Describing Graphs qa

course Mth 164

1/21 9 pm

If your solution to stated problem does not match the given solution, you should self-critique per instructions athttp://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/geninfo/labrynth_created_fall_05/levl1_22/levl2_81/file3_259.htm

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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.

002. Describing Graphs

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Question: `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.

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Your solution:

When I graphed the intercepts of the function y=3x-4 the intercepts of the graph where the points went through the x and y axes are (-3,-13), (-2,-10), (-1,-7), (0,-4), (1,-1), (2,2), and (3,5). When these points were connected by a staight line all the ordered pairs fell on the line makeing this a linear equation. To find the x-intercept I inserted 0 into the original equation y=3x-4 in place of the y and then solved; this gave me the x-intercept of (4/3,0). To find the y-intercept I inserted ) into the original equation y=3x-4 in place of the x and then solved; this gave me the y-intercept of (0,-4).

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aThe 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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique rating #$&*:

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Question: `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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Your solution:

No, the steepness of the graph in the preceding exercise does not change. It does not change because it is a straight line with the same interval between each point on the graph.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aThe graph forms a straight line with no change in steepness.

STUDENT COMMENT

Ok, I may not understand what exactly it meant by steepness, I was thinking since it was

increasing it would also be getting steeper?????

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

A graph can increase while getting steeper and steeper; or it can increase while getting less and less steep. Or it can increase with no change in steepness.

Analogies:

When you walk up a hill, typically as you approach the top the slope starts to level off--it gets less steep.

When you go up a ramp the steepness stays the same until you get to the end of the ramp.

When you start climbing a hill, typically it gets steeper for awhile, the stays at about a constant slope, then gets less steep toward the top.

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Question: `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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Your solution:

The slope of the function y=3x-4 is 3. I know this because slope=rise/run. In this function I can look at the graph and see that the rise is 3 and the run is 1. Therefore, 3/1=3, thus 3 is the slope of the function y=3x-4.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aBetween 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.

EXPANDED EXPLANATION

Any student who has completed Algebra I and Algebra II should be familiar with slope calculations. Most students are. However a number of students appear to be very fuzzy on the concept, and I suspect that not all prerequisite courses cover this concept adequately (though I am confident that it's done well at VHCC). Also a number of students haven't taken a math course in awhile, and might simply be a bit rusty with this idea. In any case the following expanded explanation might be helpful to some students:

Slope = rise / run.

The rise between two graph points is the change in the y coordinate. The run is the change in the x coordinate.

Our function is y = 3 x - 4.

When x = 2, we substitute 2 for x to get y = 3 * 2 - 4, which is equal to 2.

When x = 8, we substitute 8 for x to get y = 3 * 8 - 4, which is equal to 20.

The graph therefore contains the points (2, 2) and (8, 20).

You should have made a graph showing these points. If not you should do so now.

As you go from point to point your y coordinate goes from 2 to 20. So the 'rise' between the points is 20 - 2 = 18.

Your x coordinate goes from 2 to 8. So the 'run' between the points is 8 - 2 = 6.

The slope is rise / run = 18 / 6 = 3.

The numbers 2 and 8, which were used for the x values, were chosen arbitrarily. Any other two x values would have given you

different coordinates, likely with different rise and run. However whatever two x values you use, you will get the same slope. The slope of this graph is constant, and is equal to 3.

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Question: `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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Your solution:

When I evaluated the function y=x^2 for x values from 0 to 3 I found that the the points I graphed from my x y table were (0,0), (1,1), (2,4), and (3,9). The graph points increase from the (0,0) point left to right in an increasly steeper rate.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aGraph 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. *&*&.

STUDENT QUESTION: I am a little hazy on what the steepness is

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: The hill analogy I used above might be helpful.

Formally, steepness could be defined as the magnitude of the slope, i.e., the absolute value of the slope.

Two graphs with respective slopes 4 and -4 would be equally steep; both would have slope of magnitude 4. Both of these graphs would be steeper than, say a graph with slope 3 or -3.

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Question: `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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Your solution: When I evaluated the function y=x^2 for x values from -3 to 0 I found that the the points I graphed from my x y table were (-3,9), (-2,4), (-1,1), and (0,0). The graph points decrease from the (-3,9) point left to right in an decreasingly steep rate.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aFrom 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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Question: `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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Your solution: When I evaluated the function y='sqrt(x) for x values from 0 to 3 I found that the the points I graphed from my x y table were (0,0), (1,1), (2,1.414), and (3,1.732). The graph points increase from the (0,0) point left to right in an decreasingly steeper rate.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aIf 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 represents 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 described take another look at your plot and make a note in your response indicating any difficulties.

STUDENT QUESTION: I am still unsure why the steepness is decreasing, I see why going

from right to left, but the graph looks linear?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: The y value increases, but it changes by less and less for every succeeding x value. So the graph is increasing, but by less and less with each step. It's increasing but at a decreasing rate.

The graph does not look linear. If it does, then it's probably because your x and/or y axis is not scaled in equal increments.

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Question: `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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Your solution:When I evaluated the function y=5*2^(-x) for x values from 0 to 3 I found that the the points I graphed from my x y table were (0,5), (1,2.5), (2,1.25), and (3,.625). The graph points decrease from the (0,5) point left to right in an decreasingly steeper rate.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`a** 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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Question: `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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Your solution:If I graph an equation where t (time in seconds since a car started out) equals x variable and y (distance from me to the car) is the y variable and the scenerio is that I stood still in front of a driveway and a car starts out next to me and moves away from me traveling faster and faster I believe the graph would show that as time increased the distance would increase as well but at a greater interval than time. Therefore the graph would be increasing at an increasing rate.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`a** 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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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&#Good responses. Let me know if you have questions. &#