Project Maths
Trigonometric Functions
From a circle to a cycle! The final lesson of a five-part series challenges learners to use points from the unit circle to plot a repeating pattern. The repeating patterns become the graphs of the trigonometric functions. Scholars also...
Project Maths
The Unit Circle
It's not just any circle—it's the unit circle. The fourth instructional activity in the series is an introduction to the famous unit circle. While working through a series of activities, young scholars learn the components of the unit...
101 Questions
Scrambler
Unscramble a carnival mystery! Scholars observe a video of an overhead view of a carnival ride, The Scrambler. They then must determine mathematically where a specific car will stop after a certain amount of time.
Yummy Math
Parametric Equations and a Heart
Trigonometry, art, and Valentine's Day come together in a creative activity about parametric equations. Learners calculate several equations before graphing them either by hand, on a graphic calculator, or Excel spreadsheet to curve...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Triangle Area: No Height? Use the Sine
No height? No problem! Learners use their knowledge and a little help from GeoGebra to develop the Law of Sines formula. The Law of Sines helps to determine the height of triangles to calculate the area.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Unit Circle: Special Angles—Just Know One
It's all about the patterns! Young scholars learn that the unit circle repeats itself in all four quadrants. Using these patterns, they evaluate the sine, cosine, and tangent of special angles.
Alabama Learning Exchange
"I Saw the Sine"
Discover trigonometric ratios that complement each other. Using two videos, the lesson introduces the trigonometric ratios. The class discovers the relationship between the sine and cosine of complementary angles.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Radians: Just Another Way
Serve up angle measurements on paper plates. Pupils use paper plates and paper-folding techniques to create a unit circle with conversions for special angles. Using their plates, learners explore the relationship between angle...
Shodor Education Foundation
Graphit
No graphing calculator? No worries, there's an app for that! Young mathematicians use an app to graph functions. In addition, they can also plot data points.
Shodor Education Foundation
Graph Sketcher
Sketch graphs with the Graph Sketcher. Scholars graph functions on a coordinate plane. An interactive makes it as easy as inputting the function and clicking a button.
Shodor Education Foundation
Function Flyer
Fly through graphing functions with the Function Flyer. Young mathematicians use an interactive to graph different types of functions. A set of exploration questions has users investigate patterns in functions.
Shodor Education Foundation
Data Flyer
Fit functions to data by using an interactive app. Individuals plot a scatter plot and then fit lines of best fit and regression curves to the data. The use of an app gives learners the opportunity to try out different functions to see...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Imaginary Numbers? What Do You Mean Imaginary?
Don't worry, this resource actually exists. Scholars learn about imaginary numbers and work on problems simplifying square roots of negative numbers. As an extension, they research the history of imaginary numbers.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Representing Trigonometric Functions
Discover the classic example of periodicity: Ferris wheels. Young mathematicians learn about trigonometric functions through Ferris wheels. They match functions to their graphs and relate the functions to the context.
Desmos
Desmos Graphing Calculator
They say a graph is worth a thousand points. The interactive allows users to graph a wide variety of functions and equations. Using the included keyboard or typing directly into the list, learners determine the graph of a function....
GeoGebra
Getting on the Right Wavelength
Predict an equation that waves up and down. Pupils set the height, radius, and period of a Ferris wheel. The learners write a sine equation to match the graph of the height of a point on the wheel as a function of time. Running the...
GeoGebra
More Ferris Wheels
Take a ride on a Ferris wheel. Using sliders to adjust the parameters of a Ferris wheel, pupils investigate the height of a point over time. The interactive traces out the curve on a time-height graph. Learners use what they learned to...
CK-12 Foundation
Distance Between Two Polar Coordinates: Exploring Changes in Angle and Radius
Get straight answers on a curved grid. An interactive has learners apply the Law of Cosines to find the distance between two points on the polar coordinate plane. The pupils use the radii lengths and the angle between the two radii to...
CK-12 Foundation
Vectors as Directed Line Segments: Directed Line Segment
Direct your class' attention to directed line segments. The interactive resource allows pupils to create segments with specific endpoints. Scholars plot the initial and terminal points to determine the direction and magnitude of the...
CK-12 Foundation
Unit Vectors and Components: Bow and Arrow
Aim for a better understanding of vector components. Scholars adjust the angle of release on a bow and determine the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity vector. The pupils finish by determining how the angle affects...
CK-12 Foundation
Possible Triangles with Side-Side-Angle
It's not often that math allows for multiple answers. Young mathematicians identify possible numbers of triangles when given two sides and a non-included angle. An interactive helps with this investigation.
CK-12 Foundation
Angle-Angle-Side Triangles: Garden Gate
Good fences make good gardens. Individuals use an interactive to see how angles and sides relate in a triangular-shaped garden fence. They apply the Law of Sines to find the length of the garden gate (third side of triangle) given two...
CK-12 Foundation
Alternate Formula for the Area of a Triangle: Alternate Area of a Triangle
It's always nice to have a plan B. Pupils investigate an alternate formula for the area of a triangle that uses sine. A set of challenge questions shows how the new formula relates to the well-known formula of (1/2)bh.
CK-12 Foundation
Law of Cosines: Building a Zip Line
Zip this resource into your lesson plans. Here is an interactive that shows how angles and lengths change based on conditions for a zip line. Scholars use the Law of Cosines to solve problems in this context.