Activity
Classroom Idea: Math and the Environment
Grade Levels
Commencement, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Note
This "classroom idea" is provided to illustrate examples of each performance indicator. Teachers should feel free to use it or adapt it if they so desire. Some of the ideas exemplify more than one performance indicator and/or incorporate topics in science and technology. In those instances, the appropriate performance indicators will be identified.
Authors
Mathematics Resource Guide with Core Curriculum Writing Team
Description
The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that in a certain section of the country the average level of air pollution is 0.5 (Square root of P) + 10,000 parts per million (ppm), where P is the population. The 1980 census predicts that the population t years after 1980 will be 7000 + 40t2.
A. Express the pollution level t years after 1980 as a composite function and reduce the composite function to a function of t.
B. What pollution level can be expected in 1990? 2000?
Source
Mathematics Resource Guide with Core Curriculum Writing Team. “Classroom Ideas.” Mathematics Resource Guide with Core Curriculum, New York State Department of Education, 153.
