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5 7 Mathematical Models Notes

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If the word problem does not state the type of function used, how do you determine if a given table
represents a quadratic function?
X

61

147

257

11

391

Ex. 1:Test Cramming Problem

Jeri begins cramming for her algebra test at 10:00p.m. Wednesday evening. Her grade depends on
the number of hours she studies. She figures that with no studying she would get only a 40. With
one hour of studying she could get a 75, and with 2 hours she might get a 90. Assume that her grade
is a quadratic function of the number of hours.
a) Define variables, with the three ordered pairs, and find the particular equation for this function.

b). Predict Jeris grade id she studies

i. 3 hours
ii. 4 hours

iii. 5 hours

c). Interpret the answers to part b

d). How long must Jeri study to make 100?

e). How long must Jeri study to make the highest possible grade? What is that grade?

Ex. 2: Baseball Problem

The sluggers were up to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning in a game against the ditchers. Theo
Slam was up to bat. As he plugged the ball toward left field, it rose from 3 to 10 to 50 feet as the
horizontal distance from home plate increased from 0 to 2 to 14. Assume that the vertical distance
varies quadratically with the horizontal distance.
a). Define variables, write the ordered pairs, and find the particular equation.

b). What is the highest point the ball attains?

c). Will the ball make it over a 6-foot fence 295 feet from home plate? Explain.

d). Could an outfielder catch the ball before it goes over the fence? Explain.

e). If it is not caught, where will it land?

A3

5 7 Mathematical Models Notes

Date:

Ex. 1 Rectangular Walkway Problem

A rectangular pond 5 meters by 7 meters is to be surrounded by a walkway of width x meters. This
problem concerns the rectangular region taken by the pond and walkway.

a). write the length and width of the region as functions of x. What kind of functions are these?

b). Write the area of the region as a function of x. What kind of function is this?

c). predict the area of the region if x = 1, 2, and 3.

d). Find the value of x which makes the region have an area of 150 square meters.

e). Find the value of x which makes the walkway have an area equal to the area of the pond.