Scribd
Upload
29 views18 pages

Lecture 2C3A

The document discusses linear functions and slope. It defines linear functions as having a straight line graph with an equation of y=ax+b. It explains how the constants a and b affect the line. The document also defines slope and how to calculate it from two points. It provides examples of finding linear functions and slope from real world word problems.

Uploaded by

dave.cubio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
29 views18 pages

Lecture 2C3A

The document discusses linear functions and slope. It defines linear functions as having a straight line graph with an equation of y=ax+b. It explains how the constants a and b affect the line. The document also defines slope and how to calculate it from two points. It provides examples of finding linear functions and slope from real world word problems.

Uploaded by

dave.cubio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 18

Linear functions

Rate of Change and Slope


All slides in this presentations are based on the book Functions, Data and Models, S.P. Gordon and F. S Gordon
ISBN 978-0-88385-767-0
Review
Distinct behavioral patterns of functions studied thus far (see figure 3.1):
1. Increase by the same amount each fixed period.
2. Decrease by the same amount each fixed
period.
3. Increase at an increasing rate and so grow in a
concave up pattern.
4. Increase at a decreasing rate and so grow in a
concave down pattern.
5. Decrease at an increasing rate and so decay in a
concave down pattern.
6. Decrease at a decreasing rate and so decay in a
concave up pattern.

p. 2
Linear Functions

• Simplest and most useful family of functions


• The graph is always a straight line.
• The equation of any linear function can be written in the
form y = ax + b where a and b are any two constants
• To understand linear functions we must know the effect
each of the two numbers a and b in y = ax + b have on the
corresponding line.

p. 3
Linear Functions Passing through the Origin

• Simplest type of linear function is of the form y = ax


• This means y is proportional to x.
Ex.
The distance D that a car travels at a constant speed of 50 mph is
proportional to the number of hours t driven.

Therefore, the number of miles traveled is : D = 50t

p. 4
Example 1

Solution – part a Solution – part a


Table Graph

Solution – part a
Formula

p. 5
Slope of Linear Functions Passing through the Origin

Graph of the line y = mx for positive values of m (see figure 3.4)

As m gets larger, what happens to the line?


What if m = 0, what would the line look like?

p. 6
Definition of Slope

𝑐h𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑦 ∆𝑦 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑐h𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒


𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒= = = =
𝑐h𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑥 ∆𝑥 𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑐h𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒

p. 7
Slope Calculation
Here are the data from example 1

Using the first point G = 1 and C = 3.25 and the 2 nd point G = 2 and C = 6.50
The slope is:

Regardless which points we choose for this function, the slope will always be 3.25

p. 8
Slope Interpretation

Recall the equation :


• G represents gallons, while C represents cost.
• Solving the equation for the slope we get:
• So the slope is $3.25/Gallon. i.e. Cost per Gallon
• The units of slope are a ratio: the units of the dependent variable
divided by the units of the independent variable.

p. 9
Lines That Don’t Pass through the Origin
Consider a line y = mx + b where m is the slope and b is a constant
Now let’s graph: (see figure 3.6)
y = f(x) = 2x – 1
Y = g(x) = 2x + 1
Y = h(x) = 2x + 2

The three lines are parallel


This occurs because the slope = 2 for each of the 3 lines.
Each line crosses the vertical axis at its value of b
We call b the vertical intercept.
In general, for any linear function y = mx + b, the vertical intercept b represents
the value of y when x is zero, because of zero (b = 0) corresponds to the special
case y = mx, which is the equation of a line that passes through the origin.

p. 10
Example

p. 11
Slope Summary

www.desmos.com

p. 12
Example 2
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 ∆ 𝑦 𝑦 2 − 𝑦 1
𝑚= = =
𝑟𝑢𝑛 ∆ 𝑥 𝑥 2 − 𝑥1
Example
An electronics distributor charges stores the following costs, C, in dollars for
MP3 players depending on the number n of units ordered by a store.

C
1

90
2

170
3

250
4

330
5

410
⋯
⋯
1. Find the formula for the linear function that models the cost.
2. What is the practical meaning of the slope and the vertical intercept in this
problem?
3. Suppose the distributor charged a customer $570. How many units did the
store order?
p. 13
Example 2 Solution

C
1

90
2

170
3

250
4

330
5

410
⋯
⋯
So the equation is C = 80n + 10 (Slope – Intercept Form)
So a. The slope 80 represents the increase in the total
Choose the point (1, 90) cost for each additional unit ordered.
So b. The vertical intercept, 10, is the fixed cost for any
90 = 80 + b size order.
10 = b

p. 14
Example 3

a. Using the slope – intercept form, find a linear function for the
plumber’s charges, C, for a job taking t hours (ignoring the costs
of any parts).
b. What is the practical significance of the slope?

p. 15
Point-Slope Form of the Equation of a Line

Ex.
Find the equation of the line through the point (4, 7) having a slope of 3.

Solution

p. 16
Example

a. Find the equation of the line through the points (2, 24) and (6,4).
(notice we do not have the slope!)

b. Find the equation of the line through the points (6, 3) and (-2,3).

p. 17
Summary

p. 18

You might also like