Reading Assignments for Precalculus
    Fall 1999, Math 100

    CHAPTER 2



    Be sure to check back often, because assignments may change!
    Last modified: September 22, 1999


    Due Friday 9/24 at 9am

    Review: guidelines for submitting reading assignments

    Section 2.1: Introduction

    Section 2.2: Linear Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 9/24

    Reading questions:

    1. Find the slope of the line connecting the points (1,2) and (2,4).
    2. Using the slope you found in (1), the point (1,2), and the formula for the point-slope form of the line, find the equation of the line which connects (1,2) and (2,4).
    3. Find the y-coordinate of the point on this line which has x-coordinate x=-1.

    Reminders:


    Due Monday 9/27 at 9am

    Review: guidelines for homework presentation
    Section 2.2: Linear Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 9/27

    Reading questions:

      The height of a ball is measured at several times, and the values are given below:
      t 8 10 12 14
      h(t) 50 35 20 5
    1. How can we quickly tell that the height and the time have a linear relationship?
    2. Which variable is dependent, and which is independent?
    3. What is the equation of this line?
    4. When does the ball hit the ground?

    Reminder:


    Due Wednesday 9/29 at 9am

    Section 2.2: Linear Functions

    Section 2.3: Exponential Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 9/29

    Reading questions:

    1. Use the point-slope form of the equation of a line to find the equation of the line connecting the points (2,1) and (5,-3).
    2. Suppose the population of Breedonia over the course of the last several years is given below:

      year
      since 1990
      01234
      population
      in thousands
      12.014.417.8020.7424.88

      1. Is the relationship between population and time in Breedonia linear, exponential, or neither, or both? (I rounded to the nearest hundredth, so your answers will be somewhat approximate.)
      2. Find the growth factor by which the population increases each year.
      3. Find an equation which gives the population P as a function of time t.
      4. Bonus:Use this equation to predict the population in the year 2010 (which is t=20).

    Reminder:


    Due Friday 10/1 at 9am

    Section 2.3: Exponential Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/1

    Reading questions:

      A meteorite containing an unknown radioactive element falls to Earth. (Radioactive elements decay to stable (non-radioactive) elements over time.) Scientists measure the rate of decay of this new element closely, and find that every hour, the amount of the new radioactive element still present in the meteorite decays by 13%.

    1. Let Ao be the initial amount of this element. In terms of Ao, how much is left after 1 hour? After 2 hours? After 3 hours? Keep repeating this process until you are ready to:
    2. Find an expression for how much (A) of the radioactive element is left after t hours.
    3. Use the expression you found in (2) to determine how much of the element is left after 24 hours.
    4. Estimate, as best you can, how many hours have passed when half of the original amount is left in the meteorite.

    Reminder:


    Due Monday 10/4 at 9am

    re-read: Guidelines for Homework Presentation
    Section 2.3: Exponential Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/4

    Reading questions:

    1. Consider P(t)=15*(6t). Is 6 a growth or decay factor?
    2. In P(t), what is the growth or decay rate?
    3. Simplify b15/b-6.

    Reminders:


    Due Wednesday 10/6 at 9am

    Section 2.4: Power Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/6

    Reading questions:

    1. For what value(s) of x does x7=x8?
    2. Which power function wins "the race to infinity", y=x7 or y=x8?
    3. Which power function wins "the race to zero", y=x7 or y=x8?

    Reminders:


    Due Friday 10/8 at 9am

    Section 2.4: Power Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/8

    Reading questions:

    1. Could a grasshopper ever be or ever have been the size of a dinosaur? Why or why not?
    2. Evaluate 45/2 without a calculator.
    3. Evaluate 8-2/3 without a calculator.

    Reminders:


    Due Monday 10/11 at 9am

    Nothing! It's Fall Break!


    Due Wednesday 10/13 at 9am

    Review

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/13

    Reading questions:

    Reminder:


    Due Friday 10/15 at 9am

    Section 2.5: Logarithmic Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/15

    Reading questions:

    1. What is log864?
    2. What is log8(1/64)?
    3. What is log8(square root of 8)?

    Reminders:


    Due Monday 10/18 at 9am


    Guide to Writing a Math Paper

    Project 1

    No questions today!

    Reminder:


    Due Wednesday 10/20 at 9am

    Section 2.5: Logarithmic Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/20

    Reading questions:

    1. Use the log properties to simplify log8128.
    2. Solve for t in the equation .5A0=A0(.87)t.

    Reminder:


    Due Friday 10/22 at 9am

    Section 2.5: Logarithmic Functions

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/22

    Reading questions:

    1. Compare the intensity of an earthquake measuring 7.2 (like the one in Turkey) on the Richter scale with one measuring 4.3 (a mere tremor, usually can be slept through).
    2. Compare the intensity of an earthquake measuring 7.7 (like the one in Taiwan) on the Richter scale with one measuring 7.2 (like the one in Turkey).

    Reminders:


    Due Monday 10/25 at 9am

    Review:suggestions for reading a math text
    Section 2.5

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/25

    Reading questions:

    1. Convert the function
      P(t)=4.2(8.5)t
      to an equivalent function having base e.
    2. Convert the function
      I(t)=4.2 log4(t)
      to an equivalent function having base 8.

    Reminder:


    Due Wednesday 10/27 at 9am

    Section 2.6

    Section 2.7

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/27

    Reading questions:

    1. Give a function which (eventually) grows faster than x5000.
    2. Give a function which (eventually) grows slower than x.0001.
    3. Consider the formulas given converting temperatures in degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit, and vice versa.
      • Convert 60oF to degrees Celsius.
      • Convert your result back to degrees Fahrenheit.
    4. Let f(x)=x3. It is a fact that f-1(x)=x1/3. Calculate
      f-1(f(3)).

    Reminder:


    Due Friday 10/29 at 9am

    Section 2.7:

    E-mail Subject Line: Math 100 Your Name 10/29

    Reading questions:

    1. Suppose the graph of a function is increasing and concave up. How would the graph of f-1 behave?

    Reminders:



    Here ends Chapter 2
    Go to Chapter 4!


    Janice Sklensky
    Wheaton College
    Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
    Science Center, Room 103
    Norton, Massachusetts 02766-0930
    TEL (508) 286-3970
    FAX (508) 285-8278
    jsklensk@wheatonma.edu


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