Lesson 1: Exploring Rational Functions

 

Focus

 

wagon: Photos.com/Thinkstock; vintage truck: iStockphoto/Thinkstock: semi: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

 

Two main categories of transport on roads are the transportation of goods and the transportation of people. Early methods of road transport were horses or oxen-drawn carts over dirt tracks that may have been animal trails. In 1905, when Alberta became a province, a revolution in travel was taking place with the motor car and truck becoming a common sight in Western Canada.

The choice for road transportation of goods depends on the weight and volume of the shipment, the distance, and the nature of the goods. For short distances and light, small shipments, a van or pick-up truck may be used. On the other hand, for long distances and heavy loads, the commercial semitrailer truck is the preferred choice. These choices affect rates such as speed, fuel consumption, and cost of transportation.

Analyzing the transportation of goods or people can be a complex process. Rates that involve time, distance, money, and fuel can be used to help make decisions about transportation. How can you mathematically describe rates?

 

In this lesson you will begin to explore the graphs of rational functions. You will use transformations as a tool to help you draw and interpret these graphs.

 

Lesson Outcomes

At the end of this lesson you will be able to

• graph and interpret a rational function
• use transformations to graph a rational function

Lesson Question

You will investigate the following question:

• How can rational functions be graphed and interpreted?

Assessment

Your assessment may be based on a combination of the following tasks:

• completion of the Lesson 1 Assignment (Download the Lesson 1 Assignment and save it in your course folder now.)
• course folder submissions from Try This and Share activities
• additions to Glossary Terms
• work under Project Connection

Self-Check activities are for your own use. You can compare your answers to suggested answers to see if you are on track. If you have difficulty with concepts or calculations, contact your teacher.

 

Remember that the questions and activities you will encounter provide you with the practice and feedback you need to successfully complete this course. You should complete all questions and place your responses in your course folder. Your teacher may wish to view your work to check on your progress and to see if you need help.

 

Time

Each lesson in Mathematics 30-1 Learn EveryWare is designed to be completed in approximately two hours. You may find that you require more or less time to complete individual lessons. It is important that you progress at your own pace, based on your individual learning requirements.

 

This time estimation does not include time required to complete Going Beyond activities or the Module Project.