Comprehension

Open a blank document in your word processor and record your answers to these questions. Copy each question into the journal and type your response below in a different color or font. Be sure to write in complete sentences and express your ideas so that others can understand. Save your work and keep this window open throughout this study so you can easily record other questions and answers.

Questions

  1. What foods do you eat that use grain directly? indirectly?
  2. Do you think that the production of grain is increasing or decreasing?
  3. What factors do you think affect the amount of grain being produced each years?
  4. How do you think changes in grain suply might influence your life?
  5. What effect does new methods of agriculture have on grain supply?
  6. What effect does increased urbanization have on grain supply?
  7. How do you think mathematics can be used to study grain supply?


Acquisition
Mathematical Information: For a brief review of each concept, click on the appropriate link.

Information/Assumptions
Some of the factors you might have mentioned that influence the amount of produced are: the amount of land cultivated (area) and the amount of grain produced per fixed area of land (yield). In this module we examine each factor separately and then combine them to create one function to describe the total world grain supply. We will use metric units in this study. Area is measured in hectares; one hectare is 10,000 square meters or about 2.47 acres. When we write "ton" we will be referring to metric ton; one metric ton is 1000 kilograms or about 2205 pounds. Complete each section below; be sure to save the results for each factor.

Objectives To Determine:

  1. area of land cultivated for grain
  2. average yield per hectare
  3. world grain supply
  4. when supply reaches a maximum

Application
Retrieve the functions Y(t) and A(t) you derived previously. We will use them to predict how much grain will actually be available. Here Y(t) is the yield, measured in tons per hectare, and A(t) is the area cultivated, measured in billion hectares, both for t years from the year 2000.

Assumptions

  1. The current trend for per-hectare grain yield continues.
  2. The current trend for land cultivated continues.

Questions

Use the functions Y(t) and A(t) to construct a function to describe the total amount of grain produced in year t. What are the units? Graph the function from now through 1980 to 2075.

Estimate the total grain supply for 2000 and for 2040. Identify the corresponding points on the graph.

Predict when the grain supply will be 2000 billion kilograms and label the corresponding points on the graph.

Determine the rate of change of the grain supply for the indicated years. Discuss the significance of the sign for each. a) 2000 b) 2045 d) 2060

Is the grain supply increasing at a faster rate in 2000 or in 2020? Explain your answer in terms of the graph of the function as well as numerically.

Use the derivative to decide when the grain supply is increasing and when it is decreasing.

Reflection: Assessing the method, solution and implications

Do you think that the functions used are appropriate? If not, what might be better?

Do you think that the solution is reasonable? Why?

Do you think that the supply function is accurate? Do you think that it is reasonable to assume that this trend will continue? If not, what do you think might happen?

Would it be appropriate to construct an alternative model?