A.4.2.1 Back to the Post!

Below are the graphs of some situations you saw before (lesson 1). Each graph represents the distance of a dog from a post as a function of time since the dog owner left to purchase something from a store. Distance is measured in feet and time is measured in seconds. Use the given graphs to answer these questions about each of the three days:
  1. How far away was the dog from the post 60 seconds after the owner left?
  2. How far away was the dog from the post when the owner left?
  3. The owner returned 160 seconds after he left. How far away was the dog from the post at that time?
  4. How many seconds passed before the dog reached the farthest point it could reach from the post?

Consider the statement, “The dog was 2 feet away from the post after 80 seconds.” Do you agree with the statement?

What was the distance of the dog from the post 100 seconds after the owner left?

Sometimes we need to be pretty specific when talking about functions. But to be specific could require many words and become burdensome. We will learn about a way to describe functions clearly and succinctly.