functions?

[Dillinger4]

What is the purpose of a function? Say i want to find the revenue of a company for a given product sold. R = n(p). 1.0 = 2(.50). Now express R as a function of n. R(n) = 2ⁿ(0.50ⁿ), R(2) = 2²(0.50²), R(2) = 4(0.25).

But what's with the R(2) = 4(0.25) part?

[croxley]

I'm confused, not knowing where the 2² 0.5² comes from.

You already expressed the revenue as a function of number of units and unit price thus:

R(n,p) = np

and if unit price is 0.5 then

R(n) = 0.5n

so if there are 2 units then

R(2) = 2x0.5 = 1

Now that happens to equal 4 x 0.25 but where the 4 and the 0.25 came from, dunno.

As to your questuion re the purpose of a function, you sort of answered that yourself- you express something as a function of something else when you describe how to quantify the first thing for values of the second.

Weight depends on mass and acceleration, and we could write

W(m,a) = ma

(Weight as a function of mass and acceleration = mass x acceleration)

So my weight is W(80,10) = 800N for mass=80kg and g~10m/ss

Not sure if that helps?

[Dillinger4]

Yeah sorry for the confusion. I misread somthing in my book. I understand now. Thanks for the help.