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...
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...
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...
Curated OER
Skeleton Tower
Your algebra learners build a quadratic function in this task of counting the blocks used to build objects. The arithmetic sequence that shows up brings up a shortcut to the long addition using the Gauss Method. Eventually, learners...
Curated OER
Do Two Points Always Determine a Linear Function II?
Learners analyze the difference between the slope intercept and standard forms of a line in this task. Given two general points using letters they explore linear functions and linear equations.
Illustrative Mathematics
Chicken and Steak, Variation 2
Many organizations put on barbecues in order to make money. In a real-world math problem, the money allotted to purchase steak and chicken at this barbecue is only one hundred dollars. It is up to your potential chefs to figure out how...
Curated OER
The Canoe Trip, Variation 2
The behavior of a rational function near a vertical asymptote is the focus around this trip up a river. Specifically, numerical and graphical understanding is studied. The canoe context pushes the variables as numbers, rather than as...
Curated OER
Summer Intern
Your young apprentices build a function describing the percent concentration of salt in a brine. The rational function is then related to the parent function, y= 1/x, and graphed. Finally, the apprentices predict the amount of fresh...
Curated OER
Rumors
Your young gossipers write an exponential function for the number of people who have heard a rumor after a number of days have passed. Learners then answer a series of questions, including whether or not the solutions are realistic by...
Curated OER
Extending the Definitions of Exponents, Variation 2
Introduce the concept of exponential functions with an activity that extends the definition of exponents to include rational values. Start with a doubling function at integer values of time, then expand table to include frational time...
Illustrative Mathematics
Placing a Square Root on the Number Line
There are many ways to approach finding the rational approximation of an unknown square root. Here is a problem that will help math learners make a connection between square roots and their order on a number line. As usual, determine two...
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...
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...
Math Medics
S.o.s. Math: Integration of Rational Functions
Good lesson explaining integration of rational functions in calculus. Also includes a link to partial functions.
University of Vienna (Austria)
Math Online: Functions
This interactive site uses applets to show sample graphs of each simple power function, a function plotter, graph puzzles, and more. Great site.
Analyze Math
Analyze Math: Rational Functions (1)
Students explore the properties and graphs of rational functions. The tutorial examines the equations of rational functions, intercepts, vertical asymptote, and horizontal asymptotes. The activity consists of examples with detailed...
University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
University of Saskatchewan: Moderate Rational Function Problems
A set of exercises of moderate difficulty on rational functions, complete with solutions and hints for students..
Math Medics
S.o.s. Math: Algebra
This lesson provides basic instruction on the major concepts in algebra. Content includes a focus on fractions, units of conversion, complex numbers, quadratic equations, factorization and roots of polynomials, solving equations, systems...
University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
University of Saskatchewan: Easy Rational Function Exercises
Provides a set of basic exercises on rational expressions, complete with solutions and hints for students.
Other
Math notes.com: Rational Functions
A quick look at graphing rational functions, with investigationa ideas for using a graphing calculator.
Analyze Math
Analyze Math: One to One Functions
Learners examine one to one functions. The tutorial defines one to one functions, rational functions, and mapping. The activity includes examples with detailed solutions.
Paul Dawkins
Paul's Online Notes: Algebra: Common Graphs
Students investigate how to graph a wide variety of equations and functions. Topics explored are lines, rational functions, parabolas, ellipses, and transformations. Class notes, definitions, and examples with detailed solutions are...
University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
University of Saskatchewan: Exponents and Exponential Functions
This site reviews the basic properties of exponents, and explains rational exponents and exponential functions, including those with base "e." Provides examples and lots of exercises.