Scribd
Upload
292 views16 pages

The Snowplow Problems

It began snowing steadily throughout the day. A snowplow cleared 2 miles between 9 AM and 11 AM and another mile between 11 AM and 1 PM. The document uses an equation to model the depth of snow over time. By setting up and solving equations based on the snowplow's progress, the solution is that it must have started snowing 3 hours before the snowplow began working at 9 AM.

Uploaded by

ElvisChristian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
292 views16 pages

The Snowplow Problems

It began snowing steadily throughout the day. A snowplow cleared 2 miles between 9 AM and 11 AM and another mile between 11 AM and 1 PM. The document uses an equation to model the depth of snow over time. By setting up and solving equations based on the snowplow's progress, the solution is that it must have started snowing 3 hours before the snowplow began working at 9 AM.

Uploaded by

ElvisChristian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

SNOWplow

the

PROBLEM

TEAM

the

SNOWplow
TEXT

One morning it began to snow very hard and continued snowing steadily through the day.
A snowplow set out at 9:00 A.M. to clear the road, clearing 2 miles by 11:00 A.M. and an additional
mile by 01:00 P.M.
AT WHAT TIME DID IT START SNOWING ?I

the

SNOWplow

MODELLING

the

SNOWplow

It took 2 hours to clear 2 miles (from 9 to 11).


It took another 2 hours to clear 1 other mile (from
11-13)

the

SNOWplow

Let the depth of the snow at time t be represented by D(t) or


dD/dt = k
such that
D(t) = kt + C
Let n represent the amount of time before the snow plow got to work so that

D(-n) = k(-n) + C =0
-kn + C = 0
C = kn

the

SNOWplow

And the function for the depth of snow at time t, substituting, is

D(t) = kt + kn
D(t) = k(t + n)

the

SNOWplow

Now, the rate of the plow's work will be inversely proportional to the depth of the
snow:

the

SNOWplow

Now, the rate of the plow's work will be inversely proportional to the depth of the
snow:

the

SNOWplow

Solving for P(0) =0


P(0) = ln | 0 + n | + C =0
C = -ln |n|

the

SNOWplow

SOLVING

the

SNOWplow

for P(0) = 0... (time 0)


P(2) = ln( (2+n)/n) = 2 (time 1, at 11)
P(4) = ln ( (4+n)/n) = 2 (time 2, at 13)

the

SNOWplow

(ln( (2+n)/n))/2 = (ln( (4+n)/n))/2

2*(ln( (2+n)/n)) = 2* ln( (4+n)/n)


((2+n)/n)^2 = ((4+n)/n)^2
n^2 + (2+n)^2 = n^2 + (4+n)^2

the

SNOWplow

2n^2+4n+4=2n^2+8n+16

-4n-12 = 0
n = -3
SO the snow starts 3 hours before the snowplow
goes to work

the2
TEAM

SNOWplows
PROBLEM

the

SNOWplow
TEXT

One day it began snowing exactly at noon at a heavy and steady rate. A
snowplow left the garage at 1:00 P.M., and another one followed in its
tracks at 2:00 P.M.
AT WHAT TIME DID the second one crash into the first one ?I
Could the crash have been avoided by dispatching the second snowplow at 3:00 P.M. ?I

the

SNOWplow

2n^2+4n+4=2n^2+8n+16

-4n-12 = 0
n = -3
SO the snow starts 3 hours before the snowplow
goes to work

You might also like