The Construction Crew Example

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 97 views

Introduction

In mathematics, functions are used to model real-world situations, and understanding how to find inputs and outputs of these functions is crucial. In this article, we will explore how to find the inputs and outputs of a two-step function that models a real-world situation. We will use the example of a construction crew paving a road to illustrate this concept.

What is a Function?

A function is a relation between a set of inputs, called the domain, and a set of possible outputs, called the range. It is a way of describing a relationship between two variables, where each input corresponds to exactly one output. In other words, a function takes an input and produces an output.

What is a Two-Step Function?

A two-step function is a function that involves two steps or operations. It is a function that takes an input, performs one operation on it, and then performs another operation on the result. For example, if we have a function that takes an input x and produces an output y, and then takes the output y and produces a final output z, then this function is a two-step function.

The Construction Crew Example

Let's consider the example of a construction crew paving a road that is 208 miles long. The crew paves 8 miles of the road each day. We can model this situation using a two-step function.

Step 1: Calculate the Number of Days

The first step in our function is to calculate the number of days it will take to pave the road. We can do this by dividing the total length of the road (208 miles) by the number of miles paved each day (8 miles).

def calculate_days(total_length, miles_per_day):
    return total_length / miles_per_day
total_length = 208
miles_per_day = 8
days = calculate_days(total_length, miles_per_day)
print(days)

Step 2: Calculate the Length of the Road Left

The second step in our function is to calculate the length of the road left after the crew has paved the road for the calculated number of days. We can do this by subtracting the total number of miles paved (8 miles/day * number of days) from the total length of the road.

def calculate_length_left(total_length, miles_per_day, days):
    return total_length - (miles_per_day * days)
total_length = 208
miles_per_day = 8
days = calculate_days(total_length, miles_per_day)
length_left = calculate_length_left(total_length, miles_per_day, days)
print(length_left)

Finding Inputs and Outputs of the Two-Step Function

Now that we have defined our two-step function, we can find the inputs and outputs of the function. The inputs of the function are the total length of the road and the number of miles paved each day. The outputs of the function are the number of days it will take to pave the road and the length of the road left after the crew has paved the road.

Example 1: Finding the Number of Days

Let's say we want to find the number of days it will take to pave a road that is 208 miles long, given that the crew paves 8 miles of the road each day. We can plug in the values into our function and calculate the output.

total_length = 208
miles_per_day = 8
days = calculate_days(total_length, miles_per_day)
print(days)

Example 2: Finding the Length of the Road Left

Let's say we want to find the length of the road left after the crew has paved a road that is 208 miles long for 26 days, given that the crew paves 8 miles of the road each day. We can plug in the values into our function and calculate the output.

total_length = 208
miles_per_day = 8
days = 26
length_left = calculate_length_left(total_length, miles_per_day, days)
print(length_left)

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to find the inputs and outputs of a two-step function that models a real-world situation. We used the example of a construction crew paving a road to illustrate this concept. We defined a two-step function that calculates the number of days it will take to pave the road and the length of the road left after the crew has paved the road. We then found the inputs and outputs of the function using example values. This article has demonstrated the importance of understanding functions and how to find their inputs and outputs in real-world situations.

References

[1] Khan Academy. (n.d.). Functions. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f1f4/x2f1f4a
[2] Math Open Reference. (n.d.). Functions. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/functions.html

Glossary

Function: A relation between a set of inputs, called the domain, and a set of possible outputs, called the range.
Two-Step Function: A function that involves two steps or operations.
Domain: The set of inputs of a function.
Range: The set of possible outputs of a function.
Input: A value that is plugged into a function to produce an output.
Output: The value produced by a function when an input is plugged in.
Functions and Lines: A Q&A Guide =====================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored how to find the inputs and outputs of a two-step function that models a real-world situation. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about functions and lines.

Q: What is a function?

Q: What is a two-step function?

A two-step function is a function that involves two steps or operations. It is a function that takes an input, performs one operation on it, and then performs another operation on the result.

Q: How do I find the inputs and outputs of a function?

To find the inputs and outputs of a function, you need to understand the relationship between the input and output variables. You can do this by analyzing the function equation and identifying the input and output variables.

Q: What is the difference between a function and a relation?

A function is a relation where each input corresponds to exactly one output. A relation, on the other hand, is a set of ordered pairs where each input may correspond to multiple outputs.

Q: Can a function have multiple outputs?

No, a function cannot have multiple outputs. By definition, a function is a relation where each input corresponds to exactly one output.

Q: Can a function have multiple inputs?

Yes, a function can have multiple inputs. However, each input must correspond to exactly one output.

Q: How do I graph a function?

To graph a function, you need to identify the input and output variables and plot the corresponding points on a coordinate plane.

Q: What is the domain of a function?

The domain of a function is the set of all possible input values.

Q: What is the range of a function?

The range of a function is the set of all possible output values.

Q: Can a function have a domain of all real numbers?

Yes, a function can have a domain of all real numbers. This means that the function can take any real number as an input.

Q: Can a function have a range of all real numbers?

Yes, a function can have a range of all real numbers. This means that the function can produce any real number as an output.

Q: How do I determine if a function is increasing or decreasing?

To determine if a function is increasing or decreasing, you need to analyze the function equation and identify the slope of the function. If the slope is positive, the function is increasing. If the slope is negative, the function is decreasing.

Q: Can a function be both increasing and decreasing?

No, a function cannot be both increasing and decreasing. A function is either increasing or decreasing, but not both.

Q: How do I find the inverse of a function?

To find the inverse of a function, you need to swap the input and output variables and solve for the new input variable.

Q: What is the inverse of a function?

The inverse of a function is a new function that undoes the original function. In other words, if the original function takes an input x and produces an output y, the inverse function takes the output y and produces the input x.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions about functions and lines. We have covered topics such as the definition of a function, the difference between a function and a relation, and how to graph a function. We have also discussed the domain and range of a function, as well as how to determine if a function is increasing or decreasing. Finally, we have covered how to find the inverse of a function.

References

[1] Khan Academy. (n.d.). Functions. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f1f4/x2f1f4a
[2] Math Open Reference. (n.d.). Functions. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/functions.html

Glossary

Function: A relation between a set of inputs, called the domain, and a set of possible outputs, called the range.
Two-Step Function: A function that involves two steps or operations.
Domain: The set of all possible input values.
Range: The set of all possible output values.
Input: A value that is plugged into a function to produce an output.
Output: The value produced by a function when an input is plugged in.
Inverse: A new function that undoes the original function.