Lesson 7. Tabular method of task of function

Function Tables.

A function table displays the inputs and corresponding outputs of function. Function tables can be vertical (up and down) or horizontal (side to side).

In this lesson, we are using horizontal tables. So in out examples, out function tables will have two rows, one that displays the inputs and one that displays the corresponding outputs of a function.

EXAMPLE:

If you were to go to the store with £12.00 to buy some candy bars that were £2.00 each, you total cost would be determined by how many candy bars you bought. Therefore, you total cost is a function of the number of candy bars you buy.

Let’s represent this function in a table. We recognize that we only have £12.00, so at most, we can buy 6 candy bars. We put all this information into a table:

By looking at the table, I can see what my total cost would be based on how many candy bars I buy. For example, if I were to buy 5 candy bars, my total cost would be £10.00.

Another example of a function is displayed in this menu.

EXAMPLE:

Notice that the cost of a drink is determined by its size. Therefore, the cost of a drink is a function of its size. We can represent this using a table. Our inputs are the drink sizes, and our outputs are the cost of the drink.

We can look at our function table to see what the cost of a drink is based on what size it is.

Function Table Rules.

Each function is a rule, so each function table has a rule that describes the relationship between the inputs and the outputs. Sometimes a rule is best described in words, and other times, it is best described using an equation. We can observe this by looking at out two earlier examples.

Consider our candy bar example. Notice that for each candy bar that I buy, the total cost goes up by £2.00. That is, if I let c represent my total cost, and I let x represent the number of candy bars that I buy, then c = 2x, where x is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 6 (because we only have £12). This is the equation from of the rule that relates the inputs of this table to the outputs.

Now consider our drink example. In this case, out rule is best described verbally since our inputs are drink sizes, not numbers. This, our rule for this function table would be that a small corresponds to £1.19, a medium corresponds to £1.39, and a biggie corresponds to £1.59.

Lesson 7

•  Test 1