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What does it mean if we designate the backward direction as negative (-) and the change in velocity is positive (+)?

User Bokov
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Final answer:

The designation of the backward direction as negative(-) and the change in velocity as positive(+) means that acceleration is to the left. This is reasonable because the object initially has a positive velocity and a negative acceleration opposes the motion. This acceleration is called deceleration as it has a direction opposite to the velocity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The minus sign indicates that acceleration is to the left. The designation of the backward direction as negative(-) and the change in velocity as positive(+) means that acceleration is to the left. This is reasonable because the object initially has a positive velocity and a negative acceleration opposes the motion. This acceleration is called deceleration as it has a direction opposite to the velocity.

This sign is reasonable because the object initially has a positive velocity in this problem, and a negative acceleration would oppose the motion. Again, acceleration is in the same direction as the change in velocity, which is negative here. This acceleration can be called a deceleration because it has a direction opposite to the velocity.

User Arti
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