Precalculus

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course Phy 231

1/18 4:40It took me until this submission to realize that using

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Question: `q001 A straight line connects the points (3, 5) and (7, 17), while another straight line continues on from (7, 17) to the point (10, 29). Which line is steeper and on what basis to you claim your result?

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Your solution:

This can be solved by simply calculating the slope of each line using the formula m=(y2-y1)/(x2-x1)

For the first line: m=(17-5)/(7-3) =12/4 =3

For the second line: m=(29-17)/(10-7) =12/3 =4

4>3, so the slope of the second line is greater; the second line is steepr.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aThe point (3,5) has x coordinate 3 and y coordinate 5. The point (7, 17) has x coordinate 7 and y coordinate 17. To move from (3,5) to (7, 17) we must therefore move 4 units in the x direction and 12 units in the y direction.

Thus between (3,5) and (7,17) the rise is 12 and the run is 4, so the rise/run ratio is 12/4 = 3.

Between (7,19) and (10,29) the rise is also 12 but the run is only 3--same rise for less run, therefore more slope. The rise/run ratio here is 12/3 = 4.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating:

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Question: `q002. The expression (x-2) * (2x+5) is zero when x = 2 and when x = -2.5. Without using a calculator verify this, and explain why these two values of x, and only these two values of x, can make the expression zero.

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Your solution:

Any number times 0 equals 0. So for the expression to equal 0, at least one of the two terms being multiplied by one another must equal 0.

For x-2 to equal 0, x must be 2. So in that case (2-2) * (2x+5) = 0 * (2x+5). We don't even have to replace the second x with the value of 2, because it doesn't matter what 2x+5 equals. This will result the an answer of 0 no matter what.

Similarly, we can look at the second multiplier, 2x+5. For 2x+5 to equal 0, 2x=-5, or x=-5/2 or -2.5, Again, it doesn't matter what 2x+5 gets multiplied by when x=-2.5 here. The answer will always be 0.

confidence rating #$&*: 2

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Given Solution:

`aIf x = 2 then x-2 = 2 - 2 = 0, which makes the product (x -2) * (2x + 5) zero.

If x = -2.5 then 2x + 5 = 2 (-2.5) + 5 = -5 + 5 = 0.which makes the product (x -2) * (2x + 5) zero.

The only way to product (x-2)(2x+5) can be zero is if either (x -2) or (2x + 5) is zero.

Note that (x-2)(2x+5) can be expanded using the Distributive Law to get

x(2x+5) - 2(2x+5). Then again using the distributive law we get

2x^2 + 5x - 4x - 10 which simplifies to

2x^2 + x - 10.

However this doesn't help us find the x values which make the expression zero. We are better off to look at the factored form.

STUDENT QUESTION

I think I have the basic understanding of how x=2 and x=-2.5 makes this equation 0

I was looking at the distributive law and I understand the basic distributive property as stated in algebra

a (b + c) = ab + ac and a (b-c) = ab - ac

but I don’t understand the way it is used here

(x-2)(2x+5)

x(2x+5) - 2(2x+5)

2x^2 + 5x - 4x - 10

2x^2 + x - 10.

Would you mind explaining the steps to me?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

The distributive law of multiplication over addition states that

a (b + c) = ab + ac

and also that

(a + b) * c = a c + b c.

So the distributive law has two forms.

In terms of the second form it should be clear that, for example

(x - 2) * c = x * c - 2 * c.

Now if c = 2 x + 5 this reads

(x-2)(2x+5) = x * ( 2 x + 5) - 2 * (2 x + 5).

The rest should be obvious.

We could also have used the first form.

a ( b + c) = ab + ac so, letting a stand for (x - 2), we have

(x-2)(2x+5) = ( x - 2 ) * 2x + (x - 2) * 5.

This will ultimately give the same result as the previous. Either way we end up with 2 x^2 + x - 10.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Question: `q003. For what x values will the expression (3x - 6) * (x + 4) * (x^2 - 4) be zero?

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Your solution:

Again, if any of the three multipliers (the bits in parentheses) equals zero, the entire expression will equal zero. The entire expression cannot equal zero unless one of the multipliers does.

So we need to find what values of x will make each of those components equal zero.

3x-6=0

3x=6

x=2

x+4=0

x=-4

x^2-4=0

x^2=4

x=2

So, if x=2 or x=-4, the expression will be zero.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aIn order for the expression to be zero we must have 3x-6 = 0 or x+4=0 or x^2-4=0.

