Miguel Chamorro

Math 1010

MODELING UTAH POPULATION DATA

Math1010IntermediateAlgebraGroupProject
AccordingtodatafromtheU.S.CensusBureau,PopulationDivision,thepopulationofUtah
appearstohaveincreasedlinearlyovertheyearsfrom1980to2008.Thefollowingtableshows
thepopulationin100,000slivinginUtahaccordingtoyear.Inthisproject,youwillusethe
datainthetabletofindalinearfunctionf(x)thatrepresentsthedata,reflectingthechangein
populationinUtah.

Estimates
of Utah
Resident
Population,
in
100,000's
Year

1981

1989

15.2

17.1

1993

1999

2005

2008

x
Populati
on,y

27.4

Source: U.S. Census

Bureau, Population
Division

1.

Using the graph paper on the last page, plot the data given in the table as ordered pairs.
Label the x and y axes with words to indicate what the variables represent.

Use a straight edge to draw on your graph what appears to be the line that best fits the
data you plotted. You will only have one line drawn, rather than several pieces of lines
2.

Estimate the coordinates of two points that fall on your best-fitting line. Write these
points below.
3.

( 6 , 17 ), (11, 19)
Use the points that you wrote down to find a linear function f(x) for the line. Show your
work!

Miguel Chamorro
Math 1010

f(x) = _______2/5x+73/5______________
4.

Whatistheslopeofyourline?m = __2/5______
Interpretitsmeaning.Doesitmakesenseinthecontextofthissituation?Pleaseuse
complete sentences to respond to these questions.

Yes,thepopulationinUtahwentup200,000everyfiveyears.

Find the value of f (45) using your function from part 3. Show your work, then write your
result in the blank below.
5.

F(45)=2/5x+73/5
=2/5(45)+73/5
=18+17/5
=323/5
=163/5

f(45) = ____163/5_____
Write a sentence interpreting the meaning of f (45) in the context of this project.

F(45)istheyear2025inmyequation,thus163/5isthepopulationincreasebythatyear.

Miguel Chamorro
Math 1010
Useyourfunctionfrompart3toapproximateinwhatyeartheresidentialpopulationof
Utahreached2,000,000.Showyourwork.
6.

20=2/5x+73/5
27/5=2/5x
27=2x
x=13.5
Between1993&1994

7.

Compareyourlinearfunctionwiththatofanotherstudentorgroup.
Comparison function: f(x) = _______1/2x + 25/2_________Crystal____
Is the comparison function the same as the function you wrote down for part 3?
No
If they are different, explain why.

They are different due to Crystal choosing different points on the graph as well as having the
wrong answer. According to her equation the population of Utah would reach 2,000,000 in the
year 2002.

If they are the same, explain why.

Inactuality,usingalineargrowthmodelforpopulationisnotcommon.Mostmodelsare
exponentialmodels,duetothefactthatmostpopulationsexperiencerelativegrowth,i.e.2%
growthperyear.Linearmodelsfornonlinearrelationshipslikepopulationworkonlywithina
smalltimeframevalidclosetothetimeofthedatamodeled.Discusssomeofthefalse
conclusionsyoumightreachifyouuseyourlinearmodelfortimesfarfrom19802008.
8.

Miguel Chamorro
Math 1010