They note that this is a linear function. Students investigate patterns of exponential growth with the calculator, such as compound interest or bacterial growth. They represent their findings graphically, noting that this is not a linear relationship, although in the case of simple interest, where the interest does not earn interest, the graph is linear. Students obtain a table showing the depreciated value of a car over time. They graph the data in the table and observe that it is not a straight line.
Students compare different pay scales, deciding which is a better deal.
They realize that the answer to this question depends on the number of hours worked, so they create a table comparing the pay for different numbers of hours worked. They make a graph and decide at what point the hourly rate becomes a better deal. Students predict how many times they will be able to fold a piece of paper in half. Then they fold a paper in half repeatedly, recording the number of sections formed each time in a table. They also graph the data on a rectangular coordinate plane using integral values.