Assignment 2

course Phy 121

MˆКڤFyϒassignment #002

002. Describing Graphs

qa initial problems

09-03-2008

......!!!!!!!!...................................

19:42:26

`q001. You will frequently need to describe the graphs you have constructed in this course. This exercise is designed to get you used to some of the terminology we use to describe graphs. Please complete this exercise and email your work to the instructor. Note that you should do these graphs on paper without using a calculator. None of the arithmetic involved here should require a calculator, and you should not require the graphing capabilities of your calculator to answer these questions.

Problem 1. We make a table for y = 2x + 7 as follows: We construct two columns, and label the first column 'x' and the second 'y'. Put the numbers -3, -2, -1, -, 1, 2, 3 in the 'x' column. We substitute -3 into the expression and get y = 2(-3) + 7 = 1. We substitute -2 and get y = 2(-2) + 7 = 3. Substituting the remaining numbers we get y values 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13. These numbers go into the second column, each next to the x value from which it was obtained. We then graph these points on a set of x-y coordinate axes. Noting that these points lie on a straight line, we then construct the line through the points.

Now make a table for and graph the function y = 3x - 4.

Identify the intercepts of the graph, i.e., the points where the graph goes through the x and the y axes.

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

The graph forms an ascending line with the x and y intercepts of x= -4 and y= 1

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

19:56:39

`q002. Does the steepness of the graph in the preceding exercise (of the function y = 3x - 4) change? If so describe how it changes.

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

I realize the mistakes I made now. for one thing my graph wasn't drawn using a ruler so it didn't look accurate enough to tell that the line crossed the x axis at 4/3 instead of 1. I also had forgot how to write x and y intercepts which posed a slight complication to this problem. I think I have it now.

q002. No the slope of the function y= 3x-4 remains the same.

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

19:59:15

`q003. What is the slope of the graph of the preceding two exercises (the function ia y = 3x - 4;slope is rise / run between two points of the graph)?

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

the slope of the funtion y = 3x-4 is 3/1.

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:02:26

Between any two points of the graph rise / run = 3.

For example, when x = 2 we have y = 3 * 2 - 4 = 2 and when x = 8 we have y = 3 * 8 - 4 = 20. Between these points the rise is 20 - 2 = 18 and the run is 8 - 2 = 6 so the slope is rise / run = 18 / 6 = 3.

Note that 3 is the coefficient of x in y = 3x - 4.

Note the following for reference in subsequent problems: The graph of this function is a straight line. The graph increases as we move from left to right. We therefore say that the graph is increasing, and that it is increasing at constant rate because the steepness of a straight line doesn't change.

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

I got the correct answer allthough I simply did this by counting up 3 and over 1 instead of pluging in numbers, due to the small numbers we were dealing with.

self critique assessment: 2

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:09:15

`q004. Make a table of y vs. x for y = x^2. Graph y = x^2 between x = 0 and x = 3.

Would you say that the graph is increasing or decreasing?

Does the steepness of the graph change and if so, how?

Would you say that the graph is increasing at an increasing rate, increasing at a constant rate, increasing at a decreasing rate, decreasing at an decreasing rate, decreasing at a constant rate, or decreasing at a decreasing rate?

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

The graph is increasing. it gets steeper as it increases. it is increasing at an increasing rate

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:12:05

Graph points include (0,0), (1,1), (2,4) and (3,9). The y values are 0, 1, 4 and 9, which increase as we move from left to right.

The increases between these points are 1, 3 and 5, so the graph not only increases, it increases at an increasing rate

STUDENT QUESTION: I understand increasing...im just not sure at what rate...how do you determine increasing at an increasing rate or a constant rate?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: Does the y value increase by the same amount, by a greater amount or by a lesser amount every time x increases by 1?

In this case the increases get greater and greater. So the graph increases, and at an increasing rate. *&*&.

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

I understand the graphing, increasing, steepness, slope etc. but I'm still having a hard time completely answering the questions the way you want us to.

self critique assessment: 2

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:18:36

`q005. Make a table of y vs. x for y = x^2. Graph y = x^2 between x = -3 and x = 0.

Would you say that the graph is increasing or decreasing?

Does the steepness of the graph change and if so, how?

Would you say that the graph is increasing at an increasing rate, increasing at a constant rate, increasing at a decreasing rate, decreasing at an decreasing rate, decreasing at a constant rate, or decreasing at a decreasing rate?

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

the points are (-3,9),(-2,4),(-1,1),(0,0). so the graph is decreasing.

The steepness of the graph changes by decreasing at a decreasing rate.

