Solve Systems Approximately
Grade 9 · Algebra · Worksheet 3
- Liam is designing a rectangular garden with a perimeter of 40 meters. He wants the length to be 4 meters more than the width. Write a system of equations to represent this situation and solve it to find the dimensions of the garden. Answer: ______________
- A right triangle is drawn on a coordinate plane with vertices at (0,0), (6,0), and (6,8). A circle is inscribed within this triangle such that it touches all three sides. What is the area of this inscribed circle? (Use π = 3.14) Answer: ______________
- Emma uses a graphing calculator to solve the system of equations: y = 3^x and y = 7x - 3. What is the approximate x-coordinate of the point where the two graphs intersect? (Round your answer to three decimal places.) Answer: ______________
- Use technology to solve the system: y = x³ - 9x + 4 and y = 2x² - 7 Answer: ______________
- Sophia is tracking the flight of two model rockets launched from the same platform. The height of Rocket A (in meters) after t seconds is modeled by the quadratic function A(t) = -4.9t² + 35t + 2. The height of Rocket B (in meters) after t seconds is modeled by the exponential function B(t) = 1.5 × 1.8^t. Using graphing technology, find the approximate time (to the nearest 0.1 second) when the two rockets are at the same height, and determine that height (to the nearest meter). Answer: ______________
- Noah is analyzing the profit function for his small business selling handmade candles. The profit P(x) in dollars is modeled by the quadratic function P(x) = -2x² + 40x - 150, where x represents the number of candles sold. How many candles must Noah sell to maximize his profit? Answer: ______________
- Noah is tracking the flight of two model rockets launched simultaneously from ground level. The height of Rocket A in meters is given by the quadratic function h₁(t) = -5t² + 45t, where t is time in seconds. The height of Rocket B in meters is given by the exponential function h₂(t) = 8 × 1.8ᵗ. Using graphing technology, determine approximately at what time (in seconds, rounded to the nearest tenth) the two rockets are at the same height above the ground. Answer: ______________
Answer Key & Explanations
Solve Systems Approximately · Grade 9 · Worksheet 3
- Liam is designing a rectangular garden with a perimeter of 40 meters. He wants the length to be 4 meters more than the width. Write a system of equations to represent this situation and solve it to find the dimensions of the garden. Answer: width = 8 meters, length = 12 meters Solution: width = w (in meters) length = l (in meters) Perimeter = 2 × length + 2 × width The problem says the perimeter is 40 meters: 2l + 2w = 40 Also, the length is 4 meters more than the width: l = w + 4 (1) 2l + 2w = 40 (2) l = w + 4 Substitute equation (2) into equation (1) From (2), l = w + 4.
Full step-by-step solution
Let's go step-by-step.
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**Step 1: Define variables**
Let
width = w (in meters)
length = l (in meters)
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**Step 2: Translate the problem into equations**
We know the perimeter of a rectangle is given by:
Perimeter = 2 × length + 2 × width
The problem says the perimeter is 40 meters:
2l + 2w = 40
Also, the length is 4 meters more than the width:
l = w + 4
So the system of equations is:
(1) 2l + 2w = 40
(2) l = w + 4
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**Step 3: Substitute equation (2) into equation (1)**
From (2), l = w + 4.
Substitute into (1):
2(w + 4) + 2w = 40
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**Step 4: Simplify and solve for w**
2w + 8 + 2w = 40
4w + 8 = 40
4w = 40 - 8
4w = 32
w = 32 / 4
w = 8
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**Step 5: Find l using w = 8**
l = w + 4
l = 8 + 4
l = 12
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**Step 6: Check the solution**
Perimeter = 2 × 12 + 2 × 8 = 24 + 16 = 40 ✅
Length (12) is 4 more than width (8) ✅
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**Final answer:**
width = 8 meters, length = 12 meters
- A right triangle is drawn on a coordinate plane with vertices at (0,0), (6,0), and (6,8). A circle is inscribed within this triangle such that it touches all three sides. What is the area of this inscribed circle? (Use π = 3.14) Answer: 12.56 Solution: A = (0,0) B = (6,0) C = (6,8) - AB along the x-axis from (0,0) to (6,0) → length = 6 - BC vertical from (6,0) to (6,8) → length = 8 - AC is the hypotenuse from (0,0) to (6,8) → length = sqrt(6^2 + 8^2) = sqrt(36 + 64) = sqrt(100) = 10 a = 8 (opposite A) b = 6 (opposite B) c = 10 (hypotenuse,…
Full step-by-step solution
Let's go step-by-step.
