Applications of Slope and Intercept

This lecture series explores the meaning of slope and intercepts in the context of real-life situations. Watch the videos and complete the interactive exercises.

Graphing linear relationships word problems - Questions

Answers

1. The pizza reached the desired temperature of 80^{\circ} degrees Celsius after 12 minutes. This is the same as saying that when Time was 12, Temperature was 80.

Therefore, the graph of the relationship should pass through the point (12, 80).

We are also given the rate of change of the relationship: 7.5^{\circ} degrees Celsius per minute. This means that when Time increases by 1, Temperature increases by 7.57.

Therefore, the graph should also pass through the point (12+1,80+7.5), which is the point (13,87.5). However, this point doesn't appear on the grid! We need to find an equivalent pair of corresponding changes that would help us find a point that we can graph.

Note, for instance, that when Time decreases by 2, Temperature decreases by 2 \cdot 7.5=15. Therefore, the graph should pass through the point ( 12-2,80-15), which is the point (10,65).

Now we can define the graph of the relationship.


2. The water level reached the desired height of 220 centimeters after 20 minutes. This is the same as saying that when Time was 20, Water level was 220.

Therefore, the graph of the relationship should pass through the point (20, 220).

We are also given the rate of change of the relationship: 6 centimeters per minute. This means that when Time increases by 1, Water level increases by 6.

Therefore, the graph should also pass through the point  (20+1, 220+6) , which is the point  (21, 226 ). However, this point doesn't appear on the grid! We need to find an equivalent pair of corresponding changes that would help us find a point that we can graph.

Note, for instance, that when Time decreases by 5, Water level decreases by 5 \cdot 6=30. Therefore, the graph should pass through the point (20-5, 220-30), which is the point ( 15, 190).

Now we can define the graph of the relationship.


3. Sean finished all the slushy after 50 seconds. This is the same as saying that when Time was 50, Slushy was 0.

Therefore, the graph of the relationship should pass through the point  (50, 0).

We are also given the rate of change of the relationship: 5 milliliters per second. This means that when Time increases by 1, Slushy decreases by 5.

Therefore, the graph should also pass through the point (50+1, 0-5), which is the point (51, -5). However, this point doesn't appear on the grid (and it doesn't make sense either)! We need to find an equivalent pair of corresponding changes that would help us find a point that we can graph.

Note, for instance, that when Time decreases by 5, Slushy increases by 5 \cdot 5=25. Therefore, the graph should pass through the point (50-5,0+25), which is the point (45, 25).

Now we can define the graph of the relationship.


4. When Rip van Winkle fell asleep his beard was 8 millimeters long. This is the same as saying that when Time was 0, Beard was 8.

Therefore, the graph of the relationship should pass through the point  (0,8).

We are also given the rate of change of the relationship: 2 millimeters per week. This means that when Time increases by 1, Beard increases by 2.

Therefore, the graph should also pass through the point (0+1,8+2), which is the point (1,10). However, this point doesn't appear on the grid! We need to find an equivalent pair of corresponding changes that would help us find a point that we can graph.

Note, for instance, that when Time increases by 2, Beard increases by 2 \cdot 2=4. Therefore, the graph should pass through the point (0+2,8+4), which is the point (2, 12).

Now we can define the graph of the relationship.