Distance Match

Turn calculator on.

PROMiSE Algebra Summer Institute

Linear and Non-Linear Relationships Page 1

PROMiSE Algebra Summer Institute

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Questions 1. What physical property is represented along the x-axis?

2. What are the units? How far apart are the tick marks?

3. What physical property is represented along the y-axis?

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4. What are the units? How far apart are the tick marks?

5. Record the verbal description you are giving to your partner in order to help them match the graph.

6. Did you begin too close, too far, or just right?

7. Should you walk forward or backward for a segment that slopes up? Why?

8. Should you walk forward or backward for a segment that slopes down? Why?

9. What should you do for a segment that is flat? Why?

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10. Describe how well your Distance-Time graph matched the original graph. Use mathematical vocabulary terms as much as possible in your description.

11. Sketch the original Distance-Time graph below (be precise).

You will now write an equation that describes the motion shown in the original Distance-Time graph. This is called a piecewise-defined function, which means that you will first write an equation for each section of the graph and then put the pieces together to write the equation for the whole function.

For the first portion of the graph, record at least two points on the line. The slope of a line, m, is given by the formula show below, which represents the change in the y-direction over the change in the x-direction. Use the formula to calculate the slope of the line between the points given.

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m = ___________

12. The equation for this section of the graph can be found by using the slope intercept form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. Identify the y-intercept, and write the equation of the line.

13. Describe in words what the slope means for this equation.

14. Describe in words what the y-intercept means for this equation.

15. Write an equation in slope-intercept form for the second portion of your graph.

16. Describe in words what the slope means for this equation.

17. Describe in words what the y-intercept means for this equation.

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18. Write an equation in slope intercept form for the third portion of your graph.

19. Describe in words what the slope means for this equation.

20. Describe in words what the y-intercept means for this equation.

21. Combine each of the sections to write a piecewise-defined equation to represent your graph.

y =

22. Walk out at least one more graph given by the calculator to get the hang of matching the graph, and then try to match the graphs below. Record the verbal description you are giving to your partner in order to help them match the graph and any observations that you make. Are these all functions? 1 1

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Application

1. Jose created a distance vs. time graph by starting at the 6-foot mark on the floor. He walked towards the detector at 1foot/s for 4 seconds, stood still for 2 seconds, walked away from the detector at 2feet/s for 2 seconds, and then stopped for 2 seconds. Sketch a plot of Joses distance vs. time graph.

2. What was Joses ending position?

PROMiSE Algebra Summer Institute

Linear and Non-Linear Relationships Page 8

PROMiSE Algebra Summer Institute

Linear and Non-Linear Relationships Page 9