1.4: Linear Functions
- Page ID
- 239964
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Stalactite Growth (Linear Model)
The length of a stalactite is modeled by the formula:
\(L(t)=17.75+\left(\frac{1}{250}\right) t\), where \(\mathrm{L}(\mathrm{t})\) represents the length (in inches) and t is the time in years since measurement.
[a)] Enter \(L(t)=17.75+\left(\frac{1}{250}\right) t\) into Desmos.
[b)] Identify the vertical intercept and explain what it represents in context.
[c)] Use the graph to estimate the stalactite's length after 500 years. Compare with the algebraic calculation.
Slope from Two Points
[a)] Plot the points \((3,5)\) and \((9,23)\) in Desmos.
[b)] Use Desmos to draw the line through the points and confirm the slope visually.
[c)] Describe how the steepness of the line matches your calculation.
Car Depreciation
A new Toyota RAV4 costs \(\$ 23,500\). The car's value depreciates linearly to \(\$ 18,823\) in three years.
[a)] Write the equation for the car's value.
[b)] Graph the function in Desmos.
[c)] Use the graph to estimate the car's value after 5 years.
[d)] Compare this with your algebraic calculation.
Advertising and Units Sold
A company sells 300 units with no advertising. For each additional \$5000 spent, 20 more units are sold.
[a)] Write a linear equation for units sold.
[b)] Enter your equation into Desmos.
[c)] Use the graph to estimate sales at \$40,000 spent.
[d)] Zoom out and describe how the slope represents rate of change in sales.
Graphing Nonlinear Function}
Consider \(y=-x\left(\dfrac{x-1000}{900}\right)\).
[a)] Enter the function into Desmos.
[b)] Adjust the viewing window to \(-500 \leq \mathrm{x} \leq 500\) and \(-500 \leq \mathrm{y} \leq 500\).
[c)] Compare how the graph looks zoomed in vs. zoomed out. Explain why it appears linear at first and nonlinear at a larger scale.

