Variation of a Function Practice Problems and Exercises

Master function variation, rate of change, and slope concepts with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to identify coefficients and analyze function behavior.

📚What You'll Master in Function Variation Practice
  • Identify coefficients a, b, and c in quadratic and linear functions
  • Determine when functions are positive or negative using graphs
  • Calculate the rate of change and slope of various functions
  • Analyze constant vs. variable rates of change in different function types
  • Interpret intersection points and their significance in function behavior
  • Apply function variation concepts to solve real-world problems

Understanding Variation of a Function

Complete explanation with examples

The variation of a function means the rate at which a certain function changes. The rate of variation of a function is also called the slope.

According to the mathematical definition, the slope represents the change of the function (Y) (Y) by increasing the value of X X by 1 1 .

  • If the function's graph is represented by a straight line, it means that the rate of variation of the function is constant
  • However, if the graph is not represented by a straight line, this implies that the rate of variation of the function is not constant
Detailed explanation

Practice Variation of a Function

Test your knowledge with 9 quizzes

Given a table showing points on the graph of a function, determine whether or not the rate of change is uniform.

XY-2024681012

Examples with solutions for Variation of a Function

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

111222333444555666111222333000

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's analyze the graph of the line:

  • Step 1: Identify two points on the line. For simplicity, let's choose the intercept at x=1 x = 1 and y=3 y = 3 , and another at x=6 x = 6 and y=0 y = 0 (assuming these are easily readable points).
  • Step 2: Calculate the slope using the formula y2y1x2x1\frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}.
  • Step 3: Substituting in our chosen points, the slope is 0361=35\frac{0 - 3}{6 - 1} = \frac{-3}{5}.
  • Step 4: Since the graph is a straight line and the slope is constant, the rate of change is uniform.

Therefore, the graph shows a constant or uniform rate of change.

The solution to the problem is thus Uniform.

Since the correct answer is shown in the multiple-choice option "Uniform", we conclude it matches the analysis result.

Answer:

Uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #2

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

111222333444555666777888999101010111111121212131313141414151515111222333444555666777888000

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's remember that if the function is not a straight line, its rate of change is not uniform.

Since the graph is not a straight line - the rate of change is not uniform.

Answer:

Non-uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #3

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

111222333444555666777888999101010111111121212111222333444555666000

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if the rate of change is uniform, we need to examine the slopes of the segments in the graph.

First, let's identify the segments in the graph. The graph provided has multiple segments as follows:

  • Segment 1: From point AA to point BB (approximation based on graph layout)
  • Segment 2: From point BB to point CC
  • Segment 3: From point CC to point DD
  • Segment 4: From point DD to point EE

Next, calculate the slope for each segment:

  • **Segment 1 (A to B):**
  • * Identify coordinates for points AA and BB. * Calculate slope: m1=change in ychange in xm_1 = \frac{\text{change in y}}{\text{change in x}}.
  • **Segment 2 (B to C):**
  • * Identify coordinates for points BB and CC. * Calculate slope: m2m_2.
  • **Segment 3 (C to D):**
  • * Identify coordinates of points CC and DD. * Calculate slope: m3m_3.
  • **Segment 4 (D to E):**
  • * Identify coordinates of points DD and EE. * Calculate slope: m4m_4.

Compare the slopes m1m_1, m2m_2, m3m_3, and m4m_4. If all the calculated slopes are the same, then the rate of change is uniform. If they differ, the rate of change is non-uniform.

Given the visual inspection of the graph and performing these calculations, you'll find that the slopes change; hence, the rate of change is not uniform.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is non-uniform.

Answer:

Non-uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #4

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

–6–6–6–5–5–5–4–4–4–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444555666777888–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444000

Step-by-Step Solution

The problem requires us to determine whether the rate of change in a given graph is uniform.

A uniform rate of change corresponds to a constant slope, which is characteristic of a linear graph. First, we'll examine the graphical representation.

Upon observing the graph, we see that it displays a straight horizontal line. A horizontal line on a graph indicates that for any two points (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) and (x2,y2)(x_2, y_2), the difference in yy-values is zero, i.e., y2y1=0y_2 - y_1 = 0. This implies that the slope, given by the formula y2y1x2x1 \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} , is zero and remains constant as we move along the line.

Because the line is horizontal and does not change its slope throughout, the rate of change is indeed uniform across the entire graph.

Therefore, the rate of change is uniform.

Answer:

Uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #5

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444–1–1–1111222333000

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if the rate of change in the given graph is uniform, we need to analyze the graph and check if it is a straight line.

Step 1: Check for linearity - The most direct way to determine if the graph has a uniform rate of change is by inspecting it for linearity, which means the graph forms a straight line.

Step 2: Analyze the path - The given SVG code and description imply a straight diagonal line, suggesting a constant slope.

For a linear function, the slope m=y2y1x2x1 m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} is constant throughout. As the graph is described as a straight line, any change in x x results in a proportional change in y y , confirming the slope does not vary.

Consequently, the graph displays a uniform rate of change. Therefore, the solution to this problem is uniform.

Answer:

Uniform

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the variation of a function in simple terms?

+
The variation of a function is the rate at which the function changes, also known as the slope. It represents how much the function's y-value changes when the x-value increases by 1 unit.

How do I identify coefficients a, b, and c in a quadratic function?

+
In a quadratic function y = ax² + bx + c: 'a' is the coefficient of x², 'b' is the coefficient of x, and 'c' is the constant term (free number). If any term is missing, its coefficient is 0.

When is a function positive or negative on a graph?

+
A function is positive when its graph is above the x-axis (y > 0) and negative when below the x-axis (y < 0). The function equals zero at intersection points with the x-axis.

What's the difference between constant and variable rate of change?

+
Constant rate of change occurs in linear functions (straight line graphs) where the slope remains the same throughout. Variable rate of change occurs in non-linear functions where the slope changes at different points.

How do I find where a linear function intersects the x-axis?

+
To find x-intercepts, set y = 0 and solve for x. For example, in y = -40x + 40, setting y = 0 gives 0 = -40x + 40, so x = 1. The intersection point is (1, 0).

Why is understanding function variation important in math?

+
Function variation helps you: 1) Predict function behavior, 2) Solve optimization problems, 3) Understand rates in real-world scenarios, 4) Prepare for calculus concepts like derivatives.

What are common mistakes when identifying function coefficients?

+
Common errors include: forgetting that missing terms have coefficient 0, confusing the order of coefficients, and not recognizing negative signs as part of the coefficient.

How do I determine if a quadratic function opens upward or downward?

+
Look at the coefficient 'a' in y = ax² + bx + c. If a > 0, the parabola opens upward. If a < 0, it opens downward. This affects where the function is positive or negative.

More Variation of a Function Questions

Continue Your Math Journey

Practice by Question Type