where X is distance, V0 is initial velocity, T is time, and A
is acceleration. This is actually two equations, Y = X and Y = V0 T + (AT 2) / 2.
Since this equation is quadratic for T, there can be both a positive and a negative solution. However, we are concerned only with positive solutions, since only positive distance makes sense.
1.Select the Solve aplet and enter the equation.
Select Solve 
X 
V 
T 
A
T 
2 
2.Find the solution for T (time) when X=30, V=2, and A=4. Enter the values for X, V, and A; then highlight the independent variable, T.
30
2
4
to highlight T
3.Use the Plot view to find an initial guess for T. First set
appropriate X and Y ranges in the Plot Setup. With equation X = V x T + A x T 2 /2, the plot will produce
two graphs: one for Y = X and one for
X = V x T + A x T 2 /2. Since we have set X = 30 in this example, one of the graphs will be Y = 30 . Therefore, make the YRNG
5 
35
4.Plot the graph.
Solve aplet |