Exponential and Logarithmic

Function and Application

11 Mathematics B
Scientific Experiment

Police Accident Report

Nisa Inggitajna

Nisa Inggitajna

Teacher: Ms. Brewster

 PART A
B A C K G R O U N D S E TT I N G

A scientist collected data for the horizontal displacement of the bob of a swinging pendulum.

No. of swings (x) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Displacement (y) 50 36 26 18 13 10 7 5 4 3 2

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

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a) Linear function of best fit offered by the calculator is y  0.427 x  37.182

b) The correlation co-efficient ( r 2 ) offered by the calculator is r 2  0.831

c) The linear function offered by the calculator doesn’t seem like the accurate function for this
data. First, this data indeed form a curved line while the linear function works mostly for a
straigth line. Second, the correlation co-efficient value given is 0.831 prove that this function is
not quite accurate, because the nearer the r 2 value the more accurate the function is. r 2
value of 0.831 can be considered as not quite accurate due to the percentage of accuracy is only
83%.
For this data, linear function can’t be used to extrapolate validly. It is shown in the graph that
the line of this function did not pass any of the points plotted except for the point (80,4); the
line of this function passes through the edge of this dot point.
If x  110 x  150
y  9.79 y  26.87
The negative value of y calculated also proves that linear function can’t be used since the real
situation would never have negative value for the displacement (y).

d) Residual value for linear function of the data can be seen on the table below

No. of swings
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
(x)
Displacement
50 36 26 18 13 10 7 5 4 3 2
(y)
- - - - -
Residual 12.81 3.090 - 4.272 7.545
2.636 6.363 5.818 4.545 2.272 1
value 82 9 7.0909 7 5
4 6 2 5 7

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 QUESTION 3

EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

Following the same steps, the data is now will be tested with an exponential function. This function is
predicted to be the most accurate function to be used for this kind of data. Checked on the
calculator, the exponential function gives a correlation co-efficient value of approximately 0.999.

a) Exponential function of best fit offered by the

calculator is y  48.338  10 0.032 x

b) The correlation co-efficient ( r 2 ) offered by the

calculator is r 2  0.999

c) This function seems to be the most accurate function related to this data. The value of r 2
which is 0.999 shows how accurate the function is. The table below shows the comparison
between the line of exponential function and line from the data.

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 Looking at the table, it is clear that exponential function gives an accurate number. So, this
function can be used to extrapolate validly.

d) Residual value from exponential function of the data can be seen below

No. of swings
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
(x)
Displacement
50 36 26 18 13 10 7 5 4 3 2
(y)
Residual -
1.663 0.782 0.341 -0.695 -0.621 0.076 -0.231 -0.268 0.162 0.203
value 0.038

QUADRATIC FUNCTION

Tested by using quadratic function, the line gives a quite accurate value. The correlation co-efficient
value given by the calculator for this function is 0.986.

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 a) Quadratic function of best fit
offered by the calculator is

y  0.006597 x 2  1.0869 x  47.0769

b) As written above, the correlation co-efficient ( r 2 ) offered by the calculator is r 2  0.986

c) This function seems to be a quite accurate function. But if looking at the next result given
from this function, this function doesn’t seem correct. The continuation of the line forms a
U-shape line makes this line is not suitable compared to the data. The data is based on the
displacement of the bob of the swinging pendulum. By logic, the displacement of the bob of
the swinging pendulum will never increase unless someone actually swing the pendulum
again.

d) Residual value of the quadratic function of the data can be seen below

No. of swings
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
(x)
Displacement
50 36 26 18 13 10 7 5 4 3 2
(y)
Residual - -
2.923 -1.976 -2.405 -1.153 0.779 1.392 1.685 1.670 0.315
value 0.867 2.349

CUBIC FUNCTION
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 By using cubic function, the line also gives a
quite accurate value. The correlation co-
efficient value for this function is
approximately 0.999 which mean that this
function is more accurate than the quadratic
function.

a) C
u
bic function of best fit offered by the calculator
is

y  0.000073x 3  0.018x 2  1.504 x  49.699

b) The correlation co-efficient ( r 2 ) offered by the calculator is r 2  0.999

c) This function gives more accurate value than quadratic function. But just the same as
quadratic function, looking at the next result given from this function, this function doesn’t
fit the scenario behind the data. The line continues to the negative part of ‘y’ which in the
data ‘y’ stands for the displacement of the bob of the swinging pendulum and it is impossible
to get a negative result of a displacement.

d) Residual value of the quadratic function of the data can be seen below

No. of swings
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
(x)
Displacement
50 36 26 18 13 10 7 5 4 3 2
(y)
Residual - 0.167 - -
0.301 -0.053 -0.395 0.070 0.779 -0.325 0.273
value 0.342 8 0.263 0.209

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 PART B
B A C K G R O U N D S E TT I N G

Speed limits help to reduce the number and severity of road accidents. One of the factors taken into
account in setting speed limits is the distance it takes to stop a vehicle in an emergency: the baking
distance. Many factors can affect braking distance such as speed, and mass. Based on an average car
in good condition on a flat, dry road with an adult driver of average mass, a table of braking distance
of a car is given.

