Exit Ticket – Error Analysis

Name
_________________________________________ ( )
:
Class: _______________ Date: ____________________

Instructions:
Some students were given non-linear equations where they had to convert to the linear form
Y =mX + c. Shown below are some of their solutions. a , b , h and k are constants.
Identify the error(s) in their solutions (if any) or comment on whether there are alternative
solutions if there are no errors.
Error / Alternative
Student’s Solution Learning Point
Solution
Given: ay =x+ b x 2
y 1 b Y and X cannot contain
= + x
ay x a a any unknown constants
=1+bx
x and should only contain
y the variables x and y.
Plot a graph of against
ay x
Plot a graph of against x where b
x x where is the gradient
b is the gradient and 1 is the a
y-intercept. 1
and is the y-intercept.
a
1 1 1
Given: − =
y x h 1 1 1 In some equations, the
y
=1 ()
x h
+
gradient / y-intercept
1 1 1 may not be unknown
= +
y x h 1 constants. It is not true
Plot a graph of against that the gradient and y-
y
1 1 1 intercepts always contain
Plot a graph of against where where the gradient is 1 the unknown constants.
y x x
the gradient is 0 and the y-intercept 1
1 and the y-intercept is .
is . h
h

Given: y=a xb
lg y =lga+ lg x b When taking lg or ln on
Taking lg on both sides, both sides, take note of
lg y =lg a+ b lg x the exponent.
b
lg y =lg a x
Plot a graph of lg y a x b means that the
lg y =b lg ax against lg x where the exponent b applies only
gradient is b and the y- to x.
lg y =b ( lg a+lg x ) intercept is lg a.
( ax )b means that the
lg y =b lg x +b lg a exponent b applies to ax.

1
Plot a graph of lg y against lg x
where b is the gradient and b lg a is
the y-intercept.

Given: ky =10x Alternative Solution:

Taking lg on both sides, Depending on the
Taking ln on both sides, original equation, if it
lg ky=lg10 x contains 10 or e, it may
ln ky =ln 10 x be easier to take lg or ln
lg k +lg y =x lg10 respectively than always
ln k + ln y=x ln10 choosing ln.
lg y =x−lg k
ln y=x ln 10−ln k
Plot a graph of lg y
Plot a graph of ln y against x where against x where the
ln 10 is the gradient and (−ln k ) is gradient is 1 and the y-
the y-intercept. intercept is (−lg k ).

Given: y=a x2 +bx

Plot y against x 2 where a is the

gradient and bx is the y-intercept.