course Phys 202 002. Describing Graphs
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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. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* 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. ********************************************* Your solution: The steepness of the graph remains the same because the graph has a constant slope of 3. Confidence Assessment: 3
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Given Solution: `aThe graph forms a straight line with no change in steepness. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* 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)? ********************************************* Your solution: The slope is 3 (0,-4) (1, -1) rise/ run = change in y/x = (-1 – (-4))/(1-0) = (-1 + 4)/ 1 = 3 Confidence Assessment: 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. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* 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? ********************************************* Your solution: (x,y) (0,0) (1,1) (2,4) (3,9) The graph is increasing as x increases. The steepness of the graph increases as the value of x increases. The graph is increasing at an increasing rate. Confidence Assessment: 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. *&*&. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* 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? ********************************************* Your solution: (x,y), (-3,9), (-2,4), (-1,1), (0,0) The graph is decreasing. The steepness of the graph does change. It is becoming less steep. The graph is decreasing at a decreasing rate. Confidence Assessment: 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. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK ……………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? ********************************************* Your solution: (0,0), (1,1), (2,1.41), (3,1.73) The graph is increasing, with a decreasing steepness. The graph is increasing at a decreasing rate. Confidence Assessment: 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 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. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* 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? ********************************************* Your solution: (0,5), (1,2.5), (2,1.25), (3, 0.625) The graph is decreasing and its steepness is decreasing. The graph is decreasing at a decreasing rate. Confidence Assessment: 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. ** &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK ********************************************* 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? ********************************************* Your solution: The distance is increasing as time increases so y is increasing as time goes by. The graph would be increasing. The graph is increasing at an increasing rate because the speed is increasing. Confidence Assessment: 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. ** &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): OK Self-critique Rating: OK