Suppose you park your car at a trailhead in a national park and begin a 2-hr hike to a lake at 7 A.M​​. on a Friday morning. On Sunday morning, you leave the lake at 7 A.M. and start the 2-hr hike back to your car. Assume the lake is 3 mi from your car. Let f(t) be your distance from the car t hours after 7 a.m. on Friday morning, and let g(t) be your distance from the car t hours after 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.


a. Evaluate f(0), f(2), g(0), and g(2).

Key Concepts

Function Evaluation

Function evaluation involves substituting a specific input value into a function to determine its output. In this context, f(t) and g(t) represent the distance from the car at different times, so evaluating f(0) and f(2) gives the distances at the start and end of the hike to the lake, while g(0) and g(2) provide the distances at the start and end of the return hike.

Piecewise Functions

Piecewise functions are defined by different expressions based on the input value. In this scenario, f(t) and g(t) can be considered piecewise because they describe different segments of the journey: f(t) for the hike to the lake and g(t) for the return trip. Understanding how to interpret these functions is crucial for evaluating them correctly.

Distance and Time Relationship

The relationship between distance and time is fundamental in calculus, particularly in motion problems. Here, the distance from the car changes over time as the hiker moves towards the lake and back. Recognizing that the total distance is constant (3 miles) and how it is divided over the two hikes helps in understanding the function's behavior and evaluating it accurately.