Now, look at another graph that also shows the relationship between the temperature of her oven and the time since Priscilla started baking. Based on this new graph, is the time since Priscilla started baking, y, a function of x, the temperature of her oven?

Question

The time
a function of temperature because
.
x
y
0
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500
0
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Temperature (°F)
Time in minutes

Answer 1

To determine whether the time since Priscilla started baking (y) is a function of the temperature of her oven (x), we must examine the relationship between the two variables based on the graph you provided.

A relationship between two variables is a function if, for each value of x (temperature), there is exactly one corresponding value of y (time). This means that no vertical line should intersect the graph at more than one point.

1. If the graph shows that for some temperatures (values of x), there are multiple corresponding times (values of y), then time is not a function of temperature.
2. If the graph shows that for each temperature, there is only one corresponding time, then time is a function of temperature.

Without seeing the graph, here are the general criteria you would use to determine the relationship:

• If each temperature corresponds to one unique time, you can conclude that the time is a function of temperature.
• If the same temperature corresponds to multiple times, then time is not a function of temperature.

So, based on the conclusions you’d draw from the graph, you would provide the following completion:

The time is a function of temperature because for each temperature value, there is a unique corresponding time value. (If that is indeed the case based on the graph.)

Alternatively, if multiple time values correspond to one temperature value, you would say:

The time is not a function of temperature because there are multiple corresponding time values for a single temperature value.