UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE
MATHS ASSIGNMENT
COURSE: College Algebra
COURSE CODE: MATH 1201-01
Task 1:Quadratic Functions
Given equation:
h(t)=−-0.5t^2 + v_0t + h_0
Where:
h(t) = height in meters
t = time in seconds
v_0 = initial velocity (0 m/s)
h_0= initial height (210 meters)
(i)
(a) Domain and Range of h(t)h(t)h(t):
Domain: The scenario starts when the jumper leaps and ends when they touch the river, the
domain is the time between 0 and the time when the jumper touches the river. To find this time,
solve for when h(t)=0
0=− -0.5t^2 + 210
t^2 = 420
t= sqrt{420} ≈20.49 seconds
Thus, the domain is 0≤t≤20.49 seconds.
Range: The maximum height is 210 meters (initial height). The minimum height is 0 meters.
The range is 0≤h(t)≤210 meters.
Physical significance: The domain represents the time from the start of the jump until the
jumper touches the river, and the range represents the height of the jumper at any time during the
jump.
(b) Vertex of h(t)
The vertex of a quadratic function h(t)= -0.5t^2 + 210 occurs at t=-\frac{b}{2a}
Since v_0 = 0, the vertex time is:
t= -\frac{0}{2(-0.5)} = 0
At t = 0, the height is 210 meters, which means the vertex is (0,210).
Interpretation: The vertex represents the initial point where the bungee jumper begins the jump
at their maximum height, which is 210 meters.
(c) Time and Maximum Height.
From part (b), the maximum height is 210 meters, and it occurs at t=0seconds.
(d) Height at t=11meters:
To find when the jumper reaches 11 meters, solve:
h(t)=-0.5t^2 + 210 = 11
−0.5t^2 =11 - 210
−0.5t^2 = -199
t^2 = 398
t= sqrt{398} ≈19.95 seconds
Thus, the jumper reaches 11 meters at approximately 19.95 seconds.
(e) Height after 20 seconds:
Substitute t=20 into the height equation:
h(20)=−0.5(400)+210 = -0.5(400) + 210 = -200 + 210 =10 meters
At 20 seconds, the jumper is 10 meters above the river. This means they are very close to
touching the river.
(f) Time to touch the river:
At 20.49 seconds.
(ii) Graphical Understanding:
(a) Graph of h(t)=−-0.5t^2 + 210
The graph is a parabola opening downwards, with a vertex at (0,210). The x-axis represents time
in seconds, and the y-axis represents height in meters. I will include this in the final Word
document.
(b) Height Increasing/Decreasing Intervals:
The height decreases throughout the jump. Therefore, the height is decreasing for t>0.
(c) Axis of Symmetry:
The axis of symmetry is at t=0, which is the time of maximum height. Since the bungee jumper
starts the jump immediately, there is no increasing interval; the height decreases as the jumper
falls.
(d) Intercepts:
t-intercept: The t-intercept is t=20.49 seconds when the jumper touches the river.
h-intercept: The h-intercept is h(0) = 210, representing the initial height of the jump.
TASK 2. LINEAR FUNCTIONS
(i) Equation of the Road (Connecting Points A(5,7) and B(6,5)):
The slope between two points is calculated using m = frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}
m=\frac{5 - 7}{6 - 5} = \frac{-2}{1} =−2
Using the point-slope form - y_1 = m(x - x_1), with point A(5,7):
y - 7 = -2(x - 5)
y= -2x + 10 + 7
y= -2x + 17y=−2x+17
Thus, the equation of the road is y=-2x + 17
(ii) Slope of the Road:
The slope between A and B is −2, meaning the road decreases in elevation as one travels from A
to B.
(iii) Changes in Elevation (Safety):
The elevation decreases by 2 units for every unit increase in horizontal distance, which is
important for ensuring that the road is safe and not too steep.
(iv) Parallel and Perpendicular Routes:
A parallel road will have the same slope:y = -2x + C, where C is any constant.
A perpendicular road will have a slope that is the negative reciprocal, m=12m = \frac{1}
{2}m=21, so the equation is y=\frac{1}{2}x + D.
(v) Graphical Map:
The graph will show the original road along with parallel and perpendicular routes.
(vi) Intercepts:
x-intercept: y=0, solve for x
0=−2x+17⇒x=8.5
y-intercept: y(0)=17
These intercepts represent important access points.
(vii) Number of Parallel and Perpendicular Roads:
There are infinitely many parallel and perpendicular roads possible by changing the y-intercepts.
TASK 3. LINEAR FUNCTIONS
(i) Linear Function for Pricing:
Let C(x) represent the cost, where x is the number of electricity units consumed.
C(x)= 50 + 0.78x
Where:
C(x) is the total cost in dollars.
x is the number of units consumed.
50 is the fixed charge.
0.78 is the cost per unit of electricity.
(ii) Average Rate of Change:
The rate of change is constant at 0.78 dollars per unit. This directly impacts a consumer’s bill
because the more electricity consumed, the higher the total cost, increasing by $0.78 for each
additional unit.
REFERENCES
Stitz, C., & Zeager, J. (2013). College algebra. Stitz Zeager Open Source Mathematics.
[Link]
Yoshiwara, K. (2020). Modeling, functions, and graphs. American Institute of Mathematics.
[Link]
