rates 

#$&*

course Phy 121

6/6 around 5:00

documentshort description of contentwhat you'll know when you're doneRatesintroduces the key concept of rate of changethe meaning of average rate of change and how it might be applied

Copy and paste this document into a text editor, insert your responses and submit using the Submit_Work_Form.

If your solution to stated problem does not match the given solution, you should self-critique per instructions at

http://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/geninfo/labrynth_created_fall_05/levl1_22/levl2_81/file3_259.htm

.

Your solution, attempt at solution. If you are unable to attempt a solution, give a phrase-by-phrase interpretation of the problem along with a statement of what you do or do not understand about it. This response should be given, based on the work you did in completing the assignment, before you look at the given solution.

001. Rates

Note that there are 10 questions in this assignment. The questions are of increasing difficulty--the first questions are fairly easy but later questions are very tricky. The main purposes of these exercises are to refine your thinking about rates, and to see how you process challenging information. Most students in most courses would not be expected to answer all these questions correctly; all that's required is that you do your best and follows the recommended procedures for answering and self-critiquing your work.

*********************************************

Question: If you make $50 in 5 hr, then at what rate are you earning money?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

The rate at which you are earning money is $10 per hour because 50/5=10. The rate for this particular problem is the amount of money you earn per hour you work.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

The rate at which you are earning money is the number of dollars per hour you are earning. You are earning money at the rate of 50 dollars / (5 hours) = 10 dollars / hour. It is very likely that you immediately came up with the $10 / hour becausealmosteveryone is familiar with the concept of the pay rate, the number of dollars per hour. Note carefully that the pay rate is found by dividing the quantity earned by the time required to earn it. Time rates in general are found by dividing an accumulated quantity by the time required to accumulate it.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

*********************************************

Question: `q003.If you make $60,000 per year then how much do you make per month?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

You are making $5,000 per month because $60,000/12months=$5,000/1month.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

Most people will very quickly see that we need to divide $60,000 by 12 months, giving us 60,000 dollars / (12 months) = 5000 dollars / month. Note that again we have found a time rate, dividing the accumulated quantity by the time required to accumulate it.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

*********************************************

Question: `q004. Suppose that the $60,000 is made in a year by a small business. Would be more appropriate to say that the business makes $5000 per month, or that the business makes an average of $5000 per month?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

It would be more appropriate to say that the business makes $5000 per month because it is not guaranteed to make that much, nor is there anything that states that it can’t make more per month during the booming season.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

Small businesses do not usually make the same amount of money every month. The amount made depends on the demand for the services or commodities provided by the business, and there are often seasonal fluctuations in addition to other market fluctuations. It is almost certain that a small business making $60,000 per year will make more than $5000 in some months and less than $5000 in others. Therefore it is much more appropriate to say that the business makes and average of $5000 per month.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

*********************************************

Question: `q005. If you travel 300 miles in 6 hours, at what average rate are you covering distance, and why do we say average rate instead of just plain rate?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

You are travelling at an average rate of 50 miles per hour because 100/6=50. We say that this is an average rate because road conditions are not always the same and the speed you go on each road could change due to the speed limit changes.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

The average rate is 50 miles per hour, or 50 miles / hour. This is obtained by dividing the accumulated quantity, the 300 miles, by the time required to accumulate it, obtaining ave rate = 300 miles / ( 6 hours) = 50 miles / hour. Note that the rate at which distance is covered is called speed. The car has an average speed of 50 miles/hour. We say 'average rate' in this case because it is almost certain that slight changes in pressure on the accelerator, traffic conditions and other factors ensure that the speed will sometimes be greater than 50 miles/hour and sometimes less than 50 miles/hour; the 50 miles/hour we obtain from the given information is clearly and overall average of the velocities.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

*********************************************

Question: `q006. If you use 60 gallons of gasoline on a 1200 mile trip, then at what average rate are you using gasoline, with respect to miles traveled?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

The average rate you are using gasoline in respect to miles is .05 gallons per mile travel because 60/1200=.05. The reason we divide gallons of gas by miles is because we were instructed to fid the average rate with respect to miles.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

The rate of change of one quantity with respect to another is the change in the first quantity, divided by the change in the second.As in previous examples, we found the rate at which money was made with respect to time by dividing the amount of money made by the time required to make it.

By analogy, the rate at which we use fuel with respect to miles traveled is the change in the amount of fuel divided by the number of miles traveled. In this case we use 60 gallons of fuel in 1200 miles, so the average rate it 60 gal / (1200 miles) = .05 gallons / mile.

Note that this question didn't ask for miles per gallon. Miles per gallon is an appropriate and common calculation, but it measures the rate at which miles are covered with respect to the amount of fuel used. Be sure you see the difference.

Note that in this problem we again have here an example of a rate, but unlike previous instances this rate is not calculated with respect to time. This rate is calculated with respect to the amount of fuel used. We divide the accumulated quantity, in this case miles, by the amount of fuel required to cover t miles. Note that again we call the result of this problem an average rate because there are always at least subtle differences in driving conditions that result in more or fewer miles covered with a certain amount of fuel.