Speed of car Braking distance (m) for car Additional braking distance (m) Additional braking distance (m)
(km/h) with driver for each extra adult with an average load of luggage
10 0.6 0.048 0.075
20 2.4 0.19 0.3
30 5.3 0.42 0.66
40 9.5 0.76 1.19
50 14.8 1.18 1.85
60 21.4 1.71 2.68
70 29.1 2.33 3.64
80 38.0 3.04 4.75
90 48.1 3.85 6.01
100 59.4 4.75 7.43

INTRODUCTION

Out of the other seven

Braking Distance For a Car function recommended to
be used (from task sheet),
power function seems to
be the most accurate value
for this data. Can be seen
in the graph on the left that
the line of this function go
through the point plotted
by the data. The co-
efficient of the three line
function are all approximately 0.999. Other functions that is considered to be used to calculate this
data are quadratic function, cubic funtion, and quartic function since the three of them gives a co-
efficient value of approximately 0.999. But the same problem occurs in these three function. The line
from each function goes to the negative part of x-axis. While the logic is, x can never be a negative
value because x in this data stands for the speed of the car. This is the reason why power funtion is

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chosen as the best fit funtion for the data. The equations of power function given by the calculator
for the data are:

Driver and one extra Driver and an average

A Car with… Driver Only
adult load of luggage
Equation y  0.00604 x1.996 y  0.00652 x 1.996 y  0.00679 x 1.996

B R A K I N G D I S TA N C E F O R A C A R W I T H D R I V E R O N LY

Power function is simply written as y  ax b , where the number of a and b is constant. Can be
seen at the equation given from the calculator for this is y  0.00604 x 1.996 , where a  0.00604
and b  1.996 . Another way of getting the calculation for this data is to manually count the value of
a and b for the equation. Getting the value for b , the simplified form of the power function,
y  ax b is used. b b
y2 ax y3 ax
 2b  3b
x1  10 y1  y01.6 ax1 x 2  20 y 2  2.4y2 ax2
 
y2 22.4.4 a  20 y 3  5.35.3  a  30
b b
x2  20 x 3  30
0.6 a  10b 2.4 a  20b
b b b b
y1  ax1  20  y 2  ax 2 5.3  30 
4   
0.6  a  10 b  10  2.4  a  20 b 2.4  20 
4  2b  5.3 
y 2  ax 2
b
y 3  ax 3
b log 
b2  2.4 
b
2.4  a  20 b 5.3  a  30 b  30 
log 
 20 
b  1.9538995

b
y4 ax 4
b
y ax 5
x3  30 y3  5.3  x 4  40 y4  9.5 5  b
 y3 ax 3
b  y ax 4
x4  40 y4  9.5 x 5  50 y5  14.8 4
9.5 a  40 b 14.8 a  50 b
 
y 3  ax 3
b
5.3 a  30 b y 4  ax 4
b
9.5 a  40 b
b
5.3  a  30 b 9.5  40 
b
9.5  a  40 b 14.8  50 
   
5.3  30  9.5  40 
b b
y 4  ax 4  9. 5  y 5  ax 5  14.8 
log  log 
9.5  a  40 b  5.3  14.8  a  50 b
b
 9. 5 
b
 40   50 
log  log 
 30   40 
b  2.0285761 b  1.9867721

Calculate the rest of the data using the same way and record the data on a table. Calculate the
average value of b .

Using the average value of b which is 1.99865732, calculate the value of a .

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 b b
y1  ax1 y 2  ax 2
 
0.6  a  101.99865732 2.4  a  10 1.99865732
0.6 2 .4
a 1.99865732
a  1.99865732
10 10
a  0.0060186 a  0.0060242
b b
y 3  ax 3 y 4  ax 4
 
5.3  a  10 1.99865732 9.5  a  101.99865732
5.3 9.5
a 1.99865732
a  1.99865732
10 10
a  0.0059158 a  0.0059670

