#$&* course Phy 201 Introductory Question-Answer (qa) SequenceThere are 12 questions in this document, along with some instructions.
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Given Solution: 8 dollars / hour means '8 dollars per hour', indicating that for every hour you work you earn 8 dollars. If you work for 4 hours, then if you earn 8 dollars for every one of those hours you earn 4 * 8 dollars = 32 dollars. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q002. If you work 12 hours and earn $168, then at what rate, in dollars / hour, were you making money? YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: $168/12 hours = $14/hour confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: $168 earned in 12 hours implies that $168 / 12 = $14 were made per hour, so the rate is $14 / hour. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q003. If you are earning 8 dollars / hour, how long will it take you to earn $72? The answer may well be obvious, but explain as best you can how you reasoned out your result. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: $72/x hours = 1 hour/$8 dollars cancel out, so you divide 72/8 to get 9 hours confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q004. Calculate (8 + 3) * 5 and 8 + 3 * 5, indicating the order of your steps. Explain, as best you can, the reasons for the difference in your results. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: (8+3)*5 = 11*5 = 55 8+3*5 = 8+15 = 23 Without the parenthesis, the order of operations calls to multiply 3*5 in the second problem before adding 8+3 as in the first problem. confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: (8 + 3) * 5 and 8 + 3 * 5 To evaluate (8 + 3) * 5, you will first do the calculation in parentheses. 8 + 3 = 11, so (8 + 3) * 5 = 11 * 5 = 55. To evaluate 8 + 3 * 5 you have to decide which operation to do first, 8 + 3 or 3 * 5. You should be familiar with the order of operations, which tells you that multiplication precedes addition. The first calculation to do is therefore 3 * 5, which is equal to 15. Thus 8 + 3 * 5 = 8 + 15 = 23 The results are different because the grouping in the first expression dictates that the addition be done first. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q005. Calculate (2^4) * 3 and 2^(4 * 3), indicating the order of your steps. Explain, as best you can, the reasons for the difference in your results. Note that the symbol '^' indicates raising to a power. For example, 4^3 means 4 raised to the third power, which is the same as 4 * 4 * 4 = 64. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: (2^4)*3 = 16*3 = 48 2^(4*3) = 2^12 = 4096 confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: To evaluate (2^4) * 3 we first evaluate the grouped expression 2^4, which is the fourth power of 2, equal to 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 = 16. So we have (2^4) * 3 = 16 * 3 = 48. To evaluate 2^(4 * 3) we first do the operation inside the parentheses, obtaining 4 * 3 = 12. We therefore get 2^(4 * 3) = 2^12 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 = 4096. It is easy to multiply by 2, and the powers of 2 are important, so it's appropriate to have asked you to do this problem without using a calculator. Had the exponent been much higher, or had the calculation been, say, 3^12, the calculation would have become tedious and error-prone, and the calculator would have been recommended. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ********************************************* Question: `q006. Calculate 3 * 5 - 4 * 3 ^ 2 and 3 * 5 - (4 * 3)^2 according to the standard order of operations, indicating the order of your steps. Explain, as best you can, the reasons for the difference in your results. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: 3*5 - 4*3^2 = 3*5 - 4 * 9 = 15-36 = -21 3*5 - (4*3)^2 = 3*5 - 12^2 = 15-144 = -129 confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: To calculate 3 * 5 - 4 * 3 ^ 2, the first operation is the exponentiation operation ^. The two numbers involved in the exponentiation are 3 and 2; the 4 is 'attached' to the 3 by multiplication, and this multiplication can't be done until the exponentiation has been performed. The exponentiation operation is therefore 3^2 = 9, and the expression becomes 3 * 5 - 4 * 9. Evaluating this expression, the multiplications 3 * 5 and 4 * 9 must be performed before the subtraction. 3 * 5 = 15 and 4 * 9 = 36 so we now have 3 * 5 - 4 * 3 ^ 2 = 3 * 5 - 4 * 9 = 15 - 36 = -21. To calculate 3 * 5 - (4 * 3)^2 we first do the operation in parentheses, obtaining 4 * 3 = 12. Then we apply the exponentiation to get 12 ^2 = 144. Finally we multiply 3 * 5 to get 15. Putting this all together we get 3 * 5 - (4 * 3)^2 = 3 * 5 - 12^2 = 3 * 5 - 144 = 15 - 144 = -129. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK In the next three problems, the graphs will be of one of the basic shapes listed below. You will be asked to construct graphs for three simple functions, and determine which of the depicted graphs each of your graphs most closely resembles. At this point you won't be expected to know these terms or these graph shapes; if at some point in your course you are expected to know these things, they will be presented at that point. Linear: Quadratic or parabolic: Exponential: Odd power: Fractional positive power: Even negative power: partial graph of polynomial of degree 3 more extensive graph of polynomial of degree 3 ********************************************* Question: `q007. Let y = 2 x + 3. Evaluate y for x = -2. What is your result? In your solution explain the steps you took to get this result. y = 2(-2)+3 y = -4+3 = -1 Evaluate y for x values -1, 0, 1 and 2. Write out a copy of the table below. In your solution give the y values you obtained in your table. x y(x) -2 y=2(-2)+3 = -1 -1 y=2(-1)+3 = 1 0 y=2(0)+3 = 3 1 y=2(1)+3=5 2 y=2(2)+3=7 Sketch a graph of y vs. x on a set of coordinate axes resembling the one shown below. You may of course adjust the scale of the x or the y axis to best depict the shape of your graph. In your solution, describe your graph in words, and indicate which of the graphs depicted previously your graph most resembles. Explain why you chose the graph you did. