document.write( "Question 491908: Please explain why this is a function. \"A rule that associates, to a given time, the distance from a swinging pendulum to its lowest point\" \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #334824 by ccs2011(207) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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This is a function because for every point in time there is only one corresponding distance. For instance, there is no point in time where the pendulum is 2 different distances from lowest point.
\n" ); document.write( "The function is not one-to-one because the pendulum will swing back and forth so have different times correspond to the same distance.
\n" ); document.write( "If you map out the points, it will start at 0 then increase to a vertex, then go back down to 0, then goes up again...and so on.
\n" ); document.write( "By drawing it out, you will see it passes the vertical line test.
\n" ); document.write( "More specifically, the function will look like the sine function.
\n" ); document.write( "Hope that helps \n" ); document.write( "

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