5.3-Function Rules, Tables, and Graphs
What are the three ways we can represent a function?
Example 1: The temperature after midnight in Somerset is 1 degree Fahrenheit and drops ½ a degree
per hour for the next 8 hours. The function rule for temperature
models this situation
for h hours after midnight. Use a table and a graph.
Step 1: Make a table. Choose three values to make a table of values.
h
t(h)
Step 2: Plot points for the graph, and join the points to form a line. Name the axes.
1. Describe domain of the function in words using correct units.
2. Describe the range of the function in words using correct units.
3. Describe the pattern of growth in temperature as it relates to hours after midnight.
4. How do the points (2, 0) and (4, -1) show the pattern of growth in temperature as it relates to
hours after midnight?
5. What does t(0)= 1 represent in our function in terms of time and temperature?
Example 2: At the local video store you can rent a video game for $3. It costs you $5 per month to
operate your Xbox. The total monthly cost C(v) depends on the number of video games, v, you rent. Use
the function C(v) = 5+3v to make a table of values and a graph.
V
C(v)
1. Describe the domain of the function in words, using correct units.
2. Describe the range of the function in words, using correct units.
3. Describe the pattern of growth in cost as it relates to the number of video games rented.
4. How do the points (2, 11) and (6, 23) show the pattern of growth as it relates to the number of
video games rented.
5. What does C(0)= 5 represent in our function in cost and number of games rented?
6. What numeric values of video games can you NOT use in the domain of this function and why?
7. Why shouldn’t we connect the dots in graph on the video game problem, but we can on the
temperature problem?

__________________ = data where numbers between any two values have meaning.
Examples:

_________________ = data that involve a count of items, such as number of people or
number of cars. For this data, we indicate each item with a ____________.
Example 3: A company charges $300 for making a master copy of a CD and designing the art. It charges
$2.50 for burning each CD. Use the function rule P(c) = 300 +2.5c. Make a table of values and a graph.
a. Make a table of values and a graph.
c
P(c)
100
200
300
450
500
b. Describe the domain of the function in words, using correct units.
c. Describe the range of the function in words, using correct units.
d. Describe the pattern of growth in cost as it relates to the number of CDs produced.
e. What is P(0)? What does it represent in terms of this problem? Show how you found P(0).
f.
Determine whether the function rule models discrete or continuous data and justify your
answer.
Homework: Page 266 # 2, 12, 13, 14, 26