Previously, we learned how to construct a linear relationship between two variables. Now, we'll explore how to express such relationships using function notation.

For example, suppose the height H of a tree, in centimeters, t months after planting it is given by the linear equation

H = 120 + 3t.

According to this linear model,

  • the tree was 120\,\textrm{cm} high when it was planted, and

  • the tree grows by 3\,\textrm{cm} each month.

In practice, we tend to model linear relationships of this kind using function notation, as follows:

H(t) = 120 + 3t

This gives us the following additional information:

  • The height H of the tree depends on the time t since the tree was planted. For this reason, we call H the dependent variable, and t the independent variable.

  • Writing H(t) makes it clear that the height of the tree depends on the time and not vice versa.

We can use our function to make predictions about the tree's height. For example, to find the height of the tree after 36 months, we substitute t = 36 into the height function:

\begin{align*} H(36) &= 120 + 3(36) \\[5pt] &= 120 + 108 \\[5pt] &= 228. \end{align*}

Thus, the tree will be 228 centimeters tall after 36 months.

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The temperature T of a liquid, in degrees Fahrenheit, t minutes after it starts cooling is given by

T(t) = 80 - 1.75t. What will the temperature be after 24 minutes?

EXPLANATION

We are told that the temperature is given by the function

T(t) = 80 - 1.75t, where t represents the number of minutes after cooling starts.

We substitute t = 24 into the temperature function:

\begin{align*} T(24) &= 80 - 1.75(24) \\[5pt] &= 80 - 42 \\[5pt] &= 38. \end{align*}

Thus, the temperature will be 38^\circ\mathrm{F} after 24 minutes.

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The amount $F$ of fertilizer in storage, in kilograms, $t$ days after a restocking is given by

\[ F(t) = 3000 + 150t. \] How much fertilizer will be in storage after $10$ days?

a
$4480$
b
$4520$
c
$4450$
d
$4550$
e
$4500$

The temperature $T$ of a chemical solution, in degrees Celsius, $t$ minutes after the reaction starts is given by

\[ T(t) = 20 - 2.5t. \] What will the temperature be after $12$ minutes?

a
$-12$
b
$-11$
c
$-10$
d
$-9$
e
$-8$

Suppose that the daily profit P, in dollars, of a particular restaurant can be represented by the function

P(n) = 20n - 150, where n is the number of guests visiting the restaurant that day.

Now, suppose we want to interpret the following statement in this context:

P(20) = 250

To interpret this statement, we begin by breaking it down:

  • the input n=20 represents the number of visitors, while

  • the output P = 250 is the corresponding profit.

Therefore, the statement P({\color{blue}20}) = {\color{red}250} can be interpreted as follows:

\qquad When \color{blue}20 visitors come to the restaurant, the restaurant earns a \color{red}\[math]250 profit.

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The number of people living in Pasadena, California, can be modeled by the function N(t) = 1\,750t + 138\,000, where t is the number of years since the year 2011. What does the statement N(3) > N(2) mean in this context?

EXPLANATION

First, we interpret N(3) and N(2) separately:

  • N(3) represents the number of people living in Pasadena 3 years after 2011, that is, in 2014.

  • N(2) represents the number of people living in Pasadena 2 years after 2011, that is, in 2013.

Therefore, the statement N(3) > N(2) means the following:

\qquad "More people lived in Pasadena in 2014 compared to 2013. "

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MJ takes a free throw during a basketball game. The function $h(d) $ models the ball's height from the ground, in meters, when the distance between MJ and the ball is $d$ meters. What does the expression $h(y) =5$ mean in this context?

a
The ball reaches a height of $5$ meters after $y$ seconds
b
The ball travels a total distance of $5$ meters
c
The ball was $5$ meters from the ground when the distance between MJ and the ball was $y$ meters
d
The ball was $y$ meters from the ground when the distance between MJ and the ball was $5$ meters
e
The ball reaches a height of $y$ meters after $5$ seconds

The function $W(t)$ models the amount of water in a tank, in gallons, after $t$ hours of consumption. What does the statement $W(12) < W(3)$ mean in this context?

a
The tank contained less water after $3$ hours than after $12$ hours of consumption.
b
The tank contained more water after $3$ hours than after $12$ hours of consumption.
c
There were more than $12$ gallons of water in the tank after $3$ hours of consumption.
d
There were exactly $12$ gallons of water in the tank after $3$ hours of consumption.
e
There were fewer than $3$ gallons of water in the tank after $12$ hours of consumption.

