PreCalculus

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course Phy 201

1/22 730am

003. PC1 questions

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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:

The slope of a straight line between two intervals is defined as the change in y

values over the change in x values. Using this definition for the above intervals I

calculated the following:

m1= (17 - 5) / (7-3) = 12 / 4 = 3/1 = 3

m2= (29-17) / (10-7) = 12/3 = 4/1 = 4

The second line has a slope of 4 vertical units for every 1 horizontal unit and so is

steeper than the first line whose slope is 3 vertical units for every 1 horizontal unit.

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 (7,10) 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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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:

To prove the expression as given, I set both factors (the expression is a polynomial)

equal to zero and solve for x:

x-2 = 0 To solve for x I add 2 to both sides

x= 2

2x+5 =0 First subtract 5 from both sides

2x = -5 Divide both sides by 2

x = -5/2 Simplify

x = -2.5

confidence rating #$&*:3

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

be zero?

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Your solution:

Using the same method as before I set all the factors equal to zero:

3x - 6 = 0 I added 6 to both sides

3x = 6 Next I divide both sides by 3

x = 6/3

x = 2

x+4=0 I subtract 4 from both sides

x= -4

x^2 - 4 = 0 I add for to both sides to isolate the x^2

x^2 = 4 Next I take the square root of both sides to simplify

'sqrt(x*2) = 'sqrt(4)

x= +- 2

After solving each factor for x, I calculate that the expression will be zero when x

equals 2 or -4 or -2.

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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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:

Drawing graphs of the two trapezoids described, I calulated an area for the line

segment (3,5) and (7,9) to be 28'sq units in area. I calculated an area of 120'sq

units for the line segment, (10,2) and (50,4).

For each trapezoid, I drew a horizontal line from the first interval over to the x

value of the second interval. For each trapezoid I was able to then calculate the

area of the 'square' shape of each trapezoid (20units^2 for the first and 80units^2

for the second. Using this same method I found the area of the triangular portion

created by my horizontal line (the smaller interval for ea. tapezoid), taking half of

the total area of a square of this section.

The first trapezoid had a horizontal difference between (3,5) and (7,9) of 4 units.

To the first interval (3,5), there was a vertical difference of 5 units (along the x-axis)

this allowed me to calculate the area of the square portion of the trapezoid as

5units * 4units = 20 units^2. The trianglar 'upper' section of the trapezoid was

calculated by taking half of the area of the horizontal difference (4 units) * the

vertical difference (9-5) =4units =16 / 0.5 = 8 units.

I repeated this method for the second line segment to calculate 120units^2 which

yielded a larger area.

confidence rating #$&*:3

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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:

Moving left to right from x=0, the graph of y=x^2 increases as the slope increases.

Moving left to right from x=0, the graph of y=1/x is decreasing, however the

slope is decreasing instead of increasing, so none of the graphs match this

description.

Moving left to right from x=0, the graph of y='sqrt(x) is increasing as the slope

decreases.

Moving left to right from x=0, the graph of y=1/x decreasing 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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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:

This is basically a compounded interest problem with frog populations instead of

principle.

I modeled my equation after a simple compounding interest equation to come up

with the following:

The number of frogs each month, y, is equal to the initial population, 20 * ( 1.1)^x,

where 1.1 is the initial population plus 10% and x is the number of months.

Using this equation, y=20 (1.1)^x, the frog population after 300 months would be:

y=20 (1.1)^300

This would yield a frog population of over 52.3 trillion frogs!

confidence rating #$&*:

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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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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:

y=1/1 = 1;

y=1/.1= 10;

y=1/.01= 100;

y=1/.001 =1000

The pattern shows that as the value of x decreases, the value of y increases. We

say the values of x are approaching zero because .1 is less than 1 but greater than

zero. Likewise, .01 is still greater than zero however less than .1. THe values of 1/x

will continue to increase at an increasing rate as the value of x approaches zero.

The graph of y=1/x vs. x for x values between 0 and 1 would show a sharply

decling slope becoming less steep as the values of 1/x approach x=1.

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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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:

For clock time t=5, v=3(5) + 9 or v= 15+9 = 24; E = 800*(24)^2 or E =

800*576 = 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:

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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