1.
Describe two different real-world situations
Answer: Two real-world situations that could be modeled by a linear function are a taxi
service and a streaming service.
● Taxi service: A taxi service charges a flat fee to enter the cab and a constant rate per
mile driven. This is linear because the cost increases by a fixed amount for each
additional mile, representing a constant rate of change.
● Streaming service: A streaming service charges a one-time setup fee and a constant
monthly fee. This is linear because the total cost increases by the same amount each
month, representing a constant rate of change.
2. Write a linear function
Step 1: Identify the rate of change
The rate of change (slope,m) is the change in cost divided by the change in hours:
m=ΔCost/ΔHours=18−122−1=61=6
𝑚=ΔCostΔHours=18−122−1=61=6
The rate of change is
$6
$𝟔
per hour.
Step 2: Identify the initial value
Using the point
(1,12)
(1,12)
and the slope
m=6
𝑚=6
in the point-slope form
y−y1=m(x−x1)
𝑦−𝑦1=𝑚(𝑥−𝑥1)
y−12=6(x−1) 𝑦−12=6(𝑥−1)
y−12=6x−6 𝑦−12=6𝑥−6
y=6x+6 𝑦=6𝑥+6
The initial value (y-intercept, b) is
$6
Step 3: Write the function
The linear function is
C(h)=6h+6
𝐶(ℎ)=6ℎ+6
, where
C(h)
𝐶(ℎ)
is the total cost and
h
ℎ
is the number of hours.
Answer:
The linear function is
C(h)=6h+6
𝐂(𝐡)= 𝟔𝐡+𝟔
. The rate of change was identified by calculating the constant difference in cost for each one-
hour interval. The initial value was found by using the calculated rate of change and one of the
data points to solve for the y-intercept.
3. Student claims relationship is linear
Answer: No, the student's claim is incorrect.
● A relationship is linear only if it has a constant rate of change (slope), meaning the
output values increase or decrease by the same fixed amount for each unit change in
the input values.
● An example of a non-linear relationship where output values increase is an exponential
function, such as bacterial growth, where the output values increase by a constant
percentage or factor, not a constant amount.
4. Taxi charges
Step 1: Define the function
The total cost
C
𝐶
depends on the number of miles driven
m
𝑚
. The flat fee is the initial value, and the per-mile charge is the rate of change.
Step 2: Write the function
C(m)=2.50m+4
𝐶(𝑚)=2.50𝑚+4
Step 3: Explain each part
Answer:
The function is
C(m)=2.50m+4
𝐂(𝐦)=𝟐.𝟓𝟎𝐦+𝟒
. In this context:
●
● C(m)
● 𝐶(𝑚)
is the total cost in dollars.
●
● m
● 𝑚
is the number of miles driven.
●
● 2.50
● 2.50
represents the rate of change, or the cost per mile driven.
●
● 4
● 4
represents the initial value, or the flat fee charged to enter the cab.
5. Graph shows a straight line
Step 1: Calculate the slope
The slope
m
𝑚
is calculated using the formula
m=y2−y1x2−x1
𝑚=𝑦2− 𝑦1𝑥2−𝑥1
with points
(0,10)
(0,10)
and
(4,26)
(4,26)
m=26−104−0=164=4
𝑚=26−104−0=164=4
Step 2: Identify the y-intercept
The point
(0,10)
(0,10)
is the y-intercept (initial value), so
b=10
𝑏=10
Step 3: Write the function
Using the slope-intercept form
y=mx+b
𝑦=𝑚𝑥+𝑏
y=4x+10
𝑦=4𝑥+10
Answer:
The linear function is
y=4x+10
𝐲=𝟒𝐱+𝟏𝟎
. The slope was calculated as
m=4
𝑚=4
using the given points, representing the constant rate of change. The point
(0,10)
(0,10)
directly gives the y-intercept (initial value) of
10
10
6. Phone battery loses 3%
Answer: This situation should be modeled with an exponential function.
● The battery charge decreases by a percentage (3%) of its current value each hour, not
a fixed amount.
● Exponential functions model situations with a constant growth or decay factor (in this
case, 0.97 or 97% remaining each hour), while linear functions model situations with a
constant additive rate of change.
7. Two students write different equations for the same situation
Answer: Both equations are correct
The commutative property of addition states that the order in which numbers are added does
not change the sum. In both equations,
5x
5𝑥
and
20
20
are being added, just in a different order. Therefore, they represent the exact same linear
function.
8. A water tank starts with 50 gallons and is filled at a constant rate
Answer:
y=rt+50
𝑦=𝑟𝑡+50
The equation for the amount of water
y
𝑦
after
t
𝑡
minutes is
y=rt+50
𝑦=𝑟𝑡+50
, where
r
𝑟
is the constant filling rate. This is in the slope-intercept form
y=mx+b
𝑦=𝑚𝑥+𝑏
. Changing the rate
r
𝑟
would change the slope of the line. A higher rate would result in a steeper, more vertical line,
while a lower rate would result in a flatter, more horizontal line.
9. Create a real-world situation that could be represented by the equation
y=8x+12
𝑦=8𝑥+12
Answer: A phone bill
A possible real-world situation is a phone plan that has a monthly base fee of $12 and charges
an additional $8 per gigabyte of data used.
● The slope,
● 8
● 8
, represents the constant rate of change: the cost per gigabyte of data used.
● The y-intercept,
● 12
● 12
, represents the initial value: the fixed monthly base fee.
10. A student says that the y-intercept is not important when modeling real-world problems. Do
you agree or disagree?
Answer: Disagree
The y-intercept represents the initial value or starting point of a situation, which is often crucial
for modeling real-world problems.
For example, consider an equation for a savings account:
y=50x+200
𝑦=50𝑥+200
● Here, the y-intercept is
● 200
● 200
, which represents the initial amount of money in the account.
● Without this starting value, the equation would only show the rate of savings, not the
total amount saved over time.