course Phy 231 Forgot the access code. 8/23/09 Here are the remaining ten questions:
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Given Solution: Many students simply know, at the level of common sense, that if we divide $72 by $8 / hour we get 9 hours, so 9 hours are required. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): (If you believe your solution matches the given solution then just type in 'OK'. OK Otherwise explain in your own words how your solution differs from the given solution, and demonstrate what you did not originally understand but now understand about the problem and its solution.) ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: (If you believe your solution matches the given solution then just type in 'OK'. 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: (type in your solution starting in the next line) (8 +3) * 5 11 * 5 55 and 8 + 3 * 5 8 + 15 23 The addition occurs first in the first problem since it is in parentheses, but, without parentheses, the order of operations dictates that multiplication/division occurs before addition/subtraction confidence rating: (Type in a number from 0 to 3, indicating your level of confidence in your solution. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 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): (If you believe your solution matches the given solution then just type in 'OK'. OK Otherwise explain in your own words how your solution differs from the given solution, and demonstrate what you did not originally understand but now understand about the problem and its solution.) ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: (If you believe your solution matches the given solution then just type in 'OK'. OK Otherwise evaluate the quality of your self-critique, using a number between 0 and 3. ********************************************* 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 and 2^(4 * 3) 2^(12) 4,096 Since the order of operations dictates that whatever is in parentheses be calculated first, problem one is 16*3, while problem two is 2^12. confidence rating: (Type in a number from 0 to 3, indicating your level of confidence in your solution. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 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 (Based on the Order of Operations, ^ goes first, then multiplication, then subtraction) and 3 * 5 - (4 * 3)^2 3 * 5 - (12)^2 15 - 144 -129 (Based on the Order of Ops, () go first, then ^, then multiplication, then subtraction) 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 ********************************************* Question: `q007. Let y = 2 x + 3. (Note: Liberal Arts Mathematics students are encouraged to do this problem, but are not required to do it). * Evaluate y for x = -2. What is your result? In your solution explain the steps you took to get this result. * 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 -2 -1 0 1 2 * 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: X = -2 y = 2x + 3 y = 2(-2) + 3 y = -4 + 3 y = -1 x = -1 y = 2x + 3 y = 2(-1) + 3 y = 1 x = 0 y = 2(0) + 3 y = 3 x = 1 y = 2(1) + 3 y = 5 x = 2 y = 2(2) + 3 y = 7 It's a linear graph, since the line is straight. confidence rating: 3 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Given 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. (Note: Liberal Arts Mathematics students are encouraged to do this problem, but are not required to do it). * Evaluate y for x = -2. What is your result? In your solution explain the steps you took to get this result. * 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 -2 -1 0 1 2 * 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: y = x^2 + 3 x = -2 y = (-2)^2 + 3 = 7 x = -1 y = (-1)^2 + 3 = 4 x = 0 y = (0)^2 + 3 = 3 x = 1 y = (1)^2 + 3 = 4 x = 2 y = (2)^2 + 3 = 7 It is a parabola because each side mirrors the other in a bowl shape. The points can be the same on the y axis for different points on the x due to the exponent, since -1^2 is the same resultant value as 1^2. 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): I should probably have a bit more description. ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: 3 ********************************************* Question: `q009. Let y = 2 ^ x + 3. (Note: Liberal Arts Mathematics students are encouraged to do this problem, but are not required to do it). * Evaluate y for x = 1. What is your result? In your solution explain the steps you took to get this result. * 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 1 2 3 4 * 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: y = 2 ^ x + 3 x = 1 y = 2^1 + 3 = 5 x = 2 y = 2^2 + 3 = 7 x = 3 y = 2^3 + 3 = 11 x = 4 y = 2^4 + 3 = 19 It is an exponential graph since the y value begins to rise at a higher rate (double the difference between points) along the x axis. 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: It's equal to the original number. 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: It would be less than the original number. confidence rating: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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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: It would always be greater. If dividing by 1 gives you the original number, then dividing by anything less must yield a bigger number than the original. 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 ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: OK"