Houston Area Calculus Teachers
Polynomial Graphing
Your AP Calculus learners probably have their ID numbers memorized, but have they tried graphing them? Pique your pupils' interest by asking each to create a unique polynomial function based on their ID numbers, and then analyze the...
Education Development Center
Creating a Polynomial Function to Fit a Table
Discover relationships between linear and nonlinear functions. Initially, a set of data seems linear, but upon further exploration, pupils realize the data can model an infinite number of functions. Scholars use multiple representations...
Houston Area Calculus Teachers
Cubic Polynomial
Birthdays are a time for celebration, and now they're a time for calculation! An AP calculus lesson uniquely explores relationships between a polynomial function and its derivative. Learners create a cubic function based...
101 Questions
Controlling Colors
Control the computer processing speed with mathematics! Scholars use a computer program to graph color-changing functions. Using complex polynomial functions slows the speed of the program, but simplifying the expression allows the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Zeroes and factorization of a non polynomial function
Functions behaving badly: the squaring function and the absolute value function are both zero at x=0. Yet when you divide each by x, different things happen. Here, your class will explore each scenario as a means to adding depth to their...
PBL Pathways
Cell Phones
Calling all subscribers! Model revenue based on individual cell phone subscribers. The project-based learning activity presents a challenge to scholars from a cell phone company. Individuals model data provided to them from the company...
PBL Pathways
Doctors and Nurses
How many nurses does it take to support one doctor? A project-based activity asks learners to analyze state data to answer this question. Classes create polynomial functions from the data of doctors and nurses over a seven-year...
PBL Pathways
Students and Teachers 2
Examine trends in student-to-teacher ratios over time. Building from the first task in the two-part series, classes now explore the pattern of student-to-teacher ratios using a non-linear function. After trying to connect the pattern to...
Curated OER
Exponential Growth versus Polynomial Growth
Your algebra learners explore the values of two types of functions in order to compare growth rates in this short cooperative task. Two types of solutions are given, using a table of values and an abstract argument.
Illustrative Mathematics
Zeroes and Factorization of a General Polynomial
These four problems will guide your class through the idea behind the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, which states that a polynomial of degree n has exactly n roots. Use the division algorithm and the definition of a zero/root of a...
Illustrative Mathematics
Zeroes and factorization of a quadratic polynomial I
This activity uses the division algorithm and the definition of a zero/root of a function to guide your class to see the relationship between zeros and factors of a general quadratic, which can later be generalized to the Remainder...
Curated OER
Exponential Growth versus Linear Growth II
Your algebra learners discover that exponential functions, with a base larger than one, outgrow linear functions when the inputs increase sufficiently. Their analysis includes using a graphing calculator to produce tables.
Illustrative Mathematics
The Missing Coefficient
This activity highlights the use of the remainder theorem to solve for the unknown coefficient of a specified polynomial when given one of its factors. Use this single problem as a warm-up exercise, a quick check-in at the end of a...
Curated OER
Tale of the Tape
How can baseball and skeet-shooting be modeled mathematically? Sports lovers and young mathematicians learn how to use quadratic equations and systems of equations to model the flight paths of various objects.
Illustrative Mathematics
Combined Fuel Efficiency
Practice simplifying complex fractions and long division of polynomials with this brief exercise. These four questions make a challenging warm-up activity or a short, but comprehensive, follow-up after a detailed lesson on algebraic...
Illustrative Mathematics
Egyptian Fractions II
The Egyptians used unit fractions to describe all other fractions. Your class will rewrite rational expressions in order to deduce information about rational numbers. The activity starts with specific fractions, guides you through a few...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Mc Dougal Littell Algebra 1: Graph Polynomial Functions
Students can use the TI-84 Plus family to check the sum or difference of polynomial functions.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Graphing Polynomial Functions
Here's a very detailed, step-by-step activity for students to do to learn about the relationship between the factored form of a polynomial function and its graph. Calculator instructions for the TI-83 are given, right down to the screen...
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: Practice Problems: Analyzing Graphs of Polynomial Functions Using Zeros
Fourteen problems present a variety of practice analyzing graphs of polynomial functions using zeros. They are given with each step to the solution cleverly revealed one at a time. You can work each step of the problem then click the...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Polynomial Functions
In this set of questions, students will find the x-intercepts of a polynomial function, factor a polynomial, and determine the number of solutions of a polynomial equation. Questions are multiple choice and true/false; solutions are...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Mc Dougal Littell: End Behavior of Polynomial Functions
Students can use the TI-84 Plus family to analyze the end behavior of polynomial functions.
Lawrence Hall of Science
The Math Page: Topics in Pre Calculus: Vocabulary of Polynomial Function
Here is a site that clearly and thoroughly explains all the vocabulary associated with polynomial functions. There are example problems solved, problems for the student to attempt, and answers to the student problems. Point this site out...
Mathematics Archives
Math Archives: Visual Calculus: Polynomials
The definition and properties of polynomial functions are explained, and their graphs explored. Examples and LiveMath notebook activities make the site interactive in getting the students to test their knowledge of the material.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: The Remainder Theorem, Polynomial Expansion, and Tangent Line
In this Derive activity, students use the Remainder Theorem to find a tangent line to the graph of a polynomial function.
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