Lesson 3
Equations for Functions
Let’s find outputs from equations.
3.1: A Square’s Area
Fill in the table of input-output pairs for the given rule. Write an algebraic expression for the rule in the box in the diagram.

input | output |
---|---|
8 | |
2.2 | |
12\frac14 | |
s |
3.2: Diagrams, Equations, and Descriptions
Record your answers to these questions in the table provided.
- Match each of these descriptions with a diagram:
- the circumference, C, of a circle with radius, r
- the distance in miles, d, that you would travel in t hours if you drive at 60 miles per hour
- the output when you triple the input and subtract 4
- the volume of a cube, v given its edge length, s
- Write an equation for each description that expresses the output as a function of the input.
- Find the output when the input is 5 for each equation.
- Name the independent and dependent variables of each equation.

description | a | b | c | d |
---|---|---|---|---|
diagram | ||||
equation | ||||
input = 5 output = ? |
||||
independent variable |
||||
dependent variable |
Choose a 3-digit number as an input.
Apply the following rule to it, one step at a time:
- Multiply your number by 7.
- Add one to the result.
- Multiply the result by 11.
- Subtract 5 from the result.
- Multiply the result by 13
- Subtract 78 from the result to get the output.
Can you describe a simpler way to describe this rule? Why does this work?
3.3: Dimes and Quarters
Jada had some dimes and quarters that had a total value of $12.50. The relationship between the number of dimes, d, and the number of quarters, q, can be expressed by the equation 0.1d + 0.25q = 12.5.
- If Jada has 4 quarters, how many dimes does she have?
- If Jada has 10 quarters, how many dimes does she have?
- Is the number of dimes a function of the number of quarters? If yes, write a rule (that starts with d = ...) that you can use to determine the output, d, from a given input, q. If no, explain why not.
- If Jada has 25 dimes, how many quarters does she have?
- If Jada has 30 dimes, how many quarters does she have?
- Is the number of quarters a function of the number of dimes? If yes, write a rule (that starts with q=...) that you can use to determine the output, q, from a given input, d. If no, explain why not.
Summary
We can sometimes represent functions with equations. For example, the area, A, of a circle is a function of the radius, r, and we can express this with an equation: \displaystyle A=\pi r^2
We can also draw a diagram to represent this function:

In this case, we think of the radius, r, as the input, and the area of the circle, A, as the output. For example, if the input is a radius of 10 cm, then the output is an area of 100\pi cm2, or about 314 square cm. Because this is a function, we can find the area, A, for any given radius, r.
Since it is the input, we say that r is the independent variable and, as the output, A is the dependent variable.
Sometimes when we have an equation we get to choose which variable is the independent variable. For example, if we know that
\displaystyle 10A-4B=120
then we can think of A as a function of B and write
\displaystyle A=0.4B+12
or we can think of B as a function of A and write
\displaystyle B=2.5A-30
Video Summary
Glossary Entries
- dependent variable
A dependent variable represents the output of a function.
For example, suppose we need to buy 20 pieces of fruit and decide to buy apples and bananas. If we select the number of apples first, the equation b=20-a shows the number of bananas we can buy. The number of bananas is the dependent variable because it depends on the number of apples.
- independent variable
An independent variable represents the input of a function.
For example, suppose we need to buy 20 pieces of fruit and decide to buy some apples and bananas. If we select the number of apples first, the equation b=20-a shows the number of bananas we can buy. The number of apples is the independent variable because we can choose any number for it.
- radius
A radius is a line segment that goes from the center to the edge of a circle. A radius can go in any direction. Every radius of the circle is the same length. We also use the word radius to mean the length of this segment.
For example, r is the radius of this circle with center O.