standard_description: Use variables to represent two quantities in a real-world problem that change in relationship to one another; write an equation to express one quantity, thought of as the dependent variable, in terms of the other quantity, thought of as the independent variable. Analyze the relationship between the dependent and independent variables using graphs and tables, and relate these to the equation. For example, in a problem involving motion at constant speed, list and graph ordered pairs of distances and times, and write the equation d = 65t to represent the relationship between distance and time.
problem_activity: Task
The profit, $P$ (in thousands of dollars), that a company makes selling an item is a quadratic function of the price, $x$ (in dollars), that they charge for the item. The following expressions for $P(x)$ are equivalent:
$$\begin{align}P(x)=&-2x^2+24x-54\\
P(x)=&-2(x-3)(x-9)\\
P(x)=&-2(x-6)^2+18
\end{align}$$
Which of the equivalent expressions for $P(x)$ reveals the price which gives a profit of zero without changing the form of the expression?
P(x)= -2x$^2$+24x-54
P(x)= -2(x-3)(x-9)
P(x)= -2(x-6)$^2$+18
Find a price which gives a profit of zero.
Which of the equivalent expressions for $P(x)$ reveals the profit when the price is zero without changing the form of the expression?
P(x)= -2x$^2$+24x-54
P(x)= -2(x-3)(x-9)
P(x)= -2(x-6)$^2$+18
Find the profit when the price is zero.
Which of the equivalent expressions for $P(x)$ reveals the price which produces the highest possible profit without changing the form of the expression?
P(x)= -2x$^2$+24x-54
P(x)= -2(x-3)(x-9)
P(x)= -2(x-6)$^2$+18
Find the price which gives the highest possible profit.
For each of parts (a), (c), and (e), students choose which form of the function is displayed, and then use that to answer the corresponding questions in parts (b), (d), and (f) respectively.  Students are assessed both on selecting the correct form of the function and on their numerical answer for each part.


aligns: no