PRB - Math Operations (Lesson)

Math Operations

In Math, a Variable Holds the Data

In math, a variable holds the data. Sometimes these variable names are as short as x and y or as long as average and median, but they are all called variables as they hold data, either the input or the output.  

Suppose for the variable x, the data to be used in a specific problem is

x = 5

x = 6.3

x = - 4.75

Your teacher asks you to use this data and show the answer to the problem y = x + 6 for each value of x. What is the answer for each?

When x = 5, y = _________ 

y = 5 + 6

y = 11 

When x = 2.3, y = _________

y = 2.4 + 6

y = 8.3

When x = - 4.75, y = _________  

y = -4.75 + 6

y = 1.25

Each of the data values of x provided an output value evaluated on the same linear equation, creating an ordered pair of values (5, 11), (6.3, 12.3), and (-4.75, 1.25).  In math class we could graph these points on graph paper or directly graph the line. All of these points would lie on the line. These values lie on a linear line y = x + 6. A computer program using the ordered pairs or the equation of the line could graph this equation as well provided a computer programmer knew how to tell the computer to do so. The graph below was created by using computer software, a computer program app specializing in math with graphing capability.

 

In math, the different x values provided have different names, integer and decimal are shown here. These are types of data, a definition that helps us understand how the value is constructed. If your friend indicated that they were giving you integer data, you would know that these are negative or positive whole numbers. On the other hand, if your friend indicated that the data being provided was currency or decimal, you would conclude differently. The data would have two decimals for currency and could have 1 or more for a decimal number.   Knowing the type of data allowed a definition of the contents of the data.

In math, data is given for a particular problem and you use the data to find the answer to the question asked. Your brain is the computer, pulling from memory and the data given to determine the solution.  This is how a computer works as well. Given data and the instructions by a computer programmer to use the data, a computer will be able to answer the problem.