What is a Parameter?
Reading Parametric Equations
Graphing Motion
From t to (x, y)
Understanding the Graph
100

What is the purpose of the parameter ttt in a parametric equation?

To define both x and y

100

What point is generated by x = t + 1, y = 2t − 3 when t = 2?

(3, 1)

100

 What rectangular equation results from x = t + 2 and y = 3t − 1? 

y = 3x − 7

100

For x = t, y = t², in what horizontal direction does the particle move as t increases?

Left to right

100

What curve is represented by x = t, y = 2t + 1?

Line

200

What information does a parametric equation provide that a rectangular equation does not?

Direction of motion

200

What point is generated by x = t², y = t³ when t = −2?

(4, −8)

200

What rectangular equation results from x = t² and y = t?

x = y²

200

For x = cos t, y = sin t, what direction is the unit circle traced?

Counterclockwise

200

What curve is represented by x = t, y = t²?

Parabola

300

Why can different parametric equations represent the same curve?

Due to equations that produce the same graph but trace it in a different way, direction, or speed = Different parametrizations

300

What values of t produce the point (4, 2) for x = t², y = t?

2

300

What rectangular equation results from x = cos t and y = sin t?

x² + y² = 1

300

For x = cos t, y = −sin t, what direction is the unit circle traced?

Clockwise

300

What curve is represented by x = cos t, y = sin t?

Circle

400

What happens to the graph if the interval of t is restricted?

Only part of the curve is traced

400

What point is generated by x = cos(π), y = sin(π)?

(−1, 0)

400

What rectangular equation results from x = 2t − 1 and y = t²?

y=(x+1 / 2)2

400

What tool is commonly used to determine direction of motion on a parametric graph?

A table of t-values

400

What curve is represented by x = t², y = t² + 3?  

Line  

500

What characteristic of a particle's motion can change while the curve remains unchanged?

Direction or speed

500

What point is generated by x = t² + 1, y = t² − 3 when t = −2?

(5, 1)

500

What rectangular equation results from x = t² + 1 and y = t² − 3?

y = x − 4

500

Why can't a rectangular equation alone determine direction of motion?

It contains no parameter

500

What curve is represented by x = 3cos(t), y = 2sin(t)?

Ellipse

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