USA TODAY® Related Activities
Internet Activity
Space Spending
Materials: calculator, spreadsheet
software (optional), grid paper
Work alone or in a pairs.
The table shows the amount of money spent
by NASA for various years. Column 3 shows the actual amount
spent. In Column 4, the amounts of money have been changed
to equivalent 2001 dollars so that comparisons can be made
more easily. For example, $523.6 million was spent in 1960,
but that was equivalent to $3136.4 million in 2001.
| Year |
Years
Since 1960 |
Actual
Amount Spent in Given Year
(millions
of dollars) |
Amount
Spent in Equivalent 1996 Dollars
(millions
of dollars) |
| 1960 |
0 |
$523.6 |
$3136.4 |
| 1965 |
5 |
$5250.0 |
$29,557.5 |
| 1970 |
10 |
$3749.2 |
$17,133.8 |
| 1975 |
15 |
$3231.0 |
$10,630.3 |
| 1980 |
20 |
$5243.0 |
$11,272.5 |
| 1985 |
25 |
$7552.0 |
$12,460.8 |
| 1990 |
30 |
$12,296.0 |
$16,722.6 |
| 1995 |
35 |
$13,996.0 |
$16,235.4 |
Source: NASA
Procedure for the Activity
Step
1 Write 9 ordered pairs (years since 1960, amount spent
in equivalent 2001 dollars). Graph these ordered pairs on
a coordinate axes. Connect each consecutive point with a line
segment. Describe the graph.
Step
2 Copy or print out the table below. Fill in Column 3
that shows the rate of change between each consecutive pair
of points.
| Years
Since 1960 |
Amount
Spent in Equivalent 2001 Dollars |
Rate
of Change |
| 0 |
$3136.4 |
— |
| 5 |
$29,557.5 |
(29,557.5
– 3136.4) ÷ (5 – 0) = 5284.2 |
| 10 |
$17,133.8 |
|
| 15 |
$10,630.3 |
|
| 20 |
$11,272.5 |
|
| 25 |
$12,460.8 |
|
| 30 |
$16,722.6 |
|
| 35 |
$16,235.4 |
|
Step 3 Compare
the values in Column 3 to the graph. What do the values in
Column 3 tell you about the line segments in the graph? What
do the values represent in this situation?
Step 4 First, find the average
of the values in Column 3. Then, find the rate of change using
only the points (0, 3136.4) and (35, 16,235.4). How do the
two values compare?
Step 5 Suppose you would
like to estimate the cost of an average-priced lunch in 1960.
In 2001, an average-priced lunch was $5.00. How can you use
the table at the beginning of this activity to estimate the
cost of a similar lunch in 1960? Estimate the cost of a lunch
in 1960.
Step 6 Consider the table
at the beginning of this activity. Complete the table below.
| Year |
Actual
Amount Spent in Given Year |
Amount
Spent in Equivalent 2001 Dollars |
Column 2 ÷ Column 1 |
| 1960 |
$523.6 |
$3136.4 |
5.99 |
| 1965 |
$5,250.0 |
$29,557.5 |
|
| 1970 |
|
|
|
| 1975 |
|
|
|
| 1980 |
|
|
|
| 1985 |
|
|
|
| 1990 |
|
|
|
| 1995 |
|
|
|
Step 7 Describe
what the table in Step 6 tells you. How could you use this
table?
Wrapping Up the Activity
Make a poster or Web page displaying
your tables and graph from this activity. Write a one-paragraph
summary of your findings from this activity.
|
