Radford University
At the Gas Pump
Given the price of crude oil, gasoline, and diesel for the past several years, pupils plot the data to determine whether a correlation exists. Learners determine a regression line and predict the price of gasoline and diesel in the...
Radford University
Can I Create a Line/Curve of Best Fit to Model Water Drainage?
Learners collect data on the amount of water left in a bottle over time. They graph the data to determine whether the scatter plot shows a curved or straight relationship. Group members then determine an equation for the curve of best...
Radford University
Picturing Lines
Slopes are everywhere—even in houses! Given a picture of a house, learners find lines with positive, negative, zero, and no slopes. Scholars determine the equation of the lines by calculating the slopes and y-intercepts. Class members...
Radford University
Green Cravings
Build up a bag of green. Pupils determine the number of green Skittles in a snack bag and come up with a way to determine how many snack bags it would take to create one bag of only green Skittles. Classmates share their methods and...
Radford University
Fuel Efficient Function Activity
Pupils research the five most fuel efficient vehicles of the same type and come up with a way to display the mile per gallon for each vehicle. After choosing a vehicle, scholars create graphs to display miles traveled given the amount of...
Radford University
Class Fundraising Committee
Given the task of coming up with a fundraiser, small groups determine the type of fundraiser to hold and restraints on the number of participants. The classmates create inequalities to represent the constraints and graph the solution to...
Radford University
Throwing a Football
Use mathematics to help the football team. Pairs brainstorm how to approach finding a solution to a problem to help the quarterback complete more passes. By researching and collecting data, the teams derive an equation to represent the...
Radford University
Staircases and Ramps
Ramp up the study of slope. The class participates in a discussion about the physical aspects of stairs and ramps they encounter. Small groups work together and measure a staircase and corresponding ramp to calculate the slope of each....
Radford University
Action Bungee Jump
Drop scatter plots onto the class. Teams collect data to determine how far an action figure will fall suspended by rubber bands. Using the collected data, groups determine a line of best fit. Given a drop height, they also determine the...
Radford University
Exploring Equations through Life Goals
What do I want to do when I grow up? Learners research job categories and determine a career within the category. Using the chosen job, pupils find the hourly wage and calculate future income based on percentage wages. Individuals then...
Radford University
Calculating the Cost: Algebraic Planning for a First Car
Scholars decide which job to take based on the pay. They then research cars to potentially purchase and determine the total cost of the car. Finally, they calculate how long they would have to work to purchase the car along with how much...
Radford University
Plumbing Task
Make sure it flows smoothly. Pairs research plumbing codes to find the required slope for a sewer line. Using the information, groups answer several questions involving interpreting the slope. Pupils determine the cost of pipe to run a...
Radford University
Movie Projector Cost
Small groups analyze the attendance at a movie theater and determine the amount of money made for per show. Team members calculate the number of shows it would take for a theater to make a profit after purchasing a new digital projector....
Radford University
Create A Ramp Design
Ramp up a design challenge. Class members design ramps to meet a client's requirements to comply with the American with Disabilities Act. The scholars create a scaled graph of their designs and determine the equations of the lines on...
Radford University
Summer Woes!
Who can afford the computer required to land a summer job? Pupils work in pairs to solve problems related to finding the number of hours needed to work to purchase a given item. Individuals then work on a performance-based assessment to...
Radford University
Linear Equations in Real Word Problems
Make up a story about a linear graph. Scholars identify key features of a linear graph, such as intercepts, domain and range, and slope. They then create a word problem that could be represented by the graphed line.
National Wildlife Federation
Who Is Faster?
Am I going to catch it? Individuals time how long it takes them to walk, jog, and run a given distance and calculate their speed. They then research two animals and find their speeds. Using a chart, pupils compare the speeds of the...
Radford University
How High Can You Throw?
Find heights by measuring time. Teams collect data to determine the height that a tennis ball is thrown. Classmates measure the height of the initial release of the ball and how long it stays aloft. Using a projectile motion equation,...
Radford University
REALLY Tall!
Conduct indirect measurements three ways. Working in groups, pupils come up with different ways to measure three tall objects indirectly. The teacher provides measurement information requested by the teams, and learners then calculate...
Radford University
The Roanoke Adventure!
Travel about town. Pupils work in pairs to find the distances between landmarks with a map. The teams determine how far to travel on the streets and the length between the landmarks with the distance formula and compare the two. Learners...
Radford University
Building a Recreation Center
It's all about location, location, location. Small groups work to find the best spot for a rec center to serve three different communities. Learners construct the inscribed and circumscribed circles of a triangle to find the best place....
Radford University
Buying A Car
What is my monthly payment? Scholars research to find the perfect car for them to buy. Using the cost of the car, they determine a down payment and the amount of monthly payments using a zero interest loan. Finally, they investigate what...
Radford University
Got Slope?
Go around and around with slope. The class investigates tornadoes by watching videos, building a homemade tornado, and performing research on the Storm Prediction Center website. Groups gather data and create scatter plots for twisters...
Radford University
Land Development
Groups work with polynomials to devise functions that will model a selling price for property. The teams determine variables to create expressions to represent the cost required to develop land into a housing addition. Classmates then...