Prentice Hall Algebra 1 and Algebra and Trigonometry

By: Paul A. Foerster

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: Applications are handled by creating mathematical models of phenomena in the real world. Students must select a kind of function that fits a given situation, and derive an equation that suits the information in the problem. The equation is then used to predict values of y when x is given or values of x when y is given. Sometimes students must use the results of their work to make interpretations about the real world, such as what "slope" means, or why there cannot be people as small as in Gulliver's Travels. The problems require the students to use many mathematical concepts in the same problem. This is in contrast to the traditional "word problems" of elementary algebra, in which the same one concept is used in many problems.