The temperature of water (w∘Cw^\circ\text{C}w∘C) in a kettle t t\,t minutes after it was boiled is recorded in the table below
| ttt | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 20 |
| www | 92 | 76 | 65 | 50 | 46 | 33 | 25 |
The data is coded using the changes of variable x=tx = tx=t and y=log10wy = \log_{10} wy=log10w
The regression line of x x\,x on y y\,y is found to be y=1.99−0.031xy = 1.99 - 0.031xy=1.99−0.031x
Given that the data can be modelled by an equation in the form w=abtw = ab^tw=abt where a a\,a and b b\,b are constants. Find the values of a a\,a and b b\,b to 3 significant figures.
Give an interpretation of the constant a a\,a in this equation.
Explain why this model is not reliable for calculating the temperature after 1 hour.
104 exam-style questions on OCR (MEI) A Level Maths 1.8 Exponentials and Logarithms, covering 1.8.1 The function y = a^x, 1.8.2 Convert between index and logarithmic form, 1.8.3 Logarithm as inverse of exponential, 1.8.4 Laws of logarithms, 1.8.5 Values of log_a a and log_a 1, 1.8.6 Solve equations of the form a^x = b, 1.8.7 Reduce y = ax^n and y = ab^x to linear form, 1.8.8 The function y = e^x, 1.8.9 Gradient of e^kx (A-level only), 1.8.10 The function y = ln x, and 1.8.11 Exponential growth and decay. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.