Describing Graphs

course mth 163

I really dislike graphs. Though ironically I am still trying to figure out how to do one for my office for our representation of new customers, volume of sales needed to make goals, and such.

????????????E?Student Name: assignment #001

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????????y???Student Name:

assignment #002

002. Describing Graphs

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19:06:34

`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.

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.

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RESPONSE -->

When using the same concept of substitution you would get the x table:

3,2,1,0,-1,-2,-3

which would in turn make the y table = to:

5,2,-1,-4,-7,-10,-13

using the formula y= 3x - 4

I guess the points would be

3,5

2,2

1,-1

0,-4

-1,-7

-2,-10

-3,-13

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19:18:28

The graph goes through the x axis when y = 0 and through the y axis when x = 0.

The x-intercept is therefore when 0 = 3x - 4, so 4 = 3x and x = 4/3.

The y-intercept is when y = 3 * 0 - 4 = -4. Thus the x intercept is at (4/3, 0) and the y intercept is at (0, -4).

Your graph should confirm this.

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RESPONSE -->

I am not sure I completely get this.- I am still trying to figure out this graphing calculator the only time I have ever used one was in Statistics last semester.

I think I am understanding the y intercept, but not the x intercept. Do you have to use the same substitution for each x and y or do you only do one to solve for the other?

The x intercept occurs when y = 0, and the y intercept occurs when x = 0.

Note that you shouldn't be using the graphing feature of the calculator to answer these questions. One emphasis in this course is on analysis as a basis for obtaining graphs. The graphing calculator is appropriately used for validation after the analysis.

The key on this question is to understand how the numbers work to give us the shape of the graph.

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19:21:31

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

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RESPONSE -->

The graph I am showing does not change in steepness - It is 1 over and 3 up for each point.

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19:21:41

The graph forms a straight line with no change in steepness.

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RESPONSE -->

right

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19:22:55

`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)?

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RESPONSE -->

the function y=3x - 4 ; slope is rise 3/ run 1 between the points on the graph

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19:25:10

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.

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RESPONSE -->

okay so 3/1 rise/run is = 3

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19:31:24

`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?

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RESPONSE -->

For y= x^2

x y

0 0

1 1

2 4

3 9

I would say that the graph is increasing.

Yes the steepness changes - the higher the numbers the steeper it goes

I would say the graph is increasing at an increasing rate If the graph is viewed as time on the y axis and at a constant rate if the graph is viewed as time on the x axis. (using time as an example for rate)

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19:32:20

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.

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RESPONSE -->

ok

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19:38:07

`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?

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RESPONSE -->

For y=x^2

x y

-3 9

-2 4

-1 1

0 0

I would say that the graph is decreasing.

The steepness of the graph gets less steep as it approaches 0.

The graph would be decreasing at a decreasing rate.

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19:38:22

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.

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RESPONSE -->

ok

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19:42:30

`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?

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RESPONSE -->

For 'sqrt (x)

x y

3 1.73

2 1.41

1 1

0 0

I would say the graph is increasing.

The steepness of the graph lessens as it gets further away from 0 (it is steeper closer to 0)

The graph is increasing at a decreasing rate.

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19:43:05

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.

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RESPONSE -->

ok

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19:48:56

`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?

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RESPONSE -->

For y= 5 * 2^(-x)

x y

3 .498

2 1.353

1 3.679

0 10

I would say the graph is decreasing.

I would say the steepness is decreasing.

I would say the graph is decreasing at a decreasing rate.

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19:54:43

** 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. **

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RESPONSE -->

I forgot all about that. (a^(-b) = 1 / (a^b)) :

I'll put that in my notes

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19:56:22

`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?

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RESPONSE -->

I would say the graph is increasing.

It is increasing at an increasing rate. according to the phrase faster and faster.

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19:56:32

** 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. **

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RESPONSE -->

ok

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Be sure to see my note on the first problem, and remember the definition of negative exponents; otherwise your work looks great. You might not like graphs but you did very well with most of these questions.