3x-6 = 0 is rearranged to 3x = 6 then to x = 6 / 3 = 2. So when x=2, 3x-6 = 0 and the entire product (3x - 6) * (x + 4) * (x^2 - 4) must be zero.

x+4 = 0 gives us x = -4. So when x=-4, x+4 = 0 and the entire product (3x - 6) * (x + 4) * (x^2 - 4) must be zero.

x^2-4 = 0 is rearranged to x^2 = 4 which has solutions x = + - `sqrt(4) or + - 2. So when x=2 or when x = -2, x^2 - 4 = 0 and the entire product (3x - 6) * (x + 4) * (x^2 - 4) must be zero.

We therefore see that (3x - 6) * (x + 4) * (x^2 - 4) = 0 when x = 2, or -4, or -2. These are the only values of x which can yield zero.**

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I forgot that x^2=4 could give me an answer of x equals plus OR minus 2.

Also, I am struggling with some terminology. I forget what I should call different parts of the expression. (I keep using words like 'components' but I know there's a better way.) I feel like I need a refresher on the vocabulary here.

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Self-critique Rating:

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A little help:

A factor of an expression is something that is multiplied by the rest of the expression.

A term in an expression is something that is added to or subtracted from the rest of the expression.

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Question: `q004. One straight line segment connects the points (3,5) and (7,9) while another connects the points (10,2) and (50,4). From each of the four points a line segment is drawn directly down to the x axis, forming two trapezoids. Which trapezoid has the greater area? Try to justify your answer with something more precise than, for example, 'from a sketch I can see that this one is much bigger so it must have the greater area'.

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Your solution:

I cannot remember if there is a universal formula for calculating area of a trapezoid, but in this case, I can calculate each as a rectangle plus a trianagle.

For the first, we have a rectangle with the dimensions (7-3)*(5-0) or 4*5 or 20, with a triangle above with the dimensions (1/2)[(7-3)*(9-5)] or (1/2)(4*4) or 8. So the total area is 28.

For the second, we have a rectangle with the dimensions (50-10)*(4-2) or 40*2 or 80. Above that is a triangle, but we don't even need to keep calculating because 80 is greater than 28. The second trapezoid, formed by the points (10,2) and (50,4) and the x-axis, is larger.

confidence rating #$&*: 2

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Given Solution:

`aYour sketch should show that while the first trapezoid averages a little more than double the altitude of the second, the second is clearly much more than twice as wide and hence has the greater area.

To justify this a little more precisely, the first trapezoid, which runs from x = 3 to x = 7, is 4 units wide while the second runs from x = 10 and to x = 50 and hence has a width of 40 units. The altitudes of the first trapezoid are 5 and 9,so the average altitude of the first is 7. The average altitude of the second is the average of the altitudes 2 and 4, or 3. So the first trapezoid is over twice as high, on the average, as the first. However the second is 10 times as wide, so the second trapezoid must have the greater area.

This is all the reasoning we need to answer the question. We could of course multiply average altitude by width for each trapezoid, obtaining area 7 * 4 = 28 for the first and 3 * 40 = 120 for the second. However if all we need to know is which trapezoid has a greater area, we need not bother with this step.

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Question: `q005. Sketch graphs of y = x^2, y = 1/x and y = `sqrt(x) [note: `sqrt(x) means 'the square root of x'] for x > 0. We say that a graph increases if it gets higher as we move toward the right, and if a graph is increasing it has a positive slope. Explain which of the following descriptions is correct for each graph:

As we move from left to right the graph increases as its slope increases.

As we move from left to right the graph decreases as its slope increases.

As we move from left to right the graph increases as its slope decreases.

As we move from left to right the graph decreases as its slope decreases.

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Your solution:

For y=x^2

x y

1 1

2 4

3 9

4 16

Each increase in the value of x sees a larger and larger increase in the value of y as we move to the right. (First y increases by 1, then 3, then 5, then 7, etc.)

So the graph increases as the slope increases.

For y=1/x

x y

1 1

2 1/2 or .5

3 1/3 or .33

4 1/4 or .25

Each increase in the value of x sees a larger and larger decrease in the value of y as we move to the right. (First y decreases by .5, then by .17, then by .8, etc.)

So the graph decreases as the slope decreases.

For y=`sqrt(x)

x y

1 1

2 1.41

3 1.73

4 2

Each increase in the value of x sees a smaller and smaller increase in the value of y as we move to the right. (First y increases by .41, then .32, then .27, etc.)

So the graph increases as the slope decreases.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aFor x = 1, 2, 3, 4:

The function y = x^2 takes values 1, 4, 9 and 16, increasing more and more for each unit increase in x. This graph therefore increases, as you say, but at an increasing rate.

The function y = 1/x takes values 1, 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4, with decimal equivalents 1, .5, .33..., and .25. These values are decreasing, but less and less each time. The decreasing values ensure that the slopes are negative. However, the more gradual the decrease the closer the slope is to zero. The slopes are therefore negative numbers which approach zero.

