Title :

Graphing piecewise function based on 24-hour

walking mileage

Name : Raihanah bt Mohamad Nor

Matric No : 1512594
Subject : SMT 1123
Section : 1
Lecturer : Dr. Azrul Fazwan Khairuddin

INTRODUCTION
In mathematics, a piecewise-defined function (also called a piecewise function or a hybrid
function) is a function which is defined by multiple sub-functions, each sub-function applying to
a certain interval of the main function's domain (a sub-domain). Simply put, a piecewise defined
function is a function defined by at least two equations, each of which applies to a different part
of the domain. Piecewise defined functions can take on a variety of forms. Their "pieces" may be
all linear, or a combination of functional forms (such as constant, linear, quadratic, cubic, square
root, cube root, exponential, etc.).

For subject SMT 1123 (Calculus) assignment, we are required to record the number of steps
walked or taken by using a pedometer, in a given time period. Apart from number of footsteps,
we also recorded the kcal, which is the symbol of kilocalorie where one kilocalorie is equal to
1000 calories; the miles and distance walked through the entire 24-hour period. From the data
acquired, it will be further analyzed and from there, I will relate the data in order to create a
piecewise function graph, for the sake of applying the teaching of calculus in real life
applications.

DATA
Provided below is the data table collected during the 24-hour period:

NUMBER TIME RANGE STEPS TAKEN DISTANCE/km CALORIE/kcal

1 11AM-5PM 6552 4.26 170.91

2 5PM-11PM 9819 89 302.14

3 11PM-5AM 9989 7.42 355.01

4 5AM-11AM 10290 7.93 390.99

Table 1 : Table of steps taken, distance walked and calorie burnt
 Graph of steps counting during 24-hour period

steps

Graph of steps, distance and calorie burnt

f(x) = 1138.4x + 6316.5

R = 0.7

steps
Linear (steps)
distance (km)
Linear (distance (km))
calorie/kcal
Linear (calorie/kcal)

f(x) = 71.31x
1.15x ++3.74
126.49
R = 0.91
0.83
DISCUSSION

As a student who currently studying Calculus (SMT1113) subject, we want to study how
the application of mathematical function can be beneficial in our daily life. So, I choose the
walking steps mileage as case study. This topic is the source of data for this assignment, as I need
to record the average number of steps walked in one day, during a 24-hour period by using a
pedometer. Pedometer is an instrument which specialized in detecting and recording of how
many steps we have walked in a particular time and it also can calculate the walking distance and
the calories burnt in our body.

My pedometer started recording from 11 am until 5 pm, thus accumulating a total of 7552
steps as the first data. It is equal to 4.26 kilometers and have burnt about 170.91 kilocalories. At
5 pm until 11 pm, I roughly walked about 10819 steps because that evening, I decided to take an
evening stroll throughout the campus area and hiked up through a couple fleet of stairs to get to
my room, so to this degree the second data totaled up to 6.89 kilometers (km) in distance. The
difference between the second and the first data is estimated about 3267 steps walked and 131.23
calories (kcal) burnt. Normal students life involved with a lot of walking, especially during the
day where we have to walk to our respective classes in order to attend the lecture, and not to
forget all the stretching and running done during exercise in the evening so it is not shocking
when the graph increase abruptly from the first data to the second data based on the graph.

In the other hand, the graph seem to have a small increase in steps walked and also for
both distance and calorie burnt, which is only 10989, 7.42 km and 355.01 kcal; differ from the
second data about 170 steps, 0.53 km and 52.87 kcal, respectively. Next, as for the fourth and
last data collected, the total steps taken only 11290, 7.93 km distance walked and 390.99 kcal
burnt from my body, which shows that there is a slightly small difference from the third data and
the fourth data, which is 301 steps, 0.51 km distance walked and 35.99 kcal burnt. As the graph
shown above, the third and fourth data are collected at night so there was not a lot of go-on-foot
activities before going to bed involved during that period of time thus, the graph can be seen to
increase slightly and it was about to level off .

However, I want to congratulate myself for achieving the recommended number

of steps that a person needed to walk in one day, which is 10000 steps in a day, which is crucial
in order to maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle. Last but not least, Prophet Muhammad SAW said
a strong believer was better than a weak believer. He was talking in terms of faith and character
but at the same time, also indicating that physical strength example, optimum health and fitness
were desirable; providing God gave us the ways and means of attaining such strength. Believers
in Islam must take care of their spiritual, emotional and physical health. It has been narrated that
Prophet Muhammad SAW said, No one will be allowed to move from his position on the Day
Of Judgement until he has been asked how he spent his life, how he used is knowledge, how he
earnt and spent his money and in what pursuits he used his health. [Related in Tirmidhi]

In a nutshell, diet and nutrition play a big part in maintaining the best possible health, so
does a lifestyle incorporating exercise. Health is indeed a favor that we take for granted. We
should express gratitude to God for bestowing upon us with health, and we should try are up
most to look after it. God has entrusted us with our bodies for a predestined period of time. He
will hold us to account in how we looked after and utilized our bodies and good health thus, we
must take a good care of our health and lifestyle.