standard_description: Interpret the equation y = mx + b as defining a linear function, whose graph is a straight line; give examples of functions that are not linear. For example, the function A = s2 giving the area of a square as a function of its side length is not linear because its graph contains the points (1,1), (2,4) and (3,9), which are not on a straight line.
problem_activity: A Ferris wheel is 50 meters in diameter and rotates once every three minutes. The center axle of the Ferris wheel is 30 meters from the ground.
a. Using the axes below, sketch a graph to show how the height of a passenger will vary with time. Assume that when the wheel starts rotating when the passenger is at the bottom.
[IMG]
b. A mathematical model for this motion is given by the formula
$${h=a+b\mathrm{cos}ct}$$
where
$$h$$
= the height of the car in meters
$$t$$
= the time that has elapsed in minutes
$${a, b, c}$$
are constants
Find values for
$$a$$
,
$$b$$
, and
$$c$$
that will model this situation.


aligns: no