Negative numbers which approach zero are increasing. So the slopes are increasing, and we say that the graph decreases as the slope increases.

We could also say that the graph decreases but by less and less each time. So the graph is decreasing at a decreasing rate.

For y = `sqrt(x) we get approximate values 1, 1.414, 1.732 and 2. This graph increases but at a decreasing rate.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I tend not to specify that decreasing means approaching zero. I wonder if that is an important lens to see it through.

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Self-critique Rating: 2

@&

'Decreasing' means moving in the negative direction on the number line.

If it has already passed zero, the a decreasing quantity will move away from zero.

Similarly a negative but increasing quantity is moving toward zero.

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Question: `q006. If the population of the frogs in your frog pond increased by 10% each month, starting with an initial population of 20 frogs, then how many frogs would you have at the end of each of the first three months (you can count fractional frogs, even if it doesn't appear to you to make sense)? Can you think of a strategy that would allow you to calculate the number of frogs after 300 months (according to this model, which probably wouldn't be valid for that long) without having to do at least 300 calculations?

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Your solution:

I feel like it's important to my visualization of the problem to first do it the step-by-step way.

Remembering that ""10% of"" is the same as ""times .1""...

20 frogs plus (.1*20) = 20+2=22 (end of 1st month)

22 frogs plus (.1*22) = 22+2.2=24.2 (end of 2nd month)

24.2 frogs plus (.1*24.2) = 24.2+2.42=26.62

I'm struggling to come up with an algebraic expression for this pattern, because we need to calculate the increase during not just the final month, but all the preceding months too. So, if I start (as I've tried) with a notion of x=the number of months, we need to look at not just what's happening in month x but also month x-1, month x-2, etc.

I remember using an exclamation point to signify, basically, ""x and all the numbers leading up to x,"" so I have a feeling I will need to refresh my memory on how that works.

confidence rating #$&*: 1

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Given Solution:

`aAt the end of the first month, the number of frogs in the pond would be (20 * .1) + 20 = 22 frogs. At the end of the second month there would be (22 * .1) + 22 = 24.2 frogs while at the end of the third month there would be (24.2 * .1) + 24.2 = 26.62 frogs.

The key to extending the strategy is to notice that multiplying a number by .1 and adding it to the number is really the same as simply multiplying the number by 1.1. We therefore get

20 * 1.1 = 22 frogs after the first month

22 * 1.1 = 24.2 after the second month

etc., multiplying by for 1.1 each month.

So after 300 months we will have multiplied by 1.1 a total of 300 times. This would give us 20 * 1.1^300, whatever that equals (a calculator, which is appropriate in this situation, will easily do the arithmetic).

A common error is to say that 300 months at 10% per month gives 3,000 percent, so there would be 30 * 20 = 600 frogs after 30 months. That doesn't work because the 10% increase is applied to a greater number of frogs each time. 3000% would just be applied to the initial number, so it doesn't give a big enough answer.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Noticing the pattern of multiplying by 1.1 makes this questions a lot simpler than I was realizing. I'm still struggling to see how I would have deduced that an exponent would be involved. Because I have broken the logic down as multiplying, then adding, then multiplying, then adding, it's hard to see how doing all the multiplying in a row would work.

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Self-critique Rating: 2

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Every month you multiply the population by 1.1.

Doing so n times gives you the factor 1.1^n.

This is basic precalculus, which would probably be worth a review. Unfortunately most precalculus courses don't cover what they should.

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Question: `q007. Calculate 1/x for x = 1, .1, .01 and .001. Describe the pattern you obtain. Why do we say that the values of x are approaching zero? What numbers might we use for x to continue approaching zero? What happens to the values of 1/x as we continue to approach zero? What do you think the graph of y = 1/x vs. x looks for x values between 0 and 1?

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Your solution:

x y

1 1

.1 10

.01 100

.001 1000

Rather than plotting points using increasing integers for the value of x, we are actually seeing the value of x decrease as we see the pattern emerge. The highest value of y has the lowest value of x. In other words, the closer we are to the y-axis (where the value of x would be zero), the closer the graph gets to infinity. X can never equal zero, because we cannot divide by zero. So at the exact value of x=0, the graph approaches but never reaches the y axis.

If we continued to look at smaller and smaller values of x, such as .0001, we'll see larger and larger values of y (10,000). So again, y gets closer to infinity as x gets closer to zero.

The graph will be a decreasing curve with a decreasing slope approaching (1,1). It is concave upward.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aIf x = .1, for example, 1 / x = 1 / .1 = 10 (note that .1 goes into 1 ten times, since we can count to 1 by .1, getting.1, .2, .3, .4, ... .9, 10. This makes it clear that it takes ten .1's to make 1.

So if x = .01, 1/x = 100 Ithink again of counting to 1, this time by .01). If x = .001 then 1/x = 1000, etc..