It's very important to understand the phrase 'with respect to'. Whether the calculation makes sense or not, it is defined by the order of the terms.

In this case gallons / mile tells you how many gallons you are burning, on the average, per mile. This concept is not as familiar as miles / gallon, but except for familiarity it's technically no more difficult.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

STUDENT COMMENT

Very Tricky! I thought I had a rhythm going. I understand where I messed up. I am comfortable with the calculations.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

There's nothing wrong with your rhythm.

As I'm sure you understand, there is no intent here to trick, though I know most people will (and do) tend to give the answer you did.

My intent is to make clear the important point that the definition of the terms is unambiguous and must be read carefully, in the right order.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

*********************************************

Question: `q007. The word 'average' generally connotes something like adding two quantities and dividing by 2, or adding several quantities and dividing by the number of quantities we added. Why is it that we are calculating average rates but we aren't adding anything?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

We calculate average rates because what we are trying to calculate can be manipulated by a multitude of things. For example the car above that travelled 1 mile on .05 gallons. This car could have been in traffic which required more gas than simply setting a cruise control on the interstate. We do not know these variables, so we simply calculate the average rates.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

The word 'average' in the context of the dollars / month, miles / gallon types of questions we have been answering was used because we expect that in different months different amounts were earned, or that over different parts of the trip the gas mileage might have varied, but that if we knew all the individual quantities (e.g., the dollars earned each month, the number of gallons used with each mile) and averaged them in the usual manner, we would get the .05 gallons / mile, or the $5000 / month. In a sense we have already added up all the dollars earned in each month, or the miles traveled on each gallon, and we have obtained the total $60,000 or 1200 miles. Thus when we divide by the number of months or the number of gallons, we are in fact calculating an average rate.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): I understand now. Even though we do not realize it, the numbers that we have been given are in an essence the second step of finding the average of anything.

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `q008. In a study of how lifting strength is influenced by various ways of training, a study group was divided into 2 subgroups of equally matched individuals. The first group did 10 pushups per day for a year and the second group did 50 pushups per day for year. At the end of the year to lifting strength of the first group averaged 147 pounds, while that of the second group averaged 162 pounds. At what average rate did lifting strength increase per daily pushup?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

The average rate of lifting strength was .375 pounds per one pushup. This is because the difference in the two sets of pushups is 15 the difference between the 2 sets of pushups is 40, thus resulting in 15/40=.375.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

The second group had 15 pounds more lifting strength as a result of doing 40 more daily pushups than the first. The desired rate is therefore 15 pounds / 40 pushups = .375 pounds / pushup.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

STUDENT COMMENT:

I have a question with respect as to how the question is interpreted. I used the interpretation given in the solution

to question 008 to rephrase the question in 009, but I do not see how this is the correct interpretation of the question as

stated.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE:

This exercise is designed to both see what you understand about rates, and to challenge your understanding a bit with concepts that aren't always familiar to students, despite their having completed the necessary prerequisite courses.

The meaning of the rate of change of one quantity with respect to another is of central importance in the application of mathematics. This might well be your first encounter with this particular phrasing, so it might well be unfamiliar to you, but it is important, unambiguous and universal.

You've taken the first step, which is to correctly apply the wordking of the preceding example to the present question.

You'll have ample opportunity in your course to get used to this terminology, and plenty of reinforcement.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating:OK

*********************************************

Question: `q009. In another part of the study, participants all did 30 pushups per day, but one group did pushups with a 10-pound weight on their shoulders while the other used a 30-pound weight. At the end of the study, the first group had an average lifting strength of 171 pounds, while the second had an average lifting strength of 188 pounds. At what average rate did lifting strength increase with respect to the added shoulder weight?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

The average rate of lifting strength was .85 pounds for each pound placed on their shoulder. This is because the difference in average lifting strengths is 17 and the difference in the weights placed on the shoulders is 20 pounds, thus 17/20=.85.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

The difference in lifting strength was 17 pounds, as a result of a 20 pound difference in added weight. The average rate at which strength increases with respect added weight would therefore be 17 lifting pounds / (20 added pounds) = .85 lifting pounds / added pound. The strength advantage was .85 lifting pounds per pound of added weight, on the average.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating:OK

*********************************************

Question: `q010. During a race, a runner passes the 100-meter mark 12 seconds after the start and the 200-meter mark 22 seconds after the start. At what average rate was the runner covering distance between those two positions?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

The average rate was 10 meters in 1 second between these two marks because he travelled 100 meters in 10 seconds which is 100/10=1. This is just an average because the runners pace will change as he runs.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

The runner traveled 100 meters between the two positions, and required 10 seconds to do so. The average rate at which the runner was covering distance was therefore 100 meters / (10 seconds) = 10 meters / second. Again this is an average rate; at different positions in his stride the runner would clearly be traveling at slightly different speeds.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

STUDENT QUESTION

Is there a formula for this is it d= r*t or distance equal rate times time??????????????????

