Tips for dealing with functions.
The best way to get a feel for function that has been presented as a formula is to plug in some numbers and graph it. This way one can pull off some of the qualitative attributes of the function, for example is it increasing, decreasing, increasing at an increasing or decreasing rate etc. A later class will spend more time on covering qualitative features of function. They are very important because when we model relationships in the world, it is necessary that our mathematical models mimic the qualitative characteristics with which we describe that relationship.