Note also that we cannot find a number which is equal to 1 / 0. Deceive why this is true, try counting to 1 by 0's. You can count as long as you want and you'll ever get anywhere.

The values of 1/x don't just increase, they increase without bound. If we think of x approaching 0 through the values .1, .01, .001, .0001, ..., there is no limit to how big the reciprocals 10, 100, 1000, 10000 etc. can become.

The graph becomes steeper and steeper as it approaches the y axis, continuing to do so without bound but never touching the y axis.

This is what it means to say that the y axis is a vertical asymptote for the graph .

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I forgot about the word asymptote. ???Does that mean, specifically, a line that a curve approaches, and eventually resembles more and more closely but cannot actually touch???

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Self-critique Rating: 2

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That's a good statement.

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Question: `q008. At clock time t the velocity of a certain automobile is v = 3 t + 9. At velocity v its energy of motion is E = 800 v^2. What is the energy of the automobile at clock time t = 5?

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Your solution:

To solve this problem, we can start by plugging the known variable t=5 into the first formula.

If v = 3t + 9,

v= 3(5) + 9

v= 15 +9

v = 24

Now we can take our calculated velocity and find the energy.

E = 800 v^2

E = 800 (24^2)

E = 800 (576)

E = 460,800

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aFor t=5, v = 3 t + 9 = (3*5) + 9 = 24. Therefore E = 800 * 24^2 = 460800.

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Question: `q009. Continuing the preceding problem, can you give an expression for E in terms of t?

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Your solution:

To combine the two formulas, we just need to substitute the V in the E=800v^2 formula with the value of V as expressed in the other formula, v=3t+9.

E=800*[(3t+9)^2]

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aSince v = 3 t + 9 the expression would be E = 800 v^2 = 800 ( 3t + 9) ^2. This is the only answer really required here.

For further reference, though, note that this expression could also be expanded by applying the Distributive Law:.

Since (3t + 9 ) ^ 2 = (3 t + 9 ) * ( 3 t + 9 ) = 3t ( 3t + 9 ) + 9 * (3 t + 9) = 9 t^2 + 27 t + 27 t + 81 = 9 t^2 + 54 t + 81, we get

E = 800 ( 9 t^2 + 54 t + 81) = 7200 t^2 + 43320 t + 64800 (check my multiplication because I did that in my head, which isn't always reliable).

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Question: For what x values is the value of the expression (2^x - 1) ( x^2 - 25 ) ( 2x + 6) zero?

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Your solution:

This is another way of notating multiplication, and just as above, if and only if any of the multipliers equals zero, the entire expression equals zero.

So, if 2^x-1=0, 2^x=1, x=0 (anything to the zero power is 1)

If x^2-25=0, x^2=25, x=+/-5

If 2x+6=0, 2x=-6, x=-3

So if x= 0, 5 ,-5, or -3, the expression equals 0.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Question: One straight line segment connects the points (3,5) and (7,9) while another connects the points (3, 10) and (7, 6). From each of the four

points a line segment is drawn directly down to the x axis, forming two trapezoids. Which trapezoid has the greater area?

Any solution is good, but a solution that follows from a good argument that doesn't actually calculate the areas of the two trapezoids is better.

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Your solution:

The top of the taller side of first trapezoid is at y=9. The top of the taller side of the second trapezoid is at y=10.

The top of the shorter side of the first trapezoid is at y=5. The top of the shorter side of the second trapezoid is at y=6.

Since the second trapezoid has a taller ""short side"" AND a taller ""tall side,"" it must have the greater area. This would be easy to see if we flipped one of the trapezoids to its mirror image; we'd see that the first trapezoid fits entirely within the second.

Confidence Assessment: 3

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Question:

Suppose you invest $1000 and, at the end of any given year, 10% is added to the amount. How much would you have after 1, 2

and 3 years?

What is an expression for the amount you would have after 40 years (give an expression that could easily be evaluated using a calculator, but don't bother to actually evaluate it)?

What is an expression for the amount you would have after t years?

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Your solution:

Remembering the frog problem, I can see that:

$1000+ (.1*$1000) = $1000 + $100 = $1100

can also be expressed as $1000*1.1

And now that I'm doing this one, I can see the logic more clearly if I think of the initial $1000 as $1000 times 1, expressed like this:

(1000*1) + (1000*.1) = (1000)(1+.1) =(1000)(1.1) =1100

After 2 years, I would have (1000)(1.1)(1.1)=1210

After 3 years, I would have (1000)(1.1)(1.1)(1.1)=1331

After 40 years, I would have (1000)[(1.1)^40]

After t years, I would have (1000)[(1.1)^t]

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Self-critique Rating"

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#*&!

@&

Well done, but be sure to see my inserted notes.

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