Algabraic Functions, real life, and teaching them to your students - Essay Example

An Example of a Function Functions can be used to help model real world data as well as extrapolate future data through analysis. One of the ways inwhich modeling functions will be useful is in relation to the gas and energy crisis. Many companies are looking at trying to make cars more economically and ecologically efficient. Converting the traditional gas-powered automobiles into hybrid cars that are fuel-efficient is how companies are accomplishing this. Car engines are now using a combination of electric and gas efficient powered motors.

The more fuel efficient a car engine is, the less money that is had to be spent annually on powering the car. Therefore, this problem can be modeled as creating a function in which the miles per gallon (MPG) is a function of the money in dollars spent annually powering the car. Context In trying to decide what type of car to get, Ryan is looking at what kind of car he can get for the right price. Since he is a college student, he is looking for a car that gets good mileage so that he can spend less money on gas and still be able to drive around.

The car dealership gave him a guide in which he could compare the amount of money he would need depending on the type of vehicle he bought. The larger, inefficient trucks typically get about 10MPG and will cost approximately $2,700 in gas per year. The dealership has it listed in increments of increasing 5 MPG, ending with the most economically and ecologically efficient cars which get around 50 MPG and only cost $540 annually to drive around. Table MPG Cost per Year in Dollars 10 $2,700.00 15 $1,800.

00 20 $1,350.00 25 $1,080.00 30 $900.00 35 $771.43 40 $675.00 45 $600.00 50 $540.00 Use of Words The lower the MPG of a vehicle, the larger the annual cost is to fund the gas for travel. The higher the MPG of a vehicle, the smaller the annual cost is to fund the gas for travel. Graphing In terms of the context of this problem, it would most likely be used as an example for those that are in middle school. The table is useful for those lacking how to model the data using algebraic functions. However, the table can still show them the relationship between MPG and how much it costs to operate the vehicle.

The graphing and modeling concept would be for those students that have knowledge of how to relate numeric values into algebraic functions.