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:19:17

From left to right the graph is decreasing (points (-3,9), (-2,4), (-1,1), (0,0) show y values 9, 4, 1, 0 as we move from left to right ). The magnitudes of the changes in x from 9 to 4 to 1 to 0 decrease, so the steepness is decreasing.

Thus the graph is decreasing, but more and more slowly. We therefore say that the graph is decreasing at a decreasing rate.

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

OK

self critique assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:27:55

`q006. Make a table of y vs. x for y = `sqrt(x). [note: `sqrt(x) means 'the square root of x']. Graph y = `sqrt(x) between x = 0 and x = 3.

Would you say that the graph is increasing or decreasing?

Does the steepness of the graph change and if so, how?

Would you say that the graph is increasing at an increasing rate, increasing at a constant rate, increasing at a decreasing rate, decreasing at an decreasing rate, decreasing at a constant rate, or decreasing at a decreasing rate?

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

The points are (0,0),(1,1),(2,1.41),(3,1.73) after rounding the y points to the nearest hundreths place. therefore the graph is increasing.

the steepness of the graph is also decreasing.

and decreasing at a decreasing rate.

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:29:56

If you use x values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 you will obtain graph points (0,0), (1,1), (2,1.414), (3. 1.732), (4,2). The y value changes by less and less for every succeeding x value. Thus the steepness of the graph is decreasing.

The graph would be increasing at a decreasing rate.

If the graph respresents the profile of a hill, the hill starts out very steep but gets easier and easier to climb. You are still climbing but you go up by less with each step, so the rate of increase is decreasing.

If your graph doesn't look like this then you probably are not using a consistent scale for at least one of the axes. If your graph isn't as desribed take another look at your plot and make a note in your response indicating any difficulties.

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

my graph shows that I knew what I was doing and so did my points but I accidentaly sayed decreasing at a decreasing rate I think.

self critique assessment: 2

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:35:47

`q007. Make a table of y vs. x for y = 5 * 2^(-x). Graph y = 5 * 2^(-x) between x = 0 and x = 3.

Would you say that the graph is increasing or decreasing?

Does the steepness of the graph change and if so, how?

Would you say that the graph is increasing at an increasing rate, increasing at a constant rate, increasing at a decreasing rate, decreasing at an decreasing rate, decreasing at a constant rate, or decreasing at a decreasing rate?

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

the points are(0,5),(1,2.5),(2,1.25),(3,0.625) so you would say that the graph is decreasing.

The steepness of the graph is also decreasing.

it is decreasing at a decreasing rate.

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:38:04

** From basic algebra recall that a^(-b) = 1 / (a^b).

So, for example:

2^-2 = 1 / (2^2) = 1/4, so 5 * 2^-2 = 5 * 1/4 = 5/4.

5* 2^-3 = 5 * (1 / 2^3) = 5 * 1/8 = 5/8. Etc.

The decimal equivalents of the values for x = 0 to x = 3 will be 5, 2.5, 1.25, .625. These values decrease, but by less and less each time.

The graph is therefore decreasing at a decreasing rate. **

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

I hope I didn't need to write all that. I didn't write the basic algebra steps did I need to?

self critique assessment: 2

You certainly need to understand them, and your decimal answer seems to indicate that the use of a calculator rather than the definition of the negative exponent. However it's also perfectly possible that you know these decimal equivalents and simply chose to use them.

The main point of my comment is that you should understand the definition of the negative exponent and should be able to get these straightforward results without the use of a calculator. Of course when the numbers are more complicated the calculator becomes necessary in order to evaluate the function.

In any case the main focus of this problem is the use of the terminology, and you used the terminology correctly.

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:43:02

`q008. Suppose you stand still in front of a driveway. A car starts out next to you and moves away from you, traveling faster and faster.

If y represents the distance from you to the car and t represents the time in seconds since the car started out, would a graph of y vs. t be increasing or decreasing?

Would you say that the graph is increasing at an increasing rate, increasing at a constant rate, increasing at a decreasing rate, decreasing at an decreasing rate, decreasing at a constant rate, or decreasing at a decreasing rate?

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

the graph would be increasing because the car is moving away from you and more and more time is passing so both numbers are increasing.

and since the speed is also increasing you would say that the graph is increasing at an increasing rate because the faster the car the more the distance but the same amount of time is elapsing

confidence assessment: 3

.................................................

......!!!!!!!!...................................

20:43:29

** The speed of the car increases so it goes further each second. On a graph of distance vs. clock time there would be a greater change in distance with each second, which would cause a greater slope with each subsequent second. The graph would therefore be increasing at an increasing rate. **

......!!!!!!!!...................................

RESPONSE -->

ok

self critique assessment: 3

.................................................

&#This looks good. See my notes. Let me know if you have any questions. &#