How Much Air Escapes an Air Mattress in 30 Seconds?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the volume of air released from an air mattress over a specified time period, given a rate of air escape modeled by an exponential function. The subject area pertains to calculus, specifically integration and the evaluation of definite integrals.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the integration of the function representing the rate of air escape and question the correctness of the antiderivative used. There is also confusion regarding the units of the final answer, with some participants suggesting that the answer should not be in cubic feet per second.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants examining the calculations and interpretations of the problem. Some have pointed out potential errors in the integration process and the interpretation of units, indicating a productive exploration of the problem's details.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the air mattress is fully inflated at the start and are considering the implications of the mathematical expressions used in their calculations. There is also a focus on ensuring that the units of measurement align with the physical context of the problem.

olicoh
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I already posted about this but I redid the problem and got another answer:

1. Homework Statement

The volume of an air mattress is 15 cubic feet. Air escapes at a rate of r(t)=0.25e^(−0.05t), where r is in cubic feet per second. Assuming the mattress is still completely inflated when the valve is opened, how much air is released in the first 30 seconds?


Homework Equations


Here is what I have so far:
V(30) = integral[0,30] (0.25e^(-0.05t))
= [-(1/2) (e^(-1/2t))]300



The Attempt at a Solution


= 0.499999847 cubic feet/sec


I think I did this correctly but the answer seems too small...
 
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olicoh said:
I already posted about this but I redid the problem and got another answer:

1. Homework Statement

The volume of an air mattress is 15 cubic feet. Air escapes at a rate of r(t)=0.25e^(−0.05t), where r is in cubic feet per second. Assuming the mattress is still completely inflated when the valve is opened, how much air is released in the first 30 seconds?


Homework Equations


Here is what I have so far:
V(30) = integral[0,30] (0.25e^(-0.05t))
= [-(1/2) (e^(-1/2t))]300


The Attempt at a Solution


= 0.499999847 cubic feet/sec


I think I did this correctly but the answer seems too small...

You have written e-.05t and worked the problem as though it was e-.5t. And when you are asked how much air has been released in 30 seconds, would you really give an answer in units of cubic ft / second?
 
You have written e-.05t and worked the problem as though it was e-.5t
What do you mean by that?

The antiderivative of (0.25e^(-0.05t)) = [-(1/2) (e^(-1/2t))] doesn't it?
 
LCKurtz said:
You have written e-.05t and worked the problem as though it was e-.5t. And when you are asked how much air has been released in 30 seconds, would you really give an answer in units of cubic ft / second?

olicoh said:
What do you mean by that?

The antiderivative of (0.25e^(-0.05t)) = [-(1/2) (e^(-1/2t))] doesn't it?

-.05 is not equal to -1/2.
 

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