Mathematical+Reflections,+p+68

T.C. Mathematical Reflections P.68 23 September 2008 Day 15 Math 7C

1. Write a letter to a friend explaining how to use a graphing calculator to make graphs and tables. Use specific examples to illustrate your explanation. Hi friend, To use a graphing calculator you first need to turn it on using the ,**on**, button in the bottom left of the calculator. Then to make a graph press ,**y,** and then type in your equation (minus the y).Then if you need a letter then press ,**alpha**, and the button with the letter that you need that is in green. Then press, **Enter**, and there is your graph. And to clear what you have made press ,**clear**. To make a table press ,**2nd**, and then ,**window**, and then where it says table put in the number you want the x-axis to up by and then press ,**2nd**, and ,**graph**, and there is your table. To turn off press ,**2nd**, and ,**on**, at the same time. Hope this helps friend!

2. The number of tents the tour organizers need is 1/2 the number of customers. a. Write an equation for a rule you can use to calculate the number of tents for any number of customers. The number of tents needed is 1/2 the customers ... t=1/2n

b. Does your equation give you enough information to make a table and graph? Why or why not? Yes, because if you know what the letters in the equation means then you can make titles. And then you can figure it out but if you had the rule in sentence form instead to me it would make more sense and it would be easier to find.

3.Think of a situation in which you can make a table and graph but not an equation? Yes, if there is no pattern in the data then you can not make an equation. If there is a wave or zig zigs that have no pattern then i cannot make an equation out of that.

Summary:

My summary is that to make an equation you need a pattern in the data. The x-axis doesn't always have to up by 1's. To turn on a graphing calculator you need to press on and to turn off do the same just press 2nd at the same time. To make a graph press y= and type in the equation you want and Enter. To make a table you need to press 2nd then window and type in (where it says table) the number value it goes up by on the x-axis. And press 2nd graph and there is your table.