Using the same way, the results of a is

x y a b
calculated and recorded in a table. From the
10 0.6 0.0060186 -
average value of a and b , a new equation
20 2.4 0.0060242 2
of power function can be produced. From
30 5.3 0.0059158 1.9538995
the simplified form of power function,
40 9.5 0.0059670 2.0285761
y  axb , change the a and b value to the
50 14.8 0.0059512 1.9867721
average value that have been calculated.
60 21.4 0.0059772 2.02260088
70 29.1 0.0059727 The new equation of power function founds
1.99381055
80 38.0 0.0059725 1.99839139 is y  0.0059750 x 1.99865732 . The graph
90 48.1 0.0059743 2.00110327 below is the comparison graph between the
100 59.4 0.0059768 2.00276212 equations of power function calculated using
Average 0.0059750 1.99865732 calculator and calculated manually. The blue
line that stands for the equation calculated
using calculator is hardly to be seen because the red line (the equation that calculated manually)
takes place nearly on the exact place as the blue line placed.

Breaking Distance (m)

70

60

50
Calculator
Calculation 40

Manual
30
Calculation

20

10

0 Speed (km/h)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Breaking Distance For a Car

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Testing the validity of the developed equation:

b
y 7  ax 7
y 7  0.0059750  701.99865732
y 7  29.11966
y 7  29.1

B R A K I N G D I S TA N C E F O R A C A R W I T H D R I V E R A N D E X T R A A D U LT

y  0.00652 x 1.996 is the equation gotten from calculator to find the braking distance with one
extra adult. To find the braking distance with more adult, another equation needs to be discovered.
Figuring out a new equation for every extra adult in the car takes a long time. The easier way to
calculate the braking distance for this situation is find the equation for one extra adult, then multiply
it with the number of extra adult in the car and add it with the equation of a braking distance for a
car with a driver only ( y  0.0059750 x 1.99865732 ). So, the equation for this situation will be

y  0.0059750x 1.99865732  n  (equation for extra adult). In this case, ‘n’ stand for the number
of extra adult in the car.

The same way as in finding the b value in the first equation is used to find b value in this
equation.

The power function y  ax b is used.

b
y ax
b y3 ax
x1  10 y1  02 .048
 2b x 2  20 y 2  0.19  3b
 y1 .19ax1  y 2 ax 2
x2  20 y 0
2 x 3  30 y 3  0.42
0.19 a  20 b 0.42 a  30 b
 
y1  ax1
b
0.048 a  10 b y 2  ax 2
b 0.19 a  20 b
b
0.048  a  10 b 0.19  20 
b
0.19  a  20 b 0.42  30 
   
0.048  10  0.19  20 
b b
y 2  ax 2  0.19  y 3  ax3  0.42 
log  log 
0.19  a  20 b  0.048  0.42  a  30 b b  0.19 
b
 20   30 
log  log 
 10   20 
b  1.984893108 b  1.956347472

By using the average value of b which is 2.000821897, the value of is a calculated.

b b
y1  ax1 y 2  ax 2
 
0.048  a  10 2.000821897 0.19  a  20 2.000821897
0.048 0.19
a  2.000821897 a 2.000821897
10 20
a  0.00047909 a  0.00047383
 x y a b
The average value for a and b is
10 0.048 0.00047909 -
obtained. Using this average value, the
20 0.19 0.00047383 1.984893108
formula for finding the additional braking
30 0.42 0.00046536 1.956347472 distance for extra adult can be
40 0.76 0.00047356 2.061524783 discovered. Using the simplified power
50 1.18 0.000470485 1.971606536 function formula, y  ax b , and
60 1.71 0.000473404 2.034750792 substituting the average value or a and
70 2.33 0.000473853 2.006964208 b , the formula for additional braking
80 3.04 0.000473292 1.991960412 distance for extra adult is
90 3.85 0.000473554 2.005514899 y  0.000472963 x .
2.000821897

100 4.75 0.000473206 1.993834867

Average 0.000472963 As written before, to make it easier to
2.000821897
calculate the braking distance of a car with extra adult, the equation of the power function for this

data will be given as y  0.0059750 x 1.99865732  n  (equation for extra adult) i. Substitute the
equation for braking distance for extra adult in the equation and leave ‘n’ as the number of extra
adult in the car. The equation then will be
y  0.0059750x 1.99865732
 n  0.000472963 x 2.000821897
.

Testing the validity of the equation:

n  2adults
x6  60km / h
y 6  24.8m

1.99865732 2.000821897
y 6  0.0059750x6  n  0.000472963 x6
y 6  0.0059750  601.99865732  2  0.000472963  60 2.000821897
y 6  24.80888777
y 6  24.8

B R A K I N G D I S TA N C E F O R A C A R W I T H D R I V E R A N D
A N AV E R A G E L O A D O F LU G G A G E

A situation of a car with a driver and an average load of luggage is just the same situation as a car
with a driver and extra adults. The difference is, in a luggage situation, the number of luggage in the
car is unchangeable, while the number of extra adults is changeable. The calculator gives an equation
of y  0.00679 x 1.996 for this situation.