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

That formula would apply in this specific situation.

The goal is to learn to use the general concept of rate of change. The situation of this problem, and the formula you quote, are just one instance of a general concept that applies far beyond the context of distance and time.

It's fine if the formula helps you understand the general concept of rate. Just be sure you work to understand the broader concept.

Note also that we try to avoid using d for the name of a variable. The letter d will come to have a specific meaning in the context of rates, and to use d as the name of a variable invite confusion.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

*********************************************

Question: `q011. During a race, a runner passes the 100-meter mark moving at 10 meters / second, and the 200-meter mark moving at 9 meters / second. What is your best estimate of how long it takes the runner to cover the intervening 100 meter distance?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

My estimate is that the runner would take 10.5 seconds to finish the next 100 meters. I came to this conclusion by averaging the rates (9+10)/2=9.5 m/s to find that he travelled at an average speed of 9.5 m/s. I then took 100 meters/(9.5m/s)=10.5 seconds approximately to finish the last. 100 meters.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

At 10 meters/sec, the runner would require 10 seconds to travel 100 meters. However the runner seems to be slowing, and will therefore require more than 10 seconds to travel the 100 meters. We don't know what the runner's average speed is, we only know that it goes from 10 m/s to 9 m/s. The simplest estimate we could make would be that the average speed is the average of 10 m/s and 9 m/s, or (10 m/s + 9 m/s ) / 2 = 9.5 m/s.Taking this approximation as the average rate, the time required to travel 100 meters will be (100 meters) / (9.5 m/s) = 10.5 sec,approx.. Note that simply averaging the 10 m/s and the 9 m/s might not be the best way to approximate the average rate--for example we if we knew enough about the situation we might expect that this runner would maintain the 10 m/s for most of the remaining 100 meters, and simply tire during the last few seconds. However we were not given this information, and we don't add extraneous assumptions without good cause. So the approximation we used here is pretty close to the best we can do with the given information.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

*********************************************

Question: `q012. We just averaged two quantities, adding them and dividing by 2, to find an average rate. We didn't do that before. Why we do it now?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

We did this because in the previous problems we were already given the needed averages, in the above problem we were given the needed information to find the averages. The above problem gave us rates in the previous problems we were given quantities.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Given Solution:

In previous examples the quantities weren't rates. We were given the amount of change of some accumulating quantity, and the change in time or in some other quantity on which the first was dependent (e.g., dollars and months, miles and gallons).Here we are given 2 rates, 10 m/s and 9 m/s, in a situation where we need an average rate in order to answer a question.Within this context, averaging the 2 rates was an appropriate tactic.

You need to make note of anything in the given solution that you didn't understand when you solved the problem. If new ideas have been introduced in the solution, you need to note them. If you notice an error in your own thinking then you need to note that. In your own words, explain anything you didn't already understand and save your response as Notes.

STUDENT QUESTION:

I thought the change of an accumulating quantity was the rate?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE:

Quick response: The rate is not just the change in the accumulating quantity; if we're talking about a 'time rate' it's the change in the accumulating quantity divided by the time interval (or in calculus the limiting value of this ratio as the time interval approaches zero).

More detailed response: If quantity A changes with respect to quantity B, then the average rate of change of A with respect to B (i.e., change in A / change in B) is 'the rate'. If the B quantity is clock time, then 'the rate' tells you 'how fast' the A quantity accumulates. However the rate is not just the change in the quantity A (i.e., the change in the accumulating quantity), but change in A / change in B.

For students having had at least a semester of calculus at some level: Of course the above generalizes into the definition of the derivative. y ' (x) is the instantaneous rate at which the y quantity changes with respect to x. y ' (x) is the rate at which y accumulates with respect to x.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating:OK

*********************************************

Question: `q013. The volume of water in a container increases from 1400 cm^3 to 1600 cm^3 as the depth of the water in the container changes from 10 cm to 14 cm. At what average rate was the volume changing with respect to depth?

Optional question: What does this rate tell us about the container?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

-The average rate with respect to depth would be 50 cm^3 per cm. I came to this conclusion because the difference in the volume is 200 cm^3 and the difference in depths is 4cm. I then took 200/4=50 to find the average rate.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*********************************************

Question: `q014. An athlete's rate of doing work increases more or less steadily from 340 Joules / second to 420 Joules / second during a 6-minute event. How many Joules of work did she do during this time?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

The athlete did approximately 136800 joules of work during this time. I found this by averaging the two joules/seconds ratios given 340+420=760/2=380. I then found that there are 360 seconds in 6 minutes because 6*60=360. Given this information I multiplied 380 and 360 to be 136800 joules in 6 minutes.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: OK

"

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

"

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

#*&!

&#Your work looks very good. Let me know if you have any questions. &#