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Casio TEAMS Grant Algebra Lessons IV

Lesson 4

In 1980, 3.5% of the doctorates in engineering were awarded to women. By 1990, 8.5% were being earned by women.

Can you find the average rate of change in the percentage of engineering doctorates earned by women from 1980 to 1990?

If we let x be the year and y be the percent of doctorates in engineering awarded to women, then we have two data point -- (1980, 3.5) and (1990, 8.5). Two points determine a line and the slope of that line is the average rate of change.

  1. Turn on the CASIO FX7400G.

  2. Use your cursor arrows to highlight the STAT menu and press   or just press when at the main menu screen.
  3. Use your cursor arrows to move to the first cell in List1 and enter the years. After entering each year make sure to press to go down to the next cell.
  4. Use your cursor arrows to move to the first cell in List2 and enter the percent of doctorates in engineering awarded to women. After entering an amount make sure to press to go down to the next cell.

Press (CALC)

Press (SET)

Scroll down and set the parameters as follows:

 

2Var X : List1 Press if necessary
2Var Y : List2 Press if necessary
2Var F : 1 Press if necessary

Press  

Press (CALC)

Press (REG)

Press ( X )

What appears is: 

LinearReg
a = 0.5
b = -986.5
r = 1
y = ax + b

The average rate of change is 0.5 % per year, the slope of the equation. In addition, we also have the equation that goes through the two data points, that is y = 0.5 x - 986.5



Press
Press

Turn off the CASIO FX7400G.
(OFF)

Side Note

This use of technology replace the struggle that teachers have with students who must memorize the following formulas correctly so that they can use them to solve problems such as the one above:

Given two points ( x1, y1 ) and ( x2, y2 ), the slope can be obtained by either of the following formulas:

The equation of the line through those points is then obtained by using the formula

y - y1 = m ( x - x1 )

or

y - y2 = m ( x - x2 )

The confusion of students mixing x1 with y2 or x2 with y1 is well know among those of us that have taught algebra.