the position from its starting point of a small plane preparing for takeoff is given by x(t)= 1.43t^2 meters…

From the given problem, the position of the plane is at :
[tex]x(t)=1.43t^2[/tex]First step is to determine the velocity.
Velocity is the 1st derivative of the position.
Note that the general differentiation is :
[tex]d(ax^n)=n(ax^{n-1})[/tex]The velocity will be :
[tex]\begin{gathered} V(t)=dx(t) \\ V\mleft(t\mright)=2\mleft(1.43t\mright) \\ V(t)=2.86t \end{gathered}[/tex]Acceleration is the 1st derivative of the velocity.
So it follows that :
[tex]\begin{gathered} a(t)=dV(t) \\ a(t)=1(2.86)\text{ } \\ a(t)=2.86 \end{gathered}[/tex]Therefore, the answer is 2.86 m/s^2