Question

HELP: Interpreting graphs

organize CDF from greatest rate of change to least rate of change

Answer 1

The rate of change is just the slope. A line such as y = 8 is horizontal, and doesn't change in value. The rate of change is 0, just like the slope: y = mx + b, m = 0, b = 8

A positive slope (goes up as you go to the right) represents an increasing quantity, and a negative slope (goes down as you go to the right) represents a decreasing quantity.

Answer 2

The steeper the slope is, the greater the rate of change.

Answer 3

ok, so does that mean it is D F C? or no solution?

Answer 4

D and F certainly come before C. I can't really tell for sure if the slopes of D and F are equal but opposite, or if one is larger than the other. Measuring the screen, it looks like the upward leg (where D is) is slightly shorter than the downward leg as it crosses over the extension of the line from C, which implies that the F slope is a little shallower, which would be D F C as you suggest. It's close enough though that if I was the person taking it, and got marked wrong, I'd argue the point armed with a ruler and printout...

Answer 5

Also, the question is a bit ambiguous, in my opinion. Is the "greatest rate of change" the greatest magnitude, or is any upward movement a greater rate of change (since the underlying quantity is increasing) than a downward movement (the underlying quantity is decreasing)?

Answer 6

okay so final answer, DFC? because if I get it wrong, i get points deducted

Answer 7

My interpretation is that DFC is the right answer, but it isn't impossible for me to imagine someone arguing otherwise. On my screen, with the image zoomed way in, the downward slanting line is longer from the apex back to the baseline, and that means it is a somewhat shallower slope.

Answer 8

http://community.boredofstudies.org/showthread.php?t=125978 suggests that there are people other than myself who feel that it is the magnitude that is being compared, and the sign doesn't matter. By our interpretation, a slope of -2, while going down, represents a greater rate of change than a slope of 1, which is increasing.

Answer 9

okay well i will try that order and if it isn't correct i will let you know, fingers crossed

Answer 10

it said: Try Again; 5 attempts remaining
Remember that a negative rate of change (or negative slope) is less than a rate of change (or slope) of zero.

Answer 11

maybe FCD?

Answer 12

Okay, well, that settles the question of how they wanted us to interpret it. D is the upward one, so it is +. C is horizontal, so 0. F is downward, so -. Maybe the fact that they were so close as to be virtually indistinguishable should have been a clue that they wanted this interpretation (which is clear as a bell). Sorry about that!

Answer 13

I would argue that going from 60 mph to 0 is a greater rate of change of speed than going from 2 mph to 3 mph. Not according to their definition, however!

Answer 14

no its D, C, F, greatest to least

Answer 15

yes, D C F, as D is positive, C is 0, F is negative