Question

A biologist tracked the growth of a strain of bacteria, as shown in the graph.

A. Explain why the relationship represented by the graph is a function.


B. Suppose there was the same number of bacteria for two consecutive hours. Would the graph still represent a function? Explain.

Answer 1

Part A -> Function

Part B -> Function

Explanation:

Concept

A relationship is a function only if there's a single y value corresponding to an x value. It can have the same y value for different x values but it must not have multiply y values for a single x value.

Below is an example

Function Not a Function

x y x y

1 5 1 5

2 6 2 7

3 5 1 6

Part A

Looking at the given graph, we see that the relationship has a single y value corresponding to an x value and so it is a function.

Part B

If there was the same number of bacteria for two consecutive hours it would mean the same y value for different x values. So, it would still remain a function.