Assignment 1
Assignment 1
(i) 2𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = −5
3𝑥1 + 2𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = 1
(ii) 𝑥1 − 2𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = −4
2𝑥1 + 6𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = 12
Q.2: A major airline purchases a particular type of plane for $75 million. The company estimates
that the salvage (resale) value of the plane is estimated well by the function
𝑆 = 𝑓(𝑥) = 72 − 0.0006𝑥
where S equals the salvage value (in millions of dollars) and x equals the number of hours of
flight time for the plane.
(a) What is the salvage value expected to equal after 10,000 hours of flight time?
(b) How many hours would the plane have to be flown for the salvage value to equal zero?
(c) What interpretation would you give to the y intercept? Why do you think this does not
equal 75?
Q.3: A survey of high school and college football players suggests that the number of career-
ending injuries in this sport is increasing. In 1980 the number of such injuries was 925; in 1988
the number was 1,235. If it is assumed that the injuries are increasing at a linear rate:
(a) Determine the function n=f(t), where ‘n’ equals the estimated number of injuries per year and
‘t’ equals time measured in years since 1980.
(b) Interpret the meaning of the slope of this function.
(c) When is it expected that the number of such injuries will go over the 1,500 mark?
Q.4: Two points on a linear supply function are ($4.00, 28,000) and ($6.50, 55,000).
Q.6: A company sells a product for $150 per unit. Raw material costs are $40 per unit, labor
costs are $55 per unit, shipping costs are $15 per unit, and annual fixed costs are $200,000.
(a) Determine the profit function 𝑃 = 𝑓(𝑥), where 𝑥 equals the number of units sold.
(b) How many units must be sold in order to earn an annual profit of $750,000?
Q.7: Ridership on a small regional airline has been declining, approximately, at a linear rate. In
1981 the number of passengers was 245,000; in 1986 the number was 215,000. If n equals the
number of passengers using the airline per year and t equals time measured in years (t = 0 for
1981):
Q.9: A car leasing agency purchases new cars each year for use in the agency. The cars cost
$15,000 new. They are used for 3-years, after which they are sold for 3,600. The owner of the
agency estimates that the variable costs of operating the cars, exclusive of gasoline, are $0.16 per
mile. Cars are leased at a flat rate of $0.33 per mile (gasoline not included).
where 𝑞 is stated in units and 𝑝 is stated in dollars. Determine the quadratic total revenue
function, where 𝑅 is a function of 𝑝, or 𝑅 = 𝑔(𝑝).
Q.15: In recent years, the prosperity within Japan has resulted in heavy investment by the
Japanese in other countries around the world. In 1980, 1984, and 1987 the amounts invested in
Europe were $0.6, $2.1, and $6.25 billion, respectively. Using these three points, determine the
quadratic estimating function I = 𝑓(𝑡), where I equals the Japanese investment (in billions of
dollars) and 𝑡 equals time measured in years since 1980. Using this function, estimate the
expected investment in the year 1995.