Functions and Graphs

Problem:

I live 8 miles from campus. It takes me 15 minutes to drive to work.

What is my average speed?

One day, just as I was parking a Highway Patrol officer pulled in beside me. He gave me a speeding ticket. I protested that I could not have been speeding because my speed from home to campus was 32 miles an hour. Who is right?

Pair up with a neighbor. Decide whose side you are going to be on and sketch a distance versus time graph for my trip that would be an argument for your side. Discuss your graphs.

Definition: A function is a rule that associates with each number (object) in a certain set of numbers (objects) one and only one number (object) in another set.

Questions for discussion

• What mathematics did you learn today?

How would you describe the mathematics you did today to an advocate of traditional school mathematics

Copyright 2002