By using manual calculation, another equation will be discovered for the data in this kind of situation.
The equation is will be a combination of 2 equations, which is the calculation of the braking distance

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for a car with driver only, and added the calculation of the braking distance of extra average load of
luggage.

The same way of finding value of b :

b b
y ax2 y3 ax3
x1  10 
y1  02.075 
 y1 ax1
b
y 2 ax 2 b
x2  20 y 2  0.3
0.3 a  20 b x 2  20 y 2  0.3 0.66 a  30 b
  
b
0.075 a  10 b x 3  30 y 3  0.66 0.3 a  20 b
y1  ax1
b b
0.075  a  10 b 0.3  20  0.66  30 
  y 2  ax 2
b  
0.075  10  0.3  20 
 0.3 
0.3  a  20 b  0.66 
y 2  ax 2
b log  log 
 0.075   0.3 
b y3  ax3
b
b
0.3  a  20 b  20   30 
log  0.66  a  30 b log 
 10   20 
b2 b  1.944575

The same way also goes to finding the value of a by using the average value of b which is 1.999318.

b b
y1  ax1 y 2  ax 2
 
0.075  a  101.999318 0.3  a  201.999318
0.075 0.3
a  1.999318 a  1.999318
10 20
a  0.00075118 a  0.00075153

x y a b By using the simplified form of power

10 0.075 0.00075118 - function, the value of a and b is
20 0.3 0.00075153 2 substituted. This step brings out the
equation to calculate the braking distance of
30 0.66 0.00073504 1.944575
a car with an average load of luggage. The
40 1.19 0.00074562 2.049028
equation is
50 1.85 0.00074198 1.977347
60 2.68 0.00074653 2.032843
70 3.64 0.00074501 1.986153
80 4.75 0.00074441 1.993246
90 6.01 0.00074426 1.997572
100 7.43 0.00074534 2.013099
Average 0.00074509 1.999318
y  0.0059750 x 1.99865732
 0.00074509x1.999318 which is a combination of the equation to find
the braking distance of the car with driver only and addition braking distance with and average load
of luggage.

Testing the validity of developed model:

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x8  80km / h
y8  38.0  4.75  42.75m

1.99865732 1.999318
y8  0.0059750 x8  0.00074509x8
y8  0.0059750  801.99865732  0.00074509  801.999318
y8  42.77001563

y6  42.77

B R A K I N G D I S TA N C E O F T HE C A R

In making a police report, the faster the process is the better it will be since there will be many other
reports that are needed to be done. To make the calculation for the braking distance faster,
combining all the formula would be good. Firstly, input the equation for a car with driver only.
Second, add the equation for the additional braking distance for each extra adult with the ‘n’ symbol
that stands for the number of adult. Lastly, add the equation for the additional braking distance with
an average load of luggage, but for this last equation input an ‘ l ’ symbol. The ‘ l ’ symbol in this
case stands for whether or not there is a luggage in the car. If there isn’t any luggage, then ‘ l ’ will be
0, if there is, then ‘ l ’ will be 1.

So, the last equation will be

y  0.0059750 x1.99865732  n  0.000472963 x 2.000821897  l  0.00074509 x1.999318

x : speed of car
n : number of extra adults in car
l : addition luggage

The process of calculating the braking distance will be much easier this way. And to help manage the
data, excel would be good to use. This formula can be typed on excel, and all the police need is to
type the speed, number of extra adults, and whether or not there is luggage in the car.

Excel sample can be seen below. The formula in excel can also be seen on the function box.

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 S T R E N G T H S A N D L I M I TAT I O N S O F M O DE L

For every model, there is strength and limitation. Same goes for this model. This model carries
strength of having a correlation co-efficient nearly perfect. However having a nearly perfect
correlation co-efficient value doesn’t mean that this model doesn’t have any limitation. This model
have some limitation that makes the braking distance calculated using the equation might not be the
same as the actual result in the real situation. In this model, the equation was derived from the
information that is based on an average car in good condition, on a flat, dry road with an adult driver
of average mass. This is where the limitation occurs. The model can only give an accurate value of
braking distance for an average car in good condition, on a flat, dry road with an adult driver of
average mass. What if the car is not in a good condition? What if the surface of the road is wet?
What if the driver has an abnormal weight (too light or too heavy)? If this is the case, the police need
to have more calculation for every aspect that may affect the braking distance of the car. However, in
a condition as written for the information, police can use this model because the accuracy of this
model is proven to be nearly perfect.

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