Displacement of 1971 Dodge Challenger: 113m?

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To find the displacement of a 1971 Dodge Challenger accelerating at 2.7 m/s² for 3.2 seconds while achieving a final velocity of 112 km/h west, the equation d = v2t - 1/2at² is used. The calculated displacement is approximately 85.4 meters, but the homework indicates the correct answer is 113 meters. The discrepancy arises when considering the initial speed and acceleration; if the values are added instead of subtracted, the result aligns with the homework's answer. The discussion confirms that the car is speeding up due to the constant acceleration. Ultimately, the confusion highlights the importance of correctly applying the equations of motion.
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Homework Statement


"Find the displacement for a 1971 Dodge challenger that achieves a velocity of 112km/h [west], accelerating at 2.7m/s^2 [west] for 3.2 seconds."

v2 = final velocity
d = displacement
a = acceleration
t = time

Homework Equations


The equation I am given is this: d = v2t - 1/2at^2

The Attempt at a Solution


The answer I keep getting is approximately 85.4 but the homework is saying the answer is 113m [west].

This is how I am getting 85.4: d = 31 * 3.2 - 1/2 * 2.7 * 3.2^2
d = 99.2 - 13.8
d = 85.4

Coincidentally if you add instead of subtract both numbers, you get the 113m the question is saying the answer is. Am I right to assume that the homework sheet is incorrect?
 
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The dodge starts at 112kmph ... from the description, would you say the car is speeding up or slowing down?
Is your answer faster or slower than the starting speed?
 
Simon Bridge said:
The dodge starts at 112kmph ... from the description, would you say the car is speeding up or slowing down?
Is your answer faster or slower than the starting speed?
The car would be speeding up seeing as how their is a constant acceleration. So I would only assume you would end up faster than your starting speed
 
If the car was just going at a constant speed ... how far would it have gone?
Since the car is accelerating, would it go farther or not so far?
 
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