Activity Overview
In this Derive™ activity, students determine the optimal location for a warehouse so that it is close to the center of a circle that passes through all the outlets of a store in the region.
Before the Activity
See the attached DFW file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages from the attached DFW file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the Activity Procedures:
Set up a 2D plot window
Place a coordinate system over the region and assign each store a point on the system
Optimal location for the warehouse is close to the center of a circle that passes through the points representing each store
Understand that if center is at (c1, c2) and has a radius, r, then each of the coordinates (x, y) for the store would satisfy the equation (x ? c1)2 + (y ? c2)2 = r2
Use the circle equation, randomly generated seven points and find all equations
Evaluate the weighted averages, the average equation representing a set result, and store the values in a vector
Solve the set of equations for the radius, and the coordinates of the center
Substitute the result values in the equation of the circle, and plot a graph
Generate a best fitting curve
After the Activity
Students answer questions listed on the activity sheet.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary