Math 8, Period _______

Name _________________________________

Fixing the Finish with Functions Day 1

Date

_________________________________

Procedure for Data Collection

1

Place the robot on the start line and allow the robot to move forward for 2 seconds.

Record the distance the robot travels in the data table to the nearest tenth (0.1cm)
of a cm.

Repeat step 2 two more times and calculate the average distance traveled for the
three trials to the nearest tenth of a cm.

Repeat steps 1-3 for 6 second and 10 second trials.

Data Collection
Time (seconds)

Distance Trial #1
(cm)

Distance Trial #2
(cm)

Distance Trial #3
(cm)

Average Distance
(cm)

2
6
10

Average Distance
(cm)

Time (seconds)

Ratio of Distance
to Time

Rate of Change
(speed)

2
6
10

Write the Equation

Using the rate of change you calculated, write an equation to show the total distance traveled (y) based on
time (x).

Your speed is :

______________________

Your little brothers speed is:

______________________

The Olympic runners speed is:

______________________

The three robots obviously move at different speeds. If our goal is to have them finish at the same time,
how could we arrange for that?

The general form for a linear function is:

Based on the demonstration, write equations that could represent the total distance (y) each runner is
from the start, at any given time (x).
Runner #1

y=

Runner #2

y=

Runner #3

y=

For our next class

(1)

(2)

Were still looking for the runners to finish at the same time. Maintaining the speeds we calculated for
each robot during our last class, write new equations that represent the total distance (y) each runner
is from the start, at any given time (x). Be sure to include the head-start value in your formula. (The
b!)

Runner #1

y=

Runner #2

y=

Runner #3

y=

(3)