Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
chapter 5
Functions and
More Functions
In Chapter 4 you examined fundamental notions related to presenting numerical
data in graphical form. The discussion ended with a review of approaches to
representing and working with functions. In this chapter, you take up the theme
of working with equations, which allows you to solve the problems that functions
embody. When you solve an equation, you work with addition and multi-
plication to ''undo'' operations so that you can solve the equation for a specific
value. You also make use of least common denominators to clear equations of
fractions. When you solve equations, you can end up with a single solution or a
set of solutions. Among the equations that generate sets of solutions are those
involving absolute values and inequalities. A review of these concepts at this
point helps focus the activities of previous chapters so that you can begin using
Cartesian graphical representations to work with linear equations. Among topics
this chapter covers are the following:
n
Rethinking the fundamentals of equations
n
Uses of addition and subtraction
n
Dealing with fractions
n
Absolute values and the number line
Inequalities and the number line
n
79
