Illustrative Mathematics
Medieval Archer
Class members determine the distance a video game character must move to shoot an arrow over a castle wall. Players determine the new equation to enter to represent the trajectory of the arrow and find all the distances the character can...
Illustrative Mathematics
Sum and Difference Angle Formulas
Need practice deriving trigonometric angle formulas? With this worksheet, pupils derive the sum and difference formulas for cosine and tangent and the difference formula for sine. Scholars use the sine sum formula and other known...
Illustrative Mathematics
Modeling London's Population
Looking at London's population from 1801–1961 in 20 year increments, high school mathematicians determine if the data can be modeled by a given logistic growth equation. They explain their thinking and determine the values of each...
Illustrative Mathematics
Identifying Quadratic Functions
Put your high schoolers to the test and see how well they know their quadratic functions. With excellent thought-provoking questions, learners use what they know about creating quadratic equations based off different pieces of...
Illustrative Mathematics
Transforming the Graph of a Function
Function notation is like a code waiting to be cracked. Learners take the graph of an unknown equation and manipulate it based on three different transformation changes of the function equation. The final step is to look at three points...
Illustrative Mathematics
Building a Quadratic Function Form
A simple tweak in the equation can mean big things for a quadratic graph. High school mathematicians look at the parent graph of a quadratic and incorporate three different changes to the function. The problems require explanations of...
Illustrative Mathematics
Exponentials and Logarithms II
A simple question sometimes is the best for discussion. High schoolers compare a logarithmic and exponential function and composite them into one another. They graph and compare the difference between the domains. The solution contains...
Illustrative Mathematics
Springboard Dive
Quadratics and height application problems go hand in hand like teenagers and sleeping in. High schoolers must look at the equation of a diver's height and calculate such features as the height of dive board, time entering the water, and...
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.
Illustrative Mathematics
Frog and Toad on the Number Line
Administer a learning activity that challenges your class to use a number line in the form of lily pads. Learners are instructed to display the number of hops that Toad and Frog take during their journey on a number line. Young...
Illustrative Mathematics
Return to Fred's Fun Factory (with 50 Cents)
The penny arcade gets the statistics treatment in this fun probability investigation. A non-standard game of chance is described and then the class is set loose to find missing probabilities, determine common outcomes, and evaluate...