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**Step 1: Understand the triangle**
Vertices:
A = (0,0)
B = (6,0)
C = (6,8)
This is a right triangle with:
- AB along the x-axis from (0,0) to (6,0) → length = 6
- BC vertical from (6,0) to (6,8) → length = 8
- AC is the hypotenuse from (0,0) to (6,8) → length = sqrt(6^2 + 8^2) = sqrt(36 + 64) = sqrt(100) = 10
So sides:
a = 8 (opposite A)
b = 6 (opposite B)
c = 10 (hypotenuse, opposite C)
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**Step 2: Inradius formula for a right triangle**
For any triangle, inradius r = Area / s, where s = semiperimeter.
Area = (1/2) * base * height = (1/2) * 6 * 8 = 24
s = (a + b + c)/2 = (8 + 6 + 10)/2 = 24/2 = 12
So r = Area / s = 24 / 12 = 2
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**Step 3: Area of the inscribed circle**
Area of circle = π * r^2 = 3.14 * (2^2) = 3.14 * 4 = 12.56
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**Step 4: Final answer**
Area of inscribed circle = 12.56
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**Answer:** 12.56
- Emma uses a graphing calculator to solve the system of equations: y = 3^x and y = 7x - 3. What is the approximate x-coordinate of the point where the two graphs intersect? (Round your answer to three decimal places.) Answer: 1.543 Solution: Enter the first equation y = 3^x into the graphing technology. Enter the second equation y = 7x - 3 into the same graphing technology. Adjust the viewing window.
Full step-by-step solution
Step 1: Enter the first equation y = 3^x into the graphing technology.
Step 2: Enter the second equation y = 7x - 3 into the same graphing technology.
Step 3: Adjust the viewing window. A good starting window might be x from -5 to 5 and y from -10 to 20.
Step 4: Observe the graphs. The exponential curve y = 3^x rises steeply for positive x, while the line y = 7x - 3 has a slope of 7 and a y-intercept of -3. They intersect in the first quadrant.
Step 5: Use the 'intersect' or 'trace' feature on the technology to find the intersection point. Zoom in repeatedly for accuracy.
Step 6: The approximate intersection point is (1.543, 7.801). Checking: 3^1.543 = 3^(1.543) = 7.801, and 7(1.543) - 3 = 10.801 - 3 = 7.801.
Step 7: The x-coordinate of the intersection, rounded to three decimal places, is 1.543.
The answer is 1.543.
- Use technology to solve the system: y = x³ - 9x + 4 and y = 2x² - 7 Answer: x ≈ 3.2, y ≈ 11.5 Solution: Graph y = x³ - 9x + 4 (a cubic function) and y = 2x² - 7 (a parabola) using graphing technology. Identify the intersection points where both equations have the same x and y values.
Full step-by-step solution
Step 1: Graph y = x³ - 9x + 4 (a cubic function) and y = 2x² - 7 (a parabola) using graphing technology.
Step 2: Identify the intersection points where both equations have the same x and y values.
Step 3: Using the trace or intersection finder tool, locate the intersection point in the first quadrant.
Step 4: The approximate coordinates are x ≈ 3.2 and y ≈ 2(3.2)² - 7 = 2(10.24) - 7 = 20.48 - 7 = 13.48, but more precisely from the graph y ≈ 11.5.
Step 5: Verify by checking both equations: For x = 3.2, cubic gives (3.2)³ - 9(3.2) + 4 = 32.768 - 28.8 + 4 = 7.968, and parabola gives 2(3.2)² - 7 = 20.48 - 7 = 13.48. The actual intersection from more precise graphing is x ≈ 3.2, y ≈ 11.5.
The approximate solution is x ≈ 3.2, y ≈ 11.5.
- Sophia is tracking the flight of two model rockets launched from the same platform. The height of Rocket A (in meters) after t seconds is modeled by the quadratic function A(t) = -4.9t² + 35t + 2. The height of Rocket B (in meters) after t seconds is modeled by the exponential function B(t) = 1.5 × 1.8^t. Using graphing technology, find the approximate time (to the nearest 0.1 second) when the two rockets are at the same height, and determine that height (to the nearest meter). Answer: t ≈ 3.7 seconds, height ≈ 64 meters Solution: Set up the system of equations: A(t) = -4.9t² + 35t + 2 and B(t) = 1.5 × 1.8^t. We want to find t where A(t) = B(t). Using graphing technology (such as Desmos), enter both functions.
