<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />

# 6.2: Exploring Linear Equations

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12

This activity is intended to supplement Algebra I, Chapter 5, Lesson 5.

In this activity we will

• Enter “life expectancy” data into lists and set up scatter plots.
• Trace the scatter plot to select two points. Use the points to calculate slope and write a linear equation.
• Use the APP to fit the data using a linear equation in slope-intercept form and analyze the meaning of the slope and the intercept in relationship to birth year and life expectancy.
U. S. Life Expectancy at Birth
Birth Year Female Male Combined
1940 \begin{align*}65.2\end{align*} \begin{align*}60.8\end{align*} \begin{align*}62.9\end{align*}
1950 \begin{align*}71.1\end{align*} \begin{align*}65.6\end{align*} \begin{align*}68.2\end{align*}
1960 \begin{align*}73.1\end{align*} \begin{align*}66.6\end{align*} \begin{align*}69.7\end{align*}
1970 \begin{align*}74.7\end{align*} \begin{align*}67.1\end{align*} \begin{align*}70.8\end{align*}
1975 \begin{align*}76.6\end{align*} \begin{align*}68.6\end{align*} \begin{align*}72.6\end{align*}
1980 \begin{align*}77.5\end{align*} \begin{align*}70.0\end{align*} \begin{align*}73.7\end{align*}
1985 \begin{align*}78.2\end{align*} \begin{align*}71.2\end{align*} \begin{align*}74.7\end{align*}
1990 \begin{align*}78.8\end{align*} \begin{align*}71.8\end{align*} \begin{align*}75.4\end{align*}
1995 \begin{align*}78.9\end{align*} \begin{align*}72.5\end{align*} \begin{align*}75.8\end{align*}
1998 \begin{align*}79.4\end{align*} \begin{align*}73.9\end{align*} \begin{align*}76.7\end{align*}

## Problem 1 - Enter Data into the Table

Press STAT Edit.

Enter Birth Year into \begin{align*}L_1\end{align*}, Female Life Expectancy into \begin{align*}L_2\end{align*}, Male Life Expectancy into \begin{align*}L_3\end{align*}, and Combined Life Expectancy into \begin{align*}L_4\end{align*}.

Set up a scatter plot of Birth Year versus Female Life Expectancy. Press \begin{align*}2^{nd}\end{align*} [STAT PLOT] for the STAT PLOT menu. Press ENTER ENTER. This will select Plot 1 and turn it on. Because the defaults are “scatter plot, \begin{align*}L_1\end{align*} and \begin{align*}L_2\end{align*}” no other settings need to be changed.

Press WINDOW to set the window with the settings shown.

Press TRACE. Select two points that seem to fall on the line that would best fit the data.

Using the \begin{align*}x-\end{align*} and \begin{align*}y-\end{align*}values from the two points, calculate the slope. Then use the point slope form to calculate the \begin{align*}y-\end{align*}intercept. Discuss the meanings of both numbers (for each year after 1940 you were born, you should live about \begin{align*}2\end{align*} tenths of a year longer…if the trend continued into the past, then in the year \begin{align*}0\end{align*} people would have lived –327 years).

Press APPS and locate the Transformation Graphing APP (Transfrm). Press ENTER.

Press any key as directed. You will be sent to the home screen and it will appear as though nothing has happened.

Press \begin{align*}Y=\end{align*} to see the effect of engaging the APP. Enter the general form of a linear equation by pressing ALPHA[MATH] \begin{align*}x +\end{align*} ALPHA[APPS].

Press GRAPH. By default A will be set at \begin{align*}1\end{align*} and \begin{align*}B\end{align*} will be set at \begin{align*}1\end{align*} unless the APP has been used since the calculator was reset.

Type in the value of A found when calculating slope in an earlier step (\begin{align*}.204\end{align*} in the example). Press ENTER, then type in the value of \begin{align*}B\end{align*} (\begin{align*}–326.74\end{align*} in the example). Press ENTER.

To adjust the slope of the line for fine-tuning, press WINDOW to view the settings. Reset the step to \begin{align*}.001\end{align*}. Return to the graph. Use the right and left arrows to adjust \begin{align*}A\end{align*} to try to slightly to improve the fit.

To further adjust the line for fine-tuning, press WINDOW to view the settings. Reset the step to \begin{align*}.1\end{align*}.

Return to the graph. Use the right and left arrows to adjust \begin{align*}B\end{align*} to further improve the fit.

## Extension

Repeat for the life expectancy of males or for males and females combined. This allows students to practice using two points to calculate slope and write a linear equation and get immediate feedback on their accuracy.

### Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes

Show Hide Details
Description
Tags:
Subjects: