Welcome to MS 101
Intermediate Algebra
Chapter 1
Linear Equations and Linear Functions
•
•
•
•
•
Qualitative Graphs
Graphing Linear Equations
Slope
Finding Linear Equations
Functions
1.1 Qualitative Graphs
• Definition: Graph without scaling (tick marks and
their numbers) on the axis.
Medication Costs
p
price
Linear Curve
Time
t
Independent/Dependent Variables
• Price p is dependent on the year t.
• (p is dependent of t) p is a dependent
variable
• Year t does not depend on the price p.
• (t is independent of p) t is an independent
variable
Examples
• You are taking a patient’s pulse counting the
beats b per minute m.
• The number of people n that can run m miles.
• Waiting inline in the cafeteria for lunch. Use n for
number of people in front and w for the wait
time.
• Answers:
» Independent - m, n, n
» Dependent - b, m, w
Dependent
Variable
Independent
Variable
Intercepts
Average Age of Nurses
m
Average Age
A
m-intercept
A-intercept
n-intercept
parabola
n
Years Since 1900
t
• An intercept of a curve is the point where
the curve intersects an axis (or axes).
Graph Characteristics
• Increasing Curve
– upward from left to right
• Decreasing Curve
– downward from left to right
• Quadrants
Examples
• Height of a ball thrown straight up
• The temperature in Celsius of
boiled water placed in a freezer
• Heart rate of a person on a treadmill
• The value of a car after a fixed
as the pace is steadily increased
amount of years