Transcript Week 5
Linear and Quadratic Functions
On completion of this module you should be able to:
define the terms function, domain, range, gradient,
independent/dependent variable
use function notation
recognise the relationship between functions and
equations
graph linear and quadratic functions
calculate the function given initial values (gradient, 1 or 2
coordinates)
solve problems using functions
model elementary supply and demand curves using
functions and solve associated problems
1
Functions
A function describes the relationship that exists
between two sets of numbers.
Put another way, a function is a rule applied to one
set of numbers to produce a second set of
numbers.
2
Example: Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius
5
C F 32
9
This rule operates on values of F to produce
values of C.
The values of F are called input values and the
set of possible input values is called the domain.
The values of C are called output values and the
set of output values produced by the domain is
called the range.
3
Function Notation
Consider the function
x
f ( x)
x 3
The x are the input values and f(x), read f of x, are
the output values.
The domain is the set of positive real numbers
including 0 and excepting 3. (Why?) The output
values produced by the domain is the range.
Sometimes the symbol y is used instead of f(x).
4
Function and Equations
An equation is produced when a function takes on
a specific output value.
eg f(x) = 3x + 6 is a function.
When f(x) = 0, then the equation becomes
0 = 3x + 6
which can be easily solved (to give x=-2)
5
This is shown graphically as follows:
f (x )
(0,6)
(2,0)
x
f ( x) 0
6
Graphing Functions
Input and output values form coordinate pairs:
x, f(x) or (x,y).
x values measure the distance from the origin in the
horizontal direction and f(x) values the distance
from the origin in the vertical direction.
To plot a straight line (linear function), 2 sets of
coordinates (3 sets is better) must be calculated. For
other functions, a selection of x values should be
made and coordinates calculated.
7
Example: Linear Function
Graph f(x) = 2x - 4
x
3
0
3
f ( x)
2(3) 4 10
2(0) 4 4
2(3) 4 2
(3,10)
(0,4)
(3, 2)
8
f (x )
2
3
3
x
4
f ( x) 2 x 4
9
Example: Quadratic Function
Graph the function:
f ( x) 2 x 2 5 x 2
At the y-intercept, x = 0, so
f ( x) 2 0 5 0 2 2
2
and the coordinate is (0,2).
10
At the x-intercept, f(x) = 0, so
0 2 x 2 5x 2
5 (5) 2 4 2 2
x
2 2
53
4
2 or 0.5
and the coordinates are (2,0) and (0.5,0).
11
b
Vertex: x
2a
5
1.25
2(2)
When x 1.25,
2
f ( x) 2(1.25) 5(1.25) 2 1.125
The coordinates of the vertex are: (1.25, -1.125).
12
f (x )
2 (0,2)
f ( x) 2 x 2 5 x 2
(0.5,0)
1
2
(2,0)
x
-1
(1.25, -1.125)
13
Linear Functions
All linear functions (or equations) have the
following features:
a slope or gradient (m)
a y-intercept (b)
If (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are two points on the line then
the gradient is given by:
y2 y1
m
x2 x1
14
Gradient is a measure of the steepness of the
line.
If m>0, then the line rises from left to right.
If m<0, the line falls from left to right.
A horizontal
line has a gradient of 0; a vertical
line has an undefined gradient.
The y-intercept is calculated by substituting
x = 0 into the equation for the line.
15
All straight line functions can be expressed in
the form
y = mx + b
Note: The standard form equation for linear
functions is Ax + By + C = 0.
Equations in this form are not as useful as when
expressed as y = mx + b.
Equations can be derived in the following way,
depending on what information is given.
16
Deriving Straight Line Functions
1. Given (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)
y y1 y 2 y1
x x1 x2 x1
2. Given m and (x1, y1)
y y1 m( x x1 )
3. Given m and b
y mx b
17
Problem: Depreciation
A tractor costs $60 000 to purchase and has a
useful life of 10 years.
It then has a scrap value of $15 000.
Find the equation for the book value of the
tractor and its value after 6 years.
18
V
60 000
?
15 000
6
10
t
19
Value (V) depends on time (t).
t is called the independent variable and
V the dependent variable.
The independent variable is always plotted on the
horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the
vertical axis.
