Question

the area of the top surface of an 8.5 inch by 11 inch piece of paper is a function of the number of times it is folded in half.
what is the value of a and what does it represent in ab^x?
I don't understand how to write the equation. please help

Answer 1

What I got so far:
\[A(x)=8.5 \times 11 \times 0.5^x\]

Answer 2

Not sure what b is, but a's value would be 0.5 because when you fold the paper each time the area is shrunk by a half.

Answer 3

x=1 would give you the paper as it is
x=2 would give you the first fold.
x=3 second fold and so on.

Answer 4

maybe a is 1 and b is 1/2?

Answer 5

Not sure what 1 would represent

Answer 6

yeah, that's what i was confused on.
thanks for helping though!

Answer 7

small fix, x=0 would give you the area of the original paper and so on

Answer 8

Keep bumping this, someone might crack it.

Answer 9

alright then
in the notes i took in class, a can't equal 0 and b >1

Answer 10

let a be 0.25 then, and b 2

Answer 11

what would 0.25 represent?

Answer 12

A lazy student's workaround over silly restrictions :)
But really I have no idea, I'm stumped.

Answer 13

i guess i'll just ask my teacher tomorrow
(im just one of those impatient people who can't wait till tomorrow to find out lol)
well, thanks!

Answer 14

wait, i think i got it. a is 93.5, the area of the paper unfolded