IB SURVIVAL

How to Model a Function

A Guide for Population Trends in China Mathematics SL Portfolio Type II 2011/2012
Desy Kristianti

IBS

DESY@IBSURVIVAL.COM

How to Model a Function

The following table1 shows the population of Chintan from 1900 to 1980. Year Population (in Millions) 1900 450 1910 510 1920 550 1930 620 1940 715 1950 800 1960 870 1970 950

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1980 1020

Let

be Population (in Millions) and be Time (years)

I want to model a quartic function with a general formula of: = + + + +

Because the year values are too big, calculation process. Let 0 450

might be too big and it might cause some problems in the

1 510

2 550

3 620

4 715 =

5 800 + +

6 870 +

7 950 +

8 1020

I want to find the values of , , , 450 = 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 +

1

When

= 0,

and in the equation

Data from my brain I made them up randomly

= 450

desy@ibsurvival.com

Page 2

How to Model a Function

= + + + + 450 +

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+

Let

450 = =

450

+ 0 0

1 60 +

2 100

3 170

4 265

5 350

6 420

7 500

8 570

Lets solve for , , and

When = 1920,1940,1960,1980 2 = 2,4,6,8 +2 +4 +6 +8 +2 +4 +6 +8 + 2 = 100 + 4 = 265 + 6 = 420 + 8 = 570

In the graph above is the best fit function generated by TI-Nspire. It does not pass through any point so well so I will pick four points that may make a good quartic function. We cannot use the first one because we have already used it to find the value of .

4 6 8

desy@ibsurvival.com

Page 3

How to Model a Function

Representing the linear system above in matrices, 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 100 = 265 420 570

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Transforming the system into an augmented matrix, 100 265 420 570

To row-reduce this augmented matrix to reduced row-echelon form (rref), TI-Nspire Student Software will be used.

This rref matrix can be read as: 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 = 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 =

2 4 6 8

2 4 6 8

2 4 6 8

2 4 6 8

100 265 420 570

1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 0 0 1

From the above matrices, we get four equations: = = = = + +

This is our function. But we do not want it in terms of and . We want it in terms of and .

desy@ibsurvival.com

Page 4

How to Model a Function

Substituting 450 = = 5 24 = 450, + 65 16 80 3 , 65 16

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+ 80 3 + 45 4

5 24

Substituting = 5 24

65 16

1900 48000

1900 10

45 + 450 4 + 80 3 1900 10 + + 45 4 1900 + 450 10

13

1900 3200

1900 10

1900 15

1900 + 450 8

I tried expanding and making it into = + + + + form but when I tried to plot it, it does not work. I guess its because the function gets too complicated that I made some calculation mistakes or it just does not work because each number gets either too big or too small. You can find other types of polynomial functions with a similar way. I just want to point out that you may need to put extra explanations because I just made it short for simplicity. Note that rref is not in the SL syllabus. It is in the HL syllabus so you may get bonus points for that However I suggest you to talk to your teacher first and ask about rref, so your teacher will not be suspicious seeing rref in your portfolio. GOOD LUCK!

So my model function is

+ 450

desy@ibsurvival.com

Page 5