MHB Real Life Applications of Ceiling and Floor Functions

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SUMMARY

Ceiling and floor functions have practical applications in various real-life scenarios. Postal rates utilize floor functions, where letters weighing between specific thresholds incur fixed costs. Tax tables also employ floor functions, determining tax liabilities based on income brackets. Conversely, activities such as boating, bowling, or laser tag charge ceiling functions, where any portion of an hour is rounded up to the next full hour for billing purposes.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mathematical functions, specifically ceiling and floor functions.
  • Familiarity with postal rate structures and weight classifications.
  • Knowledge of tax brackets and income taxation principles.
  • Basic comprehension of billing practices in recreational activities.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mathematical properties of ceiling and floor functions in programming languages like Python.
  • Explore how postal service pricing models are structured and calculated.
  • Investigate tax calculation methods and the implications of income brackets on tax liabilities.
  • Examine billing algorithms used in recreational services to optimize pricing strategies.
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, economists, financial analysts, and anyone involved in pricing strategies or tax calculations will benefit from this discussion.

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Does anyone know of any real life application of ceiling and floor functions?
 
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Postal rates are floor functions. Letters between weights w1 and w2 will cost c1 cents; those between weights w2 and w3 will cost c2 cents, etc.

Tax tables are another floor function. If your taxable income is between t1 and t2 then you pay p1; if between t2 and t3 then you pay p2, etc.

Any time you go somewhere and you have to pay d dollars for every hour or portion of an hour for boating, bowling, or laser tag is a ceiling function--you played for 40 minutes means you pay the same price as a full hour.
 
alane1994 said:
Postal rates are floor functions. Letters between weights w1 and w2 will cost c1 cents; those between weights w2 and w3 will cost c2 cents, etc.

Tax tables are another floor function. If your taxable income is between t1 and t2 then you pay p1; if between t2 and t3 then you pay p2, etc.

Any time you go somewhere and you have to pay d dollars for every hour or portion of an hour for boating, bowling, or laser tag is a ceiling function--you played for 40 minutes means you pay the same price as a full hour.

Wow. Those are much better, closer-to-home, examples than I would have chosen. Great job!
 

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