MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

Cours
e Mathematics Specialist Year 12
Student name: ________________________ Teacher name: ________________

Date: 5 March 2021

Task type: Take home - Investigation

Time allowed for this task: 1 week

Number of questions: 6

Materials required: Calculator with CAS capability (to be provided by the student)

Standard items: Pens (blue/black preferred), pencils (including coloured), sharpener, correction
fluid/tape, eraser, ruler, highlighters

Special items: Drawing instruments, templates, notes on one unfolded sheet of

Marks available:

Task weighting:

Formula sheet provided: Yes

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1
Note: All part questions worth more than 2 marks require working to obtain full marks.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take-home section will be allowed in the in-class investigation.

2. Your CAP is on next Friday, 12th March 2021. It will be 40 minutes long.

3. Only Classpad will be allowed for your in-class investigation.

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1
Absolute value functions

1. Graph the function f ( x )=|3 x −5|+¿ 2 x −1∨¿ below. Label key features.

2. Express the function using a piecewise definition.

3. Explain the link between the gradient and intersection points of the different sections of the graph and the
original absolute value equation.

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1
Exploring Mathematics – Perth Arena

The design of Perth Arena is based on Christopher Monckton’s Eternity puzzle. The Eternity puzzle comprises of 209
irregular shaped pieces that fit on a dodecagon shaped board. A selection of these puzzle pieces was used to design
the Perth Arena. Each puzzle piece represents Western Australian icons; Perth’s Trojan horse, a cockatoo, a drill rig, a
sailing boat, truck referencing to mining industry, Rottnest island, a swan and Western Australia.

Your task is to determine a piecewise defined function and an absolute value function for one of the puzzle pieces
given above. Due to the limitations of this course, we will determine function for only a part of the puzzle piece.

An example is shown below:

Desmos link :
https://www.desmos.com/calculator/xcxzril6fz

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

4. Determine a piecewise-defined function to describe the part of swan puzzle piece.

5. Determine an equation of the form f ( x )=|ax+ b|+|cx+ d|+e , to describe the part of swan puzzle piece.

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

6. Now, your task is to choose another puzzle piece and find an absolute function for the part of that puzzle piece. Use your findings from question 3 to decide
the part of the puzzle. Use desmos graphing calculator to investigate the graphs of y=|ax +b|+|cx +d|+e .

You can use classpad or desmos to complete this activity. Some parts of the puzzle pieces are suggested below.
Puzzle Piece Desmos link
Trojan Horse https://www.desmos.com/calculator/n0tjstkfmw

y=|ax +b|+|cx +d|+e

Sailing Boat https://www.desmos.com/calculator/t4boxllhtn

y=|ax +b|−|cx +d|± e

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

Solution
Absolute value functions

1. Graph the function f ( x )=|3 x −5|+¿ 2 x −1∨¿ below. Label key features.

2. Express the function using a piecewise definition.

−5 x +6 , x< 0.5
{
Piecewise function = −x+ 4 , 0.5 ≤ x<1.67
5 x−6 , x ≥1.67

3. Explain the link between the gradient and intersection points of the different sections of the
graph and the original absolute value equation.

For x <0.5 , the ∑ of −( 2 x−1 )∧− (3 x−5 ) i . e−5 x +6

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

For puzzle piece - Swan

Orange line

7−3 −4
gradient= = ∨−1.33
−3.3+0.3 3

−4 13
Equation of line => y= x+
3 5

Grey line

2−3 −10
gradient= = ∨−0.77
1+0.3 13

−10 36
Equation of line => y= x+
13 13

Blue line

4−2 4
gradient= = ∨1.33
2.5−1 3
4 2
Equation of line => y= x+
3 3

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

−4 13
x + ,−1≤ x ←0.3

Piecewise function =

{ 3
−10
13
4
3
5
36
x+ ,−0.3 ≤ x<1
13
2
x+ ,1 ≤ x ≤2
3

4
Gradients =
{a−c=
a+c=
3
−10
13

x−intercepts
−b
=−0.3
a
−d
=1
c
36
When x = 0, |b|+|d|+ e=
13

Solving equations

11 11 41 −41 49
a= ; b= ; c= ; d= ; e=
39 130 39 39 30

On desmos -- https://www.desmos.com/calculator/qt4ldakjhc

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MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST YEAR 12 INVESTIGATION 1

References

1. https://archello.com/project/perth-arena-a-giant-puzzle-of-3d-architecture
2. https://armarchitecture.com.au/projects/rac-arena/
3. https://www.desmos.com/

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