Function Festival 2000-1
Escalator Fun At The St. Louis Galleria Mall
[ d = r t ] 1. The escalator* from the theater level to the ground floor of the Galleria Mall Atrium takes you 16 feet above the theather ticket office floor. There is a 30 degree inclination of this escalator with respect to the theater floor.
[ d = r t ] 2. Next time you go to this mall take a stopwatch and time the trip from the theater floor escalator comb to the ground floor escalator comb. Please send your results to us!
[ d = r t ] 3. You will need to add 16 inches at the top and 16" at the bottom** as well as calculate the tread belt distance from floor to floor, using information from step 1 above, to find a value for d.
[ d = r t ] 4. Find the escalator tread rate, r, or speed using your time and the total*** distance from comb to comb of the escalator.
[ d = r t ] 5. Now substitute your value for the escalator rate, r, or speed into d = r t so that
d = (your number for rate) t
forms a linear relationship between d and t. Now we consider your formula for distance, d, to be a "function" of time, t.
Related Concepts:
Speed
Function Notation
Y Rate
X Rate
Slope
Linear Functions
Related Rate Equations
Linear Motion
History of d = r t
Notes And Hints:
*escalator - stairway treads moving from floor to floor - the treads form a belt or chain.
** 16" at the top and bottom allow for the step to be level with the floor.
*** Have you calculated the length of this escalator? Remember a 30 dregree angle is half of a sixty degree angle and sides opposite equal angles are equal.
For more information and ideas about an escalator project you
may link to a page written by one of the following
math artists:
Danielle,
Darlene,
Kellie,
Jill,
Nanyal,
Kevin,
Crystal,
Rachel,
Christina,
Jennifer,
Candice,
Vincent,
Esther and
Melinda.
Most of us are in this picture but not in order of
names.
Other FUNctions
The Story Board