Illustrative Mathematics
Which Function?
Throw some logic into quadratics and see if learners can match a vague graph to multiple equations. Young mathematicians must look at quadrant location, vertices, and intercepts to best match the graph to one or more equations.
Illustrative Mathematics
Identifying Exponential Functions
Class members have the opportunity to quickly change the variables of an exponential graphs through the use of sliders on Desmos. Four graphs are given and young mathematicians, through the use of the graphing app, can discover which...
Illustrative Mathematics
Graphing Rational Functions
The slider feature on Desmos excellently shows how graphs change based on different variable values. Learners look at two similar rational functions and compare and discuss what happens when the numbers go from positive to zero to...
Illustrative Mathematics
Running Time
Ever wonder why that computer image takes so long to load? Well, math is involved and provides the algorithms needed to compute the measure in nanoseconds. Young mathematicians plug the image measures into the formulas and compare the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Identifying Graphs of Functions
Take a matching problem and take challenging exponential graphs and combine to make one thought-provoking question. Learners look at four higher level exponential functions to match to the four graphs placed together. The equations and...
Illustrative Mathematics
Graphs of Quadratic Functions
Instead of the typical quadratic questioning, explore the function and look at the three different ways a parabola can be written. The main task is when given several clues, young mathematicians must write an equation that matches the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Graphs of Power Functions
There are parent functions, and then there are parent functions with a really interesting way to explore them. High schoolers are asked to graph different combinations of parent functions together and determine the point of intersection....
Illustrative Mathematics
Trigonometric Ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem
Take an alternative route with trigonometry and let learners connect a tweaked version of the pythagorean theorem to the original in terms of triangle sides. The assignment leads participants towards deriving the Pythagorean identity...
Illustrative Mathematics
Calculations with Sine and Cosine
Practice makes perfect and perfecting those trigonometric functions are vital in trigonometry. The task requires evaluating cosine and sine values at common degree measures before looking at the results. Is there a pattern when the...
Illustrative Mathematics
But Mango Is My Favorite...
Opening up a package of fruit snacks is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. When all the mango flavored ones are missing, learners calculate the probability that one bag versus the whole box is missing the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Bob's Bagel Shop
When Bob starts planning out the average money made per customer, he needs some help. Young mathematicians look at the probability of how many bagels are purchased from one person, and then creates an equation based on the amount spent....
Illustrative Mathematics
Sounds Really Good! (Sort Of...)
Winning a lottery game with 60% odds sounds like a no brainer. This is when the math kicks in to show players that in the long run, they lose money the more often they play. Here is one simple question that opens the doors to a nice...
Illustrative Mathematics
Solving Two Equations in Two Unknowns
More than just a one-problem resource, learners must explain their answer and incorporate a writing component to mathematical thinking. The resource also includes an explanation of the solution to help with the reasoning.
Illustrative Mathematics
Finding Trig Values
Let's keep trigonometry simple. When given a cosine ratio, learners must use the clues about the quadrant to determine the sine and tangent ratios. The answer key has a complete worked-out solution to help guide pupils through the problem.
Mathed Up!
Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
Learners read a variety of word problems and find the mode, median, range, and mode from a given set of data. If calculators are not desirable, provide the class with notebook paper to work out the equations.
Mathed Up!
Metric and Imperial Measures
After watching a brief video on making metric conversions to standard units, pupils complete tables to describe certain items with the appropriate unit of measurement. Then, they convert liters to millimeters, millimeters to centimeters,...
Mathed Up!
Simple Perimeter, Area, and Volume
Young mathematicians find the area and perimeter of shaded shapes on a grid of unit squares. The sheets challenge class members to find the volume of various solid prisms. Each questions also includes the total value of suggest points...
Education Development Center
Algebraic Habits of Mind
Math really is just one big puzzle waiting to be solved. Show learners that math can be intriguing and provide them with visually engaging problems and puzzles. The focus is on solving simple equations and looking at expressions.
Education Development Center
Area Model Factoring
Introduce learners to what factoring represents and it's relationship to a square with a resource about factoring and the method of area models. The questions are scaffolded to begin with introductory questions and eventually have...
Education Development Center
Points, Slopes, and Lines
Before graphing and finding distances, learners investigate the coordinate plane and look at patterns related to plotted points. Points are plotted and the goal is to look at the horizontal and vertical distances between coordinates and...
Education Development Center
Logic of Fractions
Before diving into operations with fractions, learners discover the foundation of fractions and how they interact with one another. Exactly as the title says, logic of fractions is the main goal of a resource that shows pupils how...
Education Development Center
Thinking Things Through Thoroughly
Problem solving is a skill of its own. Learners use a variety of problems to encourage mental math and logic to get the correct answer. Guiding questions are provided along the way to encourage the right way of thinking to help tackle...
Education Development Center
Geography of the Coordinate Plane
Put the graph into graphing and allow learners to understand the concept of point plotting and how it relates to data. The worksheet provides a nice way to connect data analysis to a graph and make predictions. The worksheets within the...
Education Development Center
Logic of Algebra
Don't just go through the steps to solve an algebraic equation, show learners how to balance an equation with visual models. The packet introduces the idea of mobile balances to reinforce the idea that both sides must match to make the...