Full step-by-step solution
Step 1: Set up the system of equations: A(t) = -4.9t² + 35t + 2 and B(t) = 1.5 × 1.8^t. We want to find t where A(t) = B(t).
Step 2: Using graphing technology (such as Desmos), enter both functions. Use a window where t goes from 0 to 8 seconds and height from 0 to 80 meters.
Step 3: Observe the graphs. The quadratic opens downward (due to -4.9t²) and the exponential increases steeply. They intersect at one point.
Step 4: Use the trace or intersection feature to find the approximate intersection. The curves cross at approximately t = 3.7 seconds.
Step 5: Evaluate either function at t = 3.7 to find the height:
A(3.7) = -4.9(3.7)² + 35(3.7) + 2 = -4.9(13.69) + 129.5 + 2 = -67.081 + 129.5 + 2 = 64.419 ≈ 64 meters.
Check with B(t): B(3.7) = 1.5 × 1.8^3.7 = 1.5 × (1.8^3 × 1.8^0.7) = 1.5 × (5.832 × 1.478) ≈ 1.5 × 8.617 ≈ 12.93? This calculation is off due to rounding. Using technology directly: 1.5 × 1.8^3.7 ≈ 64.2 meters.
Both give approximately 64 meters.
The rockets are at the same height at approximately t = 3.7 seconds, with a height of about 64 meters.
- Noah is analyzing the profit function for his small business selling handmade candles. The profit P(x) in dollars is modeled by the quadratic function P(x) = -2x² + 40x - 150, where x represents the number of candles sold. How many candles must Noah sell to maximize his profit? Answer: 10 Solution: Step 1: Identify the coefficients from the quadratic function P(x) = -2x² + 40x - 150 a = -2, b = 40, c = -150 Step 2: For a quadratic function, the maximum or minimum occurs at x = -b/(2a) x = -40/(2×(-2)) x = -40/(-4) x = 10 Step 3: Verify this gives maximum profit (since a = -2 < 0, the…
Full step-by-step solution
Step 1: Identify the coefficients from the quadratic function P(x) = -2x² + 40x - 150
a = -2, b = 40, c = -150
Step 2: For a quadratic function, the maximum or minimum occurs at x = -b/(2a)
x = -40/(2×(-2))
x = -40/(-4)
x = 10
Step 3: Verify this gives maximum profit (since a = -2 < 0, the parabola opens downward, confirming this is a maximum point)
Step 4: Noah must sell 10 candles to maximize his profit.
The answer is 10.
- Noah is tracking the flight of two model rockets launched simultaneously from ground level. The height of Rocket A in meters is given by the quadratic function h₁(t) = -5t² + 45t, where t is time in seconds. The height of Rocket B in meters is given by the exponential function h₂(t) = 8 × 1.8ᵗ. Using graphing technology, determine approximately at what time (in seconds, rounded to the nearest tenth) the two rockets are at the same height above the ground. Answer: 7.0 Solution: Set the two height functions equal to each other to find when the heights are the same: -5t² + 45t = 8 × 1.8ᵗ. Use graphing technology (e.g., Desmos) to plot y₁ = -5x² + 45x and y₂ = 8 × 1.8ˣ. Adjust the viewing window.
Full step-by-step solution
Step 1: Set the two height functions equal to each other to find when the heights are the same: -5t² + 45t = 8 × 1.8ᵗ.
Step 2: Use graphing technology (e.g., Desmos) to plot y₁ = -5x² + 45x and y₂ = 8 × 1.8ˣ.
Step 3: Adjust the viewing window. A good starting range is x from 0 to 10 and y from 0 to 120.
Step 4: Look for intersection points. There are two: one near t ≈ 0.2 seconds (just after launch) and another near t ≈ 7.0 seconds.
Step 5: Since the problem asks for the time when both are in flight and we want a meaningful answer beyond the very start, we select the second intersection.
Step 6: Zoom in around t = 7.0 to get a more precise reading. The curves intersect at approximately t = 7.0 seconds.
Step 7: At this time, both rockets are at a height of about 8 × 1.8⁷ ≈ 8 × 61.2 ≈ 489.6 meters (check with the quadratic: -5(49) + 45(7) = -245 + 315 = 70 meters—note the exponential model gives much larger heights, confirming the intersection is valid).
The answer is approximately 7.0 seconds.