Superlesson
Project 1-1

Advanced Algebra

Chapter 1, Mathematical Models

Part A, Data and Scatter Plots

1. At the National Center for Labor Statistics Web site, look at the labor force participation of persons 16 years old and over for the years 1950 to 1995.

a. Make a scatter plot of the data for males 16 years and older.

b. Draw a trend line for the data. What type of association do you see?

c. Predict the number of males employed in the year 2000.

d. Make a scatter plot and draw the trend line of the data for the percent of males 16 years and older in the labor force.

e. What type of association do you observe?

f. Why might the percentage of 16-and-over males in the labor force have decreased from 1950-1995, even though the total male labor force increased?

Part B, Patterns and Relationships

2. Look at the pupil / teacher ratios and expenditures per student in public elementary and secondary schools for the years 1955-56 to 1995-96 at this page at the National Center for Educational Statistics Web site.

a. What is the projected pupil/teacher ratio for schools in 1995-96?

b. Based on this number, write an equation relating T, the number of teachers in a school, and S, the number of students in a school.

c. Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.

d. Make a table of values for your equation. Include at least six entries.

e. Use your equation to predict the number of teachers in a school with 2001 students.

f. Use your equation to determine how many students you would expect to be enrolled in a school with 50 teachers.

Part C, Functions

1. Look again at the National Center for Educational Statistics Web site to find the percent of 25- to 29-year olds completing high school and college for the years 1940 to 1995.

a. Make a scatter plot of the data for the percent of 25 29-year-olds completing less than 4 years of high school.

b. What type of association do you observe?

c. Is the association you saw in b a function? Explain how you know.