds exactly . Third, the volume in the tank at , which is the time when the rate has fallen to half of its starting value. Give the volumes in litres and the time in minutes.
If and is continuous on , then the signed area is . Where changes sign, split the interval and add the sizes to get the area.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. litres per minute and .
Plan. Find with an antiderivative, then answer the three questions.
Step 1. The volume formula. , because its derivative is and .
Step 2. Total volume. .
Step 3. The time for . Solve , which is . So . Only lies in .
Step 4. At . . At this time the rate is , which is half of .
Answer: , and .
Check. The rate is largest at the start, so most of the water arrives early. Half of the time, , brings , which is three quarters of .
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