20
When t 0, V 60000
(0, 60 000)
( x1 , y1 )
When t 10, V 15000
(10, 15 000)
( x2 , y2 )
Given two points, the equation becomes:
y 60000 15000 60000
x0
10 0
21
y 60000
4500
x
y 60000 4500 x
y 4500 x 60000
or more correctly
V 4500t 60000
When t 6, V 4500 6 60000 33000
The book value of the tractor after 6 years is $33000.
22
Example
Suppose a manufacturer of shoes will place on the
market 50 (thousand pairs) when the price is $35
(per pair) and 35 (thousand pairs) when the price is
$30 (per pair).
Find the supply equation, assuming that price p
and quantity q are linearly related.
(50, 35) ( x1 , y )
1
(35, 30) ( x2 , y2 )
23
(50, 35) ( x1 , y1 )
(35, 30) ( x2 , y2 )
y y1 y2 y1
x x1 x2 x1
y 35 30 35
x 50 35 50
y 35 1
x 50 3
1
y 35 ( x 50)
3
24
y 35 0.33x 16.67
y 0.33x 16.67 35
y 0.33 x 18.33
The supply equation is
p 0.33q 18.33
25
Example
For sheep maintained at high environmental
temperatures, respiratory rate r (per minute)
increases as wool length l (in centimetres) decreases.
Suppose sheep with a wool length of 2cm have an
(average) respiratory rate of 160, and those with a
wool length of 4cm have a respiratory rate of 125.
Assume that r and l are linearly related.
(a) Find an equation that gives r in terms of l.
(b) Find the respiratory rate of sheep with a wool
length of 1cm.
26
(a) Find r in terms of l
l is independent
r is dependent
Coordinates will be of the form: (l, r).
(2,160) ( x1 , y1 )
(4,125) ( x2 , y2 )
y 2 y1 125 160
m
17.5
x2 x1
42
27
(2, 160), (4, 125)
m 17.5
y y1 m( x x1 )
y 160 17.5( x 2)
y 17.5 x 35 160
y 17.5 x 195
r 17.5l 195
28
(b) When l=1
r 17.5(1) 195
177.5
When wool length is 1cm, average respiratory
rate will be 177.5 per minute.
29
Quadratic Functions
All quadratic functions can be written in the
form
f ( x) ax 2 bx c
where a, b and c are constants and a 0.
30
Elementary Supply and Demand
In general, the higher the price, the smaller the
demand is for some item and as the price falls
demand will increase.
p
Demand curve
q
31
Concerning supply, the higher the price, the larger
the quantity of some item producers are willing to
supply and as the price falls, supply decreases.
p
Supply curve
q
32
Note that these descriptions of supply and
demand imply that they are dependent on
price (that is, price is the independent
variable) but it is a business standard to plot
supply and demand on the horizontal axis
and price on the vertical axis.
33
Example: Equilibrium price
The supply of radios is given as a function of
price by
S p 2 p 2 8 p 12,
2 p5
and demand by
D p p 2 18 p 68,
0 p5
Find the equilibrium price.
34
Graphically,
70
equilibrium
price
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
p
Note the restricted domains.
35
Algebraically,
D(p) = S(p)
p 18 p 68 2 p 8 p 12
2
2
p 2 p 18 p 8 p 68 12 0
2
2
p 10 p 56 0
a 1, b 10, c 56
2
10 (10) 2 4(1)(56)
p
2 1
p 14 or 4
36
-14 is not in the domain of the functions and so
is rejected.
The equilibrium price is $4.
37
Example: Maximising profit
If an apple grower harvests the crop now, she will
pick on average 50kg per tree and will receive
$0.89 per kg.
For each week she waits, the yield per tree
increases by 5kg while the price decreases by
$0.03 per kg.
How many weeks should she wait to maximise
sales revenue?
38
Weight and Price can both be expressed as
functions of time (t).
W(t) = 50 + 5t
P(t) = 0.89 - 0.03t
Revenue Weight Price
W (t ) P (t )
(50 5t )(0.89 0.03t )
44.5 1.5t 4.45t 0.15t 2
0.15t 2 2.95t 44.5
39
a 0.15 0
Maximum occurs at
b
2.95
t
9.83
2a 2(0.15)
She should wait 9.83 weeks
( 10 weeks) for maximum revenue.
(R = $59 per tree)
40