Calculating Total Distance Traveled: A Particle's Displacement Equation

[jack911]

1. Homework Statement
the following is a equation to find the displacement of a particle. I've found it is instantaneous at rest at t=5. now need to find the distance traveled between 0 to 10s.

i found distance traveling between 0 to 5 s is 7.5

and between 5s to 10s is 32.5...so how come total distance is 32.5 instead of 32.5+7.5=40m?

2. Homework Equations

s=0.7t^2-0.1t^3+0.5t

3. The Attempt at a Solution

32.5m

 

[LCKurtz]

Your calculation of 40 is correct for total distance covered. Are you sure you have stated the problem correctly? Sometimes such problems are worded in such a way that the answer is the change in displacement, which in this case would be -24.5 - .5 = -25. Are you sure it didn't ask for how far did it travel after it momentarily stopped?