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: The graph of the function would be a straight line, thus a linear graph. confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: Two slightly different explanations are give below, one by a student and one by the instructor. Neither format is inherently better than the other. GOOD SOLUTION BY STUDENT: First we need to complete the table. I have added a column to the right of the table to show the calculation of “y” when we us the “x” values as given. x y Calculation: If y = 2x + 3 -2 -1 If x = -2, then y = 2(-2)+3 = -4+3 = -1 -1 1 If x= -1, then y = 2(-1)+3 = -2+3 = 1 0 3 If x= 0, then y = 2(0)+3 = 0+3 = 3 1 5 If x= 1, then y = 2(1)+3 = 2+3 = 5 2 7 If x= 2, then y = 2(2)+3 = 4+3 = 7 Once an answer has been determined, the “y” value can be filled in. Now we have both the “x” and “y” values and we can begin our graph. The charted values continue on a straight line representing a linear function as shown above. INSTRUCTOR'S SOLUTION: We easily evaluate the expression: When x = -2, we get y = 2 x + 3 = 2 * (-2) + 3 = -4 + 3 = -1. When x = -1, we get y = 2 x + 3 = 2 * (-1) + 3 = -2 + 3 = 1. When x = 0, we get y = 2 x + 3 = 2 * (0) + 3 = 0 + 3 = 3. When x = 1, we get y = 2 x + 3 = 2 * (1) + 3 = 2 + 3 = 5. When x = 2, we get y = 2 x + 3 = 2 * (2) + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7. Filling in the table we have x y -2 -1 -1 1 0 3 1 5 2 7 When we graph these points we find that they lie along a straight line. Only one of the depicted graphs consists of a straight line, and we conclude that the appropriate graph is the one labeled 'linear'. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q008. Let y = x^2 + 3. Evaluate y for x = -2. What is your result? In your solution explain the steps you took to get this result. When x=-2, y = (-2)^2 +3 = 4+3=7 Evaluate y for x values -1, 0, 1 and 2. Write out a copy of the table below. In your solution give the y values you obtained in your table. x y(x) -2 y=7 -1 y=(-1)^2+3 = 4 0 y=(0)^2+3 = 3 1 y=1^2 +3 = 4 2 y=2^2 +3 = 7 Sketch a graph of y vs. x on a set of coordinate axes resembling the one shown below. You may of course adjust the scale of the x or the y axis to best depict the shape of your graph. In your solution, describe your graph in words, and indicate which of the graphs depicted previously your graph most resembles. Explain why you chose the graph you did. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: Because the function is squared, it is assumed that a quadratic function will result on the graph. The origin will be at the point (0,3), and the parabola is facing upward because it is positive. There is symmetry throughout the graph. confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: Evaluating y = x^2 + 3 at the five points: If x = -2 then we obtain y = x^2 + 3 = (-2)^2 + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7. If x = -1 then we obtain y = x^2 + 3 = (-1)^2 + 3 = ` + 3 = 4. If x = 0 then we obtain y = x^2 + 3 = (0)^2 + 3 = 0 + 3 = 3. If x = 1 then we obtain y = x^2 + 3 = (1)^2 + 3 = 1 + 3 = 4. If x = 2 then we obtain y = x^2 + 3 = (2)^2 + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7. The table becomes x y -2 7 -1 4 0 3 1 4 2 7 We note that there is a symmetry to the y values. The lowest y value is 3, and whether we move up or down the y column from the value 3, we find the same numbers (i.e., if we move 1 space up from the value 3 the y value is 4, and if we move one space down we again encounter 4; if we move two spaces in either direction from the value 3, we find the value 7). A graph of y vs. x has its lowest point at (0, 3). If we move from this point, 1 unit to the right our graph rises 1 unit, to (1, 4), and if we move 1 unit to the left of our 'low point' the graph rises 1 unit, to (-1, 4). If we move 2 units to the right or the left from our 'low point', the graph rises 4 units, to (2, 7) on the right, and to (-2, 7) on the left. Thus as we move from our 'low point' the graph rises up, becoming increasingly steep, and the behavior is the same whether we move to the left or right of our 'low point'. This reflects the symmetry we observed in the table. So our graph will have a right-left symmetry. Two of the depicted graphs curve upward away from the 'low point'. One is the graph labeled 'quadratic or parabolic'. The other is the graph labeled 'partial graph of degree 3 polynomial'. If we look closely at these graphs, we find that only the first has the right-left symmetry, so the appropriate graph is the 'quadratic or parabolic' graph. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q009. Let y = 2 ^ x + 3. Evaluate y for x = 1. What is your result? In your solution explain the steps you took to get this result. When x=1, y=2^1 + 3 y = 2+3 = 5 Evaluate y for x values 2, 3 and 4. Write out a copy of the table below. In your solution give the y values you obtained in your table. x y(x) 1 5 2 y=2^2 + 3= 7 3 y=2^3 + 3 = 11 4 y=2^4 + 3 = 19 Sketch a graph of y vs. x on a set of coordinate axes resembling the one shown below. You may of course adjust the scale of the x or the y axis to best depict the shape of your graph. In your solution, describe your graph in words, and indicate which of the graphs depicted previously your graph most resembles. Explain why you chose the graph you did. