Functions as Representations of

Real-life Situations
This presentation will help you recall
how to formulate functions to model
real-life situations.
Functions as Representations of
Real-life Situations

Prepare your paper and

pen and check your work
using the answer key.
 Exercise 1:
Give a function C that can
represent the cost of buying x
meals, if one meal costs Php65.
Solution:
 

Since each meal costs Php65,  then

the cost function is 65 𝑥
Exercise 2:
One hundred meters of fencing is available to enclose a
rectangular area next to a river (see figure). Give a
function A that can represent the area that can be
enclosed, in terms of x.
Exercise 2:
One hundred meters of fencing is available to enclose a
rectangular area next to a river (see figure). Give a function A
that can represent the area that can be enclosed, in terms of x.

Solution:
 

The area of the rectangular

𝑥𝑦
 

enclosure is
We will write this as a function of
x.
Exercise 2:
One hundred meters of fencing is available to enclose a
rectangular area next to a river (see figure). Give a function A
that can represent the area that can be enclosed, in terms of x.

Solution:
 

Since only 100 m of fencing is

2𝑥+ 𝑦
 
available, then
Solving for y in terms of x,
 
 
100 −2 𝑥
2
100 𝑥 −2 𝑥
 
Thus,
 
Piecewise Functions
Some situations can only be described by more than one
formula, depending on the value of the independent
variable.
 Exercise 3:
A user is charged Php300 monthly for a particular mobile
plan, which includes 100 free text messages. Messages in
excess of 100 are charged Php1.00 each. Represent the
monthly cost for text messaging using the function t(m),
where m is the number of messages sent in a month.
Solution:
 

The cost of text messaging can be expressed by the

piecewise function
 
300
 
𝑥+200
 Exercise 4:
A cable television provider charges Php 500 per
month for the basic channel line-up including at
most five premium channels which the subscriber
can choose from the 35 premium channels that the
company offers. Subscribers can opt to get
additional premium channels for Php 40 each per
month.
 Exercise 4:
A cable television provider charges Php 500 per month for the basic
channel line-up including at most five premium channels which the
subscriber can choose from the 35 premium channels that the company
offers. Subscribers can opt to get additional premium channels for Php 40
each per month.
a. Write a piecewise function, C(x), that gives the total cost
of cable television subscription which covers x premium
channels.
b. Graph the function.
c. Find and interpret the domain and range in the context
of the problem.
 Exercise 4:
Check your answer. Were you able to get the correct answer? If not, were
you able to realize why your answer is incorrect?

a. Write a piecewise function, C(x), that gives the total cost

of cable television subscription which covers x premium
channels.
 Exercise 4:
Check your answer. Were you able to get the correct answer? If not, were
you able to realize why your answer is incorrect?

b. Graph the function.

c. Find and interpret the
domain and range in the
context of the problem.
 You’re done!
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