Re: Our symbol for slope

Nancy Sattler (nsattler@TERRA.CC.OH.US)
Thu, 23 Jan 1997 08:24:24 -0500

I agree with Robert. When teaching math or physics, this would be an
interesting concept to address. It might be interesting for our office
administration students to computer the minutes per word as well as the
words per minute. The students could graph the classes readings and compare
the graphs of minutes per word and words per minute. That would certainly
give them so "real data" to look at!

Nancy Sattler
nsattler@terra.cc.oh.us
Terra Community College
Fremont, OH

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Students need to understand that slope is a rate of change of one
variable with respect to another. An interesting discussion can
ensue when you consider which variable (between two) is independent.
Consider the rate at which we use fuel in an automobile. We always
hear miles per gallon which implies that the number of miles you
travel is dependent upon the number of gallons you have. Can you
write an equivalent rate in gallons per mile? Other examples:
Dollars per hour to hours per dollar
words per minute to minutes per word ....
Consider what this does to the graph.....
..... to the symbolic model.

Robert L Kimball 919-662-3602 (Office)
Chair,Mathematics and Physics Dept 919-266-0850 (Home)
Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC 27603-5696