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: Because x is an exponent and changes, the graph will display an exponential function. The graph increases from left to right and becomes steeper with each step. confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: Recall that the exponentiation in the expression 2^x + 1 must be done before, not after the addition. When x = 1 we obtain y = 2^1 + 3 = 2 + 3 = 5. When x = 2 we obtain y = 2^2 + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7. When x = 3 we obtain y = 2^3 + 3 = 8 + 3 = 11. When x = 4 we obtain y = 2^4 + 3 = 16 + 3 = 19. x y 1 5 2 7 3 11 4 19 Looking at the numbers in the y column we see that they increase as we go down the column, and that the increases get progressively larger. In fact if we look carefully we see that each increase is double the one before it, with increases of 2, then 4, then 8. When we graph these points we find that the graph rises as we go from left to right, and that it rises faster and faster. From our observations on the table we know that the graph in fact that the rise of the graph doubles with each step we take to the right. The only graph that increases from left to right, getting steeper and steeper with each step, is the graph labeled 'exponential'. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q010. If you divide a certain positive number by 1, is the result greater than the original number, less than the original number or equal to the original number, or does the answer to this question depend on the original number? YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: Anything divided by 1 will always be equal to the original number. For example, 9/1=9. confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: If you divide any number by 1, the result is the same as the original number. Doesn't matter what the original number is, if you divide it by 1, you don't change it. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q011. If you divide a certain positive number by a number greater than 1, is the result greater than the original number, less than the original number or equal to the original number, or does the answer to this question depend on the original number? YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: When dividing a positive number by anything greater than 1, the result will always be less than the original number. confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: If you split something up into equal parts, the more parts you have, the less will be in each one. Dividing a positive number by another number is similar. The bigger the number you divide by, the less you get. Now if you divide a positive number by 1, the result is the same as your original number. So if you divide the positive number by a number greater than 1, what you get has to be smaller than the original number. Again it doesn't matter what the original number is, as long as it's positive. Students will often reason from examples. For instance, the following reasoning might be offered: OK, let's say the original number is 36. Let's divide 36 be a few numbers and see what happens: 36/2 = 18. Now 3 is bigger than 2, and 36 / 3 = 12. The quotient got smaller. Now 4 is bigger than 3, and 36 / 4 = 9. The quotient got smaller again. Let's skip 5 because it doesn't divide evenly into 36. 36 / 6 = 4. Again we divided by a larger number and the quotient was smaller. I'm convinced. That is a pretty convincing argument, mainly because it is so consistent with our previous experience. In that sense it's a good argument. It's also useful, giving us a concrete example of how dividing by bigger and bigger numbers gives us smaller and smaller results. However specific examples, however convincing and however useful, don't actually prove anything. The argument given at the beginning of this solution is general, and applies to all positive numbers, not just the specific positive number chosen here. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* Question: `q012. If you divide a certain positive number by a positive number less than 1, is the result greater than the original number, less than the original number or equal to the original number, or does the answer to this question depend on the original number? YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Your solution: When you divide by a smaller number, the result will always be greater. confidence rating #$&*: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: If you split something up into equal parts, the more parts you have, the less will be in each one. Dividing a positive number by some other number is similar. The bigger the number you divide by, the less you get. The smaller the number you divide by, the more you get. Now if you divide a positive number by 1, the result is the same as your original number. So if you divide the positive number by a positive number less than 1, what you get has to be larger than the original number. Again it doesn't matter what the original number is, as long as it's positive. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK #### The answer could have been improved using various fractions or decimals to demonstrate that when you divide an integer by a number less than 1, the result will indeed always be a larger number. ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3
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Given Solution: If you split something up into equal parts, the more parts you have, the less will be in each one. Dividing a positive number by some other number is similar. The bigger the number you divide by, the less you get. The smaller the number you divide by, the more you get. Now if you divide a positive number by 1, the result is the same as your original number. So if you divide the positive number by a positive number less than 1, what you get has to be larger than the original number. Again it doesn't matter what the original number is, as long as it's positive. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK #### The answer could have been improved using various fractions or decimals to demonstrate that when you divide an integer by a number less than 1, the result will indeed always be a larger number. ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: #(*!