The function $w(t)$ models the weight of Amy's dog, in pounds, when he was $t$ months old. What does the expression $w(10) =w(14)-2$ mean in this context?

a
The weight of Amy's dog was $10+2$ pounds at the age of $14$ months.
b
Amy's dog lost $2$ pounds in weight between the ages of $10$ and $14$ months.
c
Amy's dog gained $14$ pounds in weight between the ages of $2$ and $10$ months.
d
The weight of Amy's dog was $14-2$ pounds at the age of $10$ months.
e
Amy's dog gained $2$ pounds in weight between the ages of $10$ and $14$ months.

Recall that the daily profit P of a restaurant, in dollars, can be represented by the function

P(n) = 20n - 150, where n is the number of visitors to the restaurant that day.

We can interpret the various parts of the function P(n) as follows:

  • The constant -150 is the amount of profit the restaurant earns when 0 visitors come to the restaurant. In other words, the restaurant loses \[math]150 if no visitors come.

  • The coefficient 20 is the amount of additional profit that the restaurant earns for each visitor that comes to the restaurant.

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The number of hours per year that people in a particular country spent on social media can be modeled by the function h(x)= 12x+305, where x is the number of years since the year 2000. What does the constant 305 mean in this context?

EXPLANATION

Notice that by substituting x=0 into our function, we get h(0) = 12 \cdot 0 + 305 = 305.

The value x=0 corresponds to the year 2000. So in 2000, the people in this country spent 305 hours per year on social media.

Therefore, the constant term 305 represents the number of hours per year that people in this country spent on social media in 2000.

FLAG

The function $h(x) = 30x+57$ gives the average number of hours per year that people in the USA historically have spent on the Internet, where $x$ is the number of years since the year $2000.$ What does the constant $57$ mean in this context?

a
The amount of time spent on the internet decreases by $57$ hours every year.
b
In $2000,$ people spent an average of $57$ hours per year using the Internet.
c
The amount of time spent on the internet increases by $57$ hours every year.
d
People spent an average of $57$ hours per year using the Internet.
e
In $2001,$ people spent an average of $57$ hours per year using the Internet.

The fare, in dollars, that a taxi company charges customers for an $x$-kilometer ride is modeled by the function $f(x) = 0.5 x +5.$ Which of the following statements are true?

  1. The fare for a $1\, \mathrm{km}$ ride is $\$5$
  2. The fare for a $10\, \mathrm{km}$ ride is $\$10$
  3. A customer can get a $4 \, \mathrm{km}$ ride by paying $\$7.$
a
III only
b
I only
c
I and III only
d
I and II only
e
II and III only

The linear function $f(x)$ gives the temperature in a certain city in degrees Celsius, where $x$ is the number of weeks after the summer season ends. On the day the summer season ended, the temperature was $42^\circ.$ Additionally, $2$ weeks after the summer season ended, the temperature decreased to $28^\circ.$ Find $f(x).$

a
$f(x) = 42-7x$
b
$f(x) = 28+x$
c
$f(x) = 35-x$
d
$f(x) = 42+14x$
e
$f(x) = 42-28x$

Alan saves a certain amount of money each month. The total savings he has can be modeled by the function S(x), where x is the number of months since he started saving. How can the following statement be written using the function notation?

\qquad "After 5 months, Alan saved \[math]100 more than he saved after 4 months."

EXPLANATION

S(x) is the amount of money that Alan saved after x months. So,

  • S(5) represents the amount of money that Alan saved after 5 months, and

  • S(4) represents the amount of money that Alan saved after 4 months.

After 5 months, Alan saved \[math]100 more than he did after 4 months, so S(5) is 100 more than S(4). Therefore, we have

S(5) = S(4) + 100.

FLAG

Ken's annual salary can be modeled by the function $S(x)$ where $x$ is the number of years Ken has worked. How can the following statement be written using the function notation?

"After $4$ years, Ken's salary was $\$10\,000$ more than after $2$ years."

a
$S(2) = S(4) + 10\,000$
b
$S(2) > S(4) + 10\,000$
c
$S(4) = S(2) + 10\,000$
d
$S(4) > S(2) + 10\,000$
e
$S(2) + S(4) = 10\,000$

Lisa saves a certain amount of money each week. The amount she saves can be modeled by the function $M(x),$ where $x$ is the number of weeks since she started saving. How can the following statement be written using the function notation?

"After $10$ weeks, Lisa saved more than $\$240.$"

a
$M(240) = 10$
b
$M(10) > 240$
c
$M(240) < 10$
d
$M(240) > 10$
e
$M(10) < 240$
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