I am in a college level math class and we have a question that I am suppose to answer however I looked for this in our text and online and I am not finding a direct answer to it. Here is my question, What is the meaning of the word "parameters"? Please identify a real world example or everyday situation you encounter where you have parameters you have to deal with. Provide any applicable equations and examples explaining your response.

I realize that you are not to answer stuff without me putting my own answers but I just am at a loss as to what to put. I am not sure which direction to go in with this. Please help. Thanks

A parameter is like a variable, but it for any set of circumstances does not change. But by changing it, one gets a family of solutions.

Example in Math

ax^2 + by^2=c

a, b, c are parameters, depending on what they are, one gets circles, ellipses, or the "conics"

In a everyday example (too complex for simple equations), take the My driving to the store. Time driving is the dependent variable (time to store), and speed is the variable. However, parameters would include: which car, which root, the time of day, ...

Thanks that helps.

I'd be happy to help you with your question about the meaning of the word "parameters" and provide some real-world examples.

In mathematics, parameters generally refer to variables that define specific characteristics or conditions of a function or system. Parameters provide a way to quantify and describe different aspects of a mathematical model or equation.

In a real-world context, parameters can be thought of as constraints or limitations that affect how a system or situation behaves. Here is an example to help illustrate this idea:

Consider a simple linear equation: y = mx + b. In this equation, m and b are parameters. The parameter "m" represents the slope of the line, while "b" represents the y-intercept.

Now, let's say you are driving a car. You can think of several parameters that influence your driving experience. For instance:
- Speed Limit: This is a parameter that sets a maximum speed you are allowed to travel on a particular road. Let's say the speed limit is 60 miles per hour.
- Fuel Efficiency: This is a parameter that represents the number of miles your car can travel on a gallon of gas. Let's say your car has a fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon.
- Distance: This is a parameter representing how far you need to travel. Let's say you need to go 100 miles.

Using these parameters, we can calculate the time it would take to complete the journey. We can use the equation: time = distance / speed.

So in this situation, we have the following parameters:
- Distance = 100 miles
- Speed Limit = 60 miles per hour

Plugging these values into the equation, we can solve for time:
time = 100 miles / 60 miles per hour
time ≈ 1.67 hours or 1 hour and 40 minutes

In this example, the parameters of speed limit, fuel efficiency, and distance influence how long it takes to complete the journey.

I hope this example helps clarify the concept